Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, July 4.
Former Scotland scrum-half Greig Oliver dies aged 58
The game of rugby is in shock after the death of former Scotland scrum-half Greig Oliver at 58.
Oliver, who won three Scotland caps, died after a paragliding accident in Cape Town, according to Munster.
He held the role of elite performance officer at the club and was in South Africa with his wife Fiona, supporting their son Jack and the rest of the Ireland squad who are currently playing in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, when the tragic accident happened.
Munster CEO Ian Flanagan said on the club's website: "We are all in a state of shock following Greig's tragic passing. He was a great colleague and friend to so many and will be dearly missed across the Munster and Irish Rugby community. Greig made his presence felt each day, he was always there to provide a helping hand and was a hugely popular character with his light-hearted nature and sense of humour. He had an infectious enthusiasm for the game and was incredibly passionate about helping young players be the best they can be on and off the field. May he rest in peace."
Irish Rugby Football Union chief executive Kevin Potts said: "On behalf of the Irish rugby community, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the Oliver family at this extremely sad time. Greig was a hugely popular member of staff and played a key role in the development of many young players during his time at Munster Rugby. Today's news is an unspeakable tragedy and our thoughts are with Greig's wife Fiona, children Jack and Ciara, and his many friends, family and colleagues. May he rest in peace."
World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont tweeted: "On behalf of World Rugby and the global rugby family, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the Oliver family, the Ireland U20 squad and the Irish rugby community at this difficult time."
Ireland already planned to mark deaths of two students
Ireland U20s had already planned to wear black armbands when they face Fiji on Tuesday to honour St Michael's College students Andrew O'Donnell and Max Wall, who have died on the Greek island of Ios.
Six players in Ireland's U20s squad are also from the Dublin college of St Michael's, and U20s boss Richie Murphy has spoken of the "devastation" felt by his squad of players in South Africa.
"It’s a really tough time," said Murphy. "Obviously, we are massively devastated to hear of the passing of Max Wall and Andrew O’Donnell, two boys from St Michael’s. We have a number St Michael’s guys here in the squad, who know them well, and as a father of kids around that age and an Irishman I feel really devastated for them and we’d like to offer our condolences to the Wall and O’Donnell family."
Wales U20s face France in pool finale
Wales U20s will complete their pool campaign at the World Rugby U20 Championship against unbeaten defending champions France on Tuesday (3.30pm UK kick-off time).
A six try, 41-19 win over Japan earned Wales five points to go with the two they secured in the agonising 27-26 defeat to New Zealand. The Baby Blacks were then beaten in their second game by France 35-14, who opened with a 75-12 hammering of the Japanese.
To stay in the mix for a place in the top four seeds, Wales will need to pick up as many points as possible against the French, who beat them 67-17 in the last round of the U20 Six Nations earlier this year. The last Welsh win over the Tricolours at U20 level was in 2020, when they beat them 14-11 in Colwyn Bay.
Wales U20s captain Ryan Woodman said of this year's Six Nations result: "We know that isn't us as a team and we're different from the Six Nations. We know we can really give them a good contest. It's definitely the biggest game in most of these boys' careers."
As for the final team run before the game, players participated while wearing their home club jerseys. Woodman added: "It was something a little bit different for the team run, we had everyone in their home club jerseys to recognise where everyone came from. Dan Edwards was the one who led it because he loves his home club."
Wales U20s: 15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby), 14. Tom Florence (Ospreys), 13. Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), 12. Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), 11. Harri Houston (Ospreys), 10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9. Archie Hughes (Scarlets), 1. Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons RFC), 2. Sam Scarfe (Dragons RFC), 3. Kian Hire (Ospreys), 4. Liam Edwards (Ospreys), 5. Jonny Green (Harlequins), 6. Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC – capt), 7. Seb Driscoll (Harlequins), 8. Morgan Morse (Ospreys).
Replacements: 16. Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys), 17. Josh Morse (Scarlets), 18. Louis Fletcher (Ospreys), 19. Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), 20. Gwilym Evans (Cardiff Rugby), 21. Joe Westwood (Dragons RFC), 22. Harri Wiilde (Cardiff Rugby), 23. Harri Williams (Ampthill).
Wales Women U20s face USA
Wales Women U20s will face USA in Ottawa, Canada, on Tuesday (6.30pm local kick-off time) during a two-match tour of North America.
Captain Jenna De Vera, 19, skippers a squad of 28 uncapped players for the clashes against USA U20s and Canada U20s, the latter on July 13. The U20s squad sees 16 players graduate from the Wales Women U18s set-up, while seven players who featured in this year's Celtic Challenge games - against Irish and Scottish opposition - are named, too.
Midfield skipper De Vera, who was selected for Wales Women's Six Nations squad this year, said: "It is a big honour and responsibility to captain my country but having had the experience of playing in the Celtic Challenge games and being with the senior squad changed my outlook on the standards required and my outlook on rugby.
“It’s just really exciting to be involved in this and all the players feel the same way. We have learnt so much during the camps we have had and we just want to execute what we have done in training on the pitch now.
“We know we will be playing a very physical and athletic side and it is intimidating but we have some skills and technical plays and hope to have an upper hand there.
‘We are all pinching ourselves that we are part of something new and will be part of something lots of girls haven’t had before. We have talked about beating USA on July 4 but the most important thing is that we perform, learn from this experience and build from there for the future.”
Wales Women U20s: 15. Bethan Adkins, 14. Seren Singleton, 13. Ellie Tromans, 12. Jenna De Vera (capt), 11. Nel Metcalfe, 10. Chelsea Williams, 9. Molly Reardon, 1. Cana Williams, 2. Rosie Carr, 3. Katie Carr, 4. Alaw Pyrs, 5. Erin Jones, 6. Jess Rogers (vice-captain), 7. Lucy Issac, 8. Gwennan Hopkins.
Replacements: Molly Wakely, Chloe Thomas-Bradley, Cadi-Lois Davies, Robyn Davies, Masie Davies, Finley Jones, Sian Jones, Molly Anderson-Thomas, Molly Powell, Carys Hughes, Kim Thurlow.
Wales U20s squad for North America tour - forwards: Alaw Pyrs (Hartpury), Cadi-Lois Davies (Lampeter), Cana Williams (Loughborough University), Chloe Thomas Bradley (Dragons Academy), Dali Hopkins (Hartpury), Erin Jones (RGC), Finley Jones (Burry Port), Gwennan Hopkins (Hartpury), Jess Rogers (Cardiff Met, vice-captain), Katie Carr (Cardiff Met), Lucy Isaac (Dragons Academy), Maisie Davies (Burry Port), Molly Wakely (Coleg Gwent), Robyn Davies (Hartpury), Rosie Carr (Cardiff Met).
Backs: Bethan Adkins (unattached), Carys Hughes (Hartpury), Chelsea Williams (Nelson), Ellie Tromans (Cardiff Uni), Jenna De Vera (Bristol University, captain), Kate Davies (Bangor University), Kim Thurlow (Bath University), Molly Anderson-Thomas (Loughborough University), Molly Mae Powell (Dragons Academy), Molly Reardon (Nelson), Nel Metcalfe (Hartpury), Seren Singleton (Cardiff Met), Sian Jones (Sale Sharks).
