These are your rugby headlines for Friday, June 17.
Pivac Wales target to make England debut
Henry Arundell is poised to make his England debut this weekend, with Eddie Jones having won the battle for the hugely talented full-back's services.
The London Irish teen ace has Welsh and Scottish ancestry and has been reportedly eyed up by Wayne Pivac and Gregor Townsend.
However, he has thrown his lot in with England and, according to the Mail Arundell will be named by Eddie Jones on Friday start Sunday's Twickenham clash with a powerful, French-dominated Barbarians side.
It is England's final warm-up before their three-Test summer tour to Australia, with Arundell looking to put down a marker to play against the Wallabies. Arundell has burst through as one of the rugby sensations of the season and has shone for England under-20s against Wales.
His pace, trickery, footwork and try-scoring ability made him a wanted man. He qualifies for Wales, as well as England and Scotland, with Wayne Pivac among Arundell's many admirers.
However, with the Celtic interest hovering, Jones is fast-tracking the youngster into his senior Red Rose fold. Mike Brown, England's former full-back, has likened 19-year-old Arundell to New Zealand great Christian Cullen.
Arudnell's possible problem in throwing in his lot with England is that they have another young No. 15 of outstanding potential in 21-year-old Freddie Steward. Wales have a proven and stellar last line of defence in Liam Williams, but he is 31 and Leigh Halfpenny is 34 this year, so opportunities will arise in the red 15 jersey post-those two.
But it doesn't look like that man will be Arundell, who said of meeting up with England: "I didn’t expect anything on the level of what’s happened this season. I was nervous going into camp but Eddie just told me to enjoy it. I’m only 19 so there’s no pressure."
Owens determined to make World Cup
Wales veteran Ken Owens is adamant he has another World Cup in him despite having spent almost an entire season on the sidelines.
The Welsh warrior has not played a game of rugby since October when he featured for the Scarlets against Leinster and has seen young gun Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias put down their Test markers. Those two will be looking to further enhance their own prospects of starting at France 2023 with stellar shows as Wales face the world champions South Africa in three Tests shortly.
Owens will be 36 before the tournament starts next year, but needs to first recover from a back injury.
However, asked if he still had ambitions to play in the World Cup, Owens replied: “I have, but at the moment it’s about getting back playing, getting back into the Scarlets team and building from there. Before I can think of anything else, I have to start playing again. If I do get back fit and I can bring value, then brilliant. But I will take it step by step."
Kruis named for Baa-Baas finale
George Kruis will make one final Twickenham appearance after being named in the Barbarians starting line-up for Sunday's match against England.
The former England and Saracens lock, who has spent the last two years with Japanese club Panasonic Wild Knights after winning 45 caps for his country from 2014 to 2020, is retiring after the game.
Head coach Fabien Galthie has selected the 32-year-old in the second row with Australian Will Skelton, his former Sarries team-mate, in a side otherwise dominated by Grand Slam winners France.
Galthie's champions provide 10 of the starting line-up, although, in the case of captain Charles Ollivon, it marks a return to international action after being sidelined during the Six Nations with injury.
Galthie, who has led a training camp in Monaco this week, said: "We have 19 French players, so we are the British Barbarians with a French accent! We have a good balance of very young players and experienced players."
Galthie believes playing a final match at Twickenham, the scene of domestic success as well as international triumphs, will be a fitting farewell for 2019 World Cup finalist Kruis. Galthie said: "It is like a present for George, it is a nice story."
Prem final eclipses England games, says star
Leicester captain Ellis Genge has described Saturday's Gallagher Premiership final against Saracens as the biggest game of his career.
Genge, who has won 36 England caps and been part of a World Cup squad, will make his Tigers farewell at Twickenham.
"It has been a lot of hard work and a lot of good people putting a lot of time in away from the scenes, outside working hours, to get us where we are," Genge said.
"I've got the biggest game of my career on Saturday. We haven't been in this situation as a club for a long, long time, although we are quite fortunate that we've got a lot of people in the room that have been competing for trophies and in finals for the last few years. We've got a number of winners around us, so it is reassuring."
