Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, June 9.
Williams backs Wales to defy doubters
Wales legend Shane Williams has backed Warren Gatland's squad to defy expectations and make a real impact at the Rugby World Cup.
A fifth-place finish in the 2023 Six Nations has tempered expectations ahead of another trip across the channel later this year, while a series of shock exits from the squad has created a chaotic feel around the camp from the outside. Cory Hill became the latest to depart on Friday, just weeks after Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb ended their international careers before the summer training sessions had even started.
Added to that, Rhys Carre was sent home for not hitting performance targets and Ross Moriarty withdrew from the selection process before the squad was even announced.
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Williams remains upbeat, however, believing the current squad has what it takes to restore some pride to Welsh rugby after a debilitating few months marred by player unrest.
“A World Cup quarter-final is a must,” said Williams.
“Once you get to that quarter-final stage, anything can happen. It’s about time we started being a bit more positive about Welsh rugby.
“One thing I’ve found is that you can never write the Welsh off, it could be a very positive World Cup.
“It’s about putting a smile back on the supporters' faces and I believe this squad can do that.”
Williams has never forgotten the disappointment that followed that Wales' shock group stage exit to Fiji in 2007 and wants the current crop of Welsh stars to avoid that sense of regret.
“We played some good rugby until that point and then tried to beat Fiji at their own game with an open, expansive game which backfired to say the least,” said Williams, who was speaking as part of Thomas’ Three Peaks challenge to demonstrate that living with HIV need not be a barrier to achieving anything, and to celebrate how far science and medicine have come in the last few decades.
“We came home without qualifying for the quarters, which is quite embarrassing when you’re coming home and a lot of your family members are going on a plane to Marseille because they thought you would be there.”
Retired Wales star lands coaching role
Wales international Bradley Davies has been announced as the new assistant coach of Bridgend Ravens, just over a week after announcing his playing career is finished.
Davies, who has previously worked with Bridgend while combining some coaching duties with his playing at the Ospreys, is keen to build towards becoming a head coach.
“It’s great news that we’ve got Bradley Davies joining our coaching group at Bridgend. He has always had an interest in coaching, having performed a number of duties at the Ospreys whilst still playing,” Ravens head coach, Tom Smith, told Dai Sport.
“He enjoyed an illustrious playing career, forged through plenty of hard work and grit, and I’m sure he’ll show the same work ethic and determination in his coaching. I’ve played professional rugby for the best part of 20 years and this is the natural next step for me, I have a real passion for coaching,” said Davies.
Davies added: “I’ve already done a little bit of coaching with the Ospreys and the Polish national team and I can’t wait to get started full time now I’ve hung up my boots
“The set piece, especially the line-out, is my specialist area and I’m a very ambitious and forward thinking person. I feel I can add real value at Bridgend, while also learning my trade alongside an outstanding young group of coaches.
“My most important job will be to make Bridgend an excellent set piece team with a pack of forwards that are feared and respected thought out the league. It’s all about helping the side to reach the top end of the Premiership playing exciting and winning rugby.”
Bristol get Champions Cup reprieve
Bristol Bears have been handed a place in next season's European Champions Cup after the implosion of London Irish.
Irish went into administration earlier this week and will now not compete in next season's European competition or the Gallagher Premiership.
It means Bristol get a reprieve after missing out on Europe's top tier following a disappointing season that saw them finish ninth in the table.
An EPCR statement read: "Following the RFU’s decision to suspend London Irish from all competitions, EPCR can clarify that regrettably, the club will not compete in the 2023/24 Champions Cup.
"As Bristol Bears are the highest-ranked club in the Gallagher Premiership league table at the conclusion of the regular season which did not qualify for the 2023/24 Champions Cup, they will now replace London Irish in next season’s tournament.
"The formats for the 2023/24 Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will be announced shortly, as will details of the pool draws for both tournaments."
Joyce open to 15s return
Jasmine Joyce says she isn't yet ready to stop playing competitive rugby union, despite her determination to compete at a third Olympic Games as part of Team GB's Sevens side.
The 27-year-old left the professional 15-a-side programme after last year's Rugby World Cup and subsequently missed out on the 2023 Women's Six Nations.
Instead she returned to the World Sevens Series as part of a bid to qualify for Paris 2024, having previously represented GB at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
"We'd just come back from a successful World Cup, full-time contracts in place, the first time that had happened, so it was a huge choice to come here and represent Great Britain," she told the BBC.
"My next goal is to compete in an Olympic Games and to do that I had to sacrifice playing with Wales and come up here and take a full-time contract [with the sevens]."
"Seven suits me... I can perform better on a sevens pitch than a fifteens pitch.
"I love the occasion and atmosphere of fifteens. Getting to sing the national anthem every time you play is such a special moment.
"Also, my friends and family can come and watch in Wales, England, Ireland, whereas in sevens it's so tough for them to get out to places like Dubai, Cape Town, Australia and New Zealand."
However, despite her progress, she's not ready to completely call time on her 15s career.
"I'd love to go back to Wales and play with them," she added. "That's the way I'm thinking, although I don't know what the coaches are thinking.
"The Six Nations is such a huge occasion and after the Olympic Games there's obviously a fifteens World Cup which is something I'd potentially go back to, although I don't know how that would fit in with my schedule."
"100% I've not hung my 15s boots for Wales up yet."
Read more:
Welsh rugby star Davies and his footballer fiancée launch another career as he leaves Wales
Gutted' Wales international announces he's quit World Cup squad in new blow for Gatland
Today's rugby news as new Wales coach makes big impression and squad hit by fifth exit
