Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, May 31.
McCaw believes Wales are capable of causing 'carnage' at World Cup
All Blacks legend and rugby icon Richie McCaw believes Wales, alongside Australia and Argentina, are capable of causing "carnage" at the World Cup, especially if they can down higher-ranked sides to progress to the quarter-finals.
The former flanker, 42, is the only men's rugby player to captain his country to two World Cup titles: first, a nerve-wracking 8-7 win against France on home soil in 2011, and then a 34-17 win against Australia at Twickenham in 2015.
Looking ahead to the 2023 tournament kicking off in 100 days, McCaw is expecting this year's edition to have its fair share of twists and turns, in one-off matches at least.
He told World Rugby: “When you look at the top 10 in the rankings, results have shown that the teams ranked seven, eight and nine [Australia, Argentina and Wales respectively] have got the ability to knock over one of the big guys, once. But to go on and win it, you need to do that three weeks in a row and I am not sure some of those teams have got the ability to do that.
“The good thing is those teams all could get into a quarter-final and cause some real carnage. And if you do get a couple of results like that it might open the door for someone else to have a bit of a run and get more belief that they can actually do it. I think that’s what’s made the lead-up to this tournament so interesting.”
In each of the last three men's tournaments, there have been notable shock results. In 2011, Tongan fans painted the town red after they took the scalp of France in Wellington, but that was nothing compared to Japan’s victory – their first at a Rugby World Cup in 24 years – against South Africa at England 2015. In 2019, Uruguay defied most predictions and did a job on much-fancied Fiji.
As for who may claim the Webb Ellis trophy, McCaw believes the race is wide open.
"I guess from a New Zealand point of view, in the past you have sort of always knew that if they can put it together they can go and get the job done, whereas after the last year you sort of go, ‘jeepers, there is going to have to be some improvements to put the team in the right spot’," he said. “I guess from a northern hemisphere point of view, Ireland have set the pace in the Six Nations and the French aren’t that far behind, so it makes it pretty intriguing. There is no doubt that people consider the French and the Irish have got a pretty good chance of winning.” You can read the full interview here.
France to address Haouas jail sentence
France head coach Fabien Galthie is set to address Mohamed Haouas' future at a press conference next week after the prop was sentenced to one year in jail for hitting his wife.
The 16-cap front-rower was arrested on Friday for hitting his wife when he saw her smoking - after telling him she had stopped. He is set to launch an appeal and has not gone to jail in the meantime.
France's rugby federation called his behaviour "inadmissible and incompatible with representing our country at international level".
An FFR statement stated that head coach Galthie would address the situation on June 7, RugbyPass report.
“We express our dismay at this situation and condemn in the strongest terms all forms of violence, especially violence against women," the statement said. "Mohammed Haouas’ behaviour is unacceptable and incompatible with the representation of our nation at the international level. The staff of the XV de France will speak on June 7 at the press conference of the coach and the general manager initially planned.”
Vice-president Serge Simon said: “Mohammed Haouas’ conduct is contrary to the principles that underpin our sport and our national team. Being a member of the France team implies an irreproachable respect for the values of respect and integrity. Firmness is our duty in such circumstances.”
Rhys Webb announces retirement from Wales duty
Rhys Webb has become the latest Wales player to announce his retirement from Test rugby before the World Cup.
Scrum-half Webb, who won 40 caps, follows his Ospreys colleagues Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric in stepping down. All three were members of Wales' preliminary World Cup training squad ahead of the tournament in France later this year.
Writing on Instagram, 34-year-old Webb said that "present uncertainty and difficulties in Welsh rugby" and "an opportunity to play abroad" had influenced his decision. Webb's announcement comes 100 days before the World Cup kicks off. He was one of four scrum-halves in the training squad alongside Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy and Gareth Davies.
Webb made his Test debut 11 years ago, but he missed out on the 2015 World Cup through injury and was unavailable for Japan 2019 as Wales' previous selection policy for players plying their trade abroad meant he could not be considered. Webb played for Toulon at the time. But he was recalled by Wales head coach Warren Gatland for this season's Six Nations and looked to have an integral role to place in France.
"Having the opportunity to play for Wales again recently has been a huge honour, and I am proud to have been named as part of the World Cup training squad," Webb wrote. "However, whilst I would have relished the chance to end my career playing for a Welsh region, the present uncertainty and difficulties in Welsh rugby meant there was little opportunity for a contract that offered security for the coming years as I see out my professional career. As such, when an opportunity to play abroad arose, during the off-season, enabling me to provide greater career security for myself and my family, I decided to accept the offer."
Webb continued: "I feel that after achieving my goal of returning to the Wales set-up, it is the right time now for me to step away from international rugby and just enjoy my last few years as a professional rugby player. I would like to thank the Ospreys for continuing to believe in me, even when my omission from the Welsh squad sometimes had me doubting my own ability, and Warren for giving me a chance to pull the famous red jersey on once again."
Webb has been strongly linked with a move to French second division club Biarritz. But as he prepares to leave Wales, it is another blow for Gatland, who had seen Webb return to Test rugby in style during the Six Nations. Webb was man-of-the-match in Wales' away victory over Italy, and he and Williams were widely expected to battle it out for a World Cup starting place.
London Irish told they must pay staff today or be withdrawn from Premiership
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
London Irish must pay all staff for May in full today or be withdrawn from the Gallagher Premiership. The Rugby Football Union said it is giving owner Mick Crossan the chance to meet payroll as scheduled today or the offer of a deadline extension to complete a takeover will be withdrawn.
An American consortium is in discussions to take control of the club but has yet provide proof of funds to the RFU, as well as other documentation needed for the purchase to be approved.
"The RFU club financial viability group met yesterday evening. It noted the conditions set by the RFU had not been met and considered the application for an extension to the deadline," an RFU statement on Wednesday morning read. "It was agreed to defer the decision for 24 hours to establish if the club is able to honour the commitment it has made to staff that they will be paid for the month of May. The group will meet again this evening."
If all staff, including star players such as Henry Arundell and Tom Pearson, are paid today, an extension of around a week is likely to be granted for the US buyers to finalise the takeover. Irish are in grave danger of becoming the third Premiership club to fold, following Wasps and Worcester, at the end of the grimmest season in the history of the league.
It comes despite the Exiles finishing fifth in the table, just three points adrift of the play-offs, while playing some of the competition's most entertaining rugby under the guidance of former Ireland head coach Declan Kidney.
Since 2020 they have played at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium and, on top of lacking their own ground to generate revenue, they are saddled with debt in the region of £30million.
The fate of Wasps and Worcester are bleak examples of the dangers of the financial crisis that has unfolded in the Premiership. Wasps have been demoted to the bottom of the league pyramid after the RFU revoked their licence to play in next season's Championship, placing a question mark over their existence. And ambitions that Worcester could be relaunched in the Championship ended because of a dispute over terms between their new owners Atlas and the RFU.
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