Here are the latest rugby stories on Friday, February 24.
Tipuric absent from Wales session
Wales star Justin Tipuric missed Wales' captain's run ahead of their Six Nations clash with England - but he is still expected to feature in Saturday's match.
The Ospreys openside had been named in the starting side by Warren Gatland after it was dramatically confirmed that the fixture would go ahead despite the threat of strike action.
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However, as Wales went through their final preparations at the Principality Stadium on Friday, Tipuric was absent. Instead, Tommy Reffell went through drills as part of the starting side, with Jac Morgan also featuring in the training session.
However, it is understood that it was just a case of managing his load ahead of the clash with England.
Tipuric had missed the captain's run ahead of Wales' autumn fixture with Georgia. That measure was also described as precautionary at the time.
That turned out to be the case, with Tipuric captaining the side during the 13-12 defeat.
Owens admits players 'shocked' after 'horrendous' fortnight
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Ken Owens says he never wants to experience a repeat of the "horrendous" off-field crisis that engulfed Welsh rugby and threatened Saturday's showpiece Guinness Six Nations clash against England.
Wales captain Owens will lead his "galvanised" team out at the Principality Stadium just 72 hours after a possible national squad strike was averted.
Compromises were ultimately found with Welsh rugby powerbrokers over contentious issues like Wales' 60-cap selection policy for players plying their trade outside the country and fixed-variable contracts across the regional game.
Against such a back-drop, Wales must somehow try to revive a Six Nations campaign that started with crushing defeats at the hands of Ireland and Scotland.
Wales have not lost their first three Six Nations games since 2003, although their recent record against England in Cardiff is impressive, having won five of the last seven encounters.
"It has been a shock to all the players," Owens said, reflecting on matters away from the pitch.
"There were a lot of tough conversations and meetings, everyone voiced their opinion and everyone backed the decision that the team and the squad have made.
"It (strike action) was a last resort, and the frustrations that have built up over a year, not just the last six weeks, brought it to this.
"The squad has been galvanised and come together, and I am sure you will see that on Saturday."
The off-field drama, of course, has come after two heavy defeats against Ireland and Scotland in the opening two rounds of the Six Nations, with Owens adding: "It has been a horrendous two weeks, but we can only focus on the rugby now, moving forward, getting a result on Saturday to put some pride back into the shirt."
POLL: Who will win Wales v England in the Six Nations? Have your say below or right here
Katherine Jenkins returns for Wales match
Katherine Jenkins will be performing at the Six Nations Wales v England game on Saturday – marking 20 years since she first sang at the stadium for a Wales international.
The Neath-born mezzo soprano said she “cannot believe it’s been 20 years”, adding: “It was a huge moment for me back then and it played such a pivotal role in the start of my career. It’s lovely to have an opportunity to acknowledge the incredible support and platform I was given, and I thank the WRU for having me back.”
The pre-match performance will be Katherine’s eighth occasion singing at a rugby international in Cardiff.
Her performance will form part of the pre-match entertainment following the choirs, made up of voices from Guernsey Male Voice Choir and Côr Meibion Pendyrus from Tylorstown, Rhondda, who will be joined by the Regimental Band Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh.
Alex Luff, Principality Stadium operations and sales manager, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Katherine Jenkins back to the stadium, marking 20 years from that very first performance in 2003. There’s nothing like the atmosphere at a Wales v England game during the Guinness Six Nations, and this Saturday is a sold-out fixture so the stadium will be in full voice!”
Katherine will be performing the Rugby World Cup anthem, ‘World in Union’ prior to kick off as a hope for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
A minute’s silence will also be held in the stadium before the anthems to help promote the message of solidarity with Ukraine as it marks a year since Russia’s invasion.
Fans are encouraged to get in early – the Guinness Six Nations Italy v Ireland clash will be shown on the in-bowl big screens from gates opening at 2.15pm.
Wales captain cheered on by English fans
By Graham Thomas
Ryan Woodman will have a small army of fans cheering him against England on Friday night – most of whom are English.
The Wales U20s captain is from purest red rose stock, with his parents and grandparents hailing from the other side of the border.
In fact, his father Kirk used to sit and watch Six Nations matches on TV, wearing a white shirt and urging the sweet chariot onwards.
Not on Friday night in Colwyn Bay, though. Woodman senior will be dressed in red, the proudest man in the ground as his 19-year-old son leads Wales against the olde enemy in a match that is live on S4C.
“I’ve changed him,” says Woodman junior. “He’s now cheering for Wales and I think he’s just about over the shock.
“My parents moved to Wales just before I was born, so most of my dad’s mates now are Welsh. He used to get stick for supporting England and now he gets a bit of stick from the London side of my family for supporting Wales.”
The same goes for Woodman’s mother, Cheryl, and both will join his grandparents and other friends at Stadiwm CSM in backing the highly-rated Dragons youngster trying to lead his country to their first win of the tournament.
Woodman’s early years were spent in Caerphilly before he moved to Caldicot, where he became one of several players to have recently emerged from the town’s rugby club, including Wales senior squad member, Ben Carter.
From there, Woodman caught the eye of the Dragons U16s, captained that team, and moved through the Dragons U18s, Newport in the Welsh Premiership, before making his senior debut for the region in December.
A versatile forward, who is at home in the second row or at blindside flanker, he earned seven caps for the U20s last season and some rave reviews, but the game he missed was against England.
Unlike Wales, who lost their opening two games to Ireland and Scotland, England are two from two after beating Scotland and Italy.
S4C – Friday: Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol – Wales U20 v England U20. Live coverage of Wales v England in the 2023 Under 20s Six Nations from Colwyn Bay. English commentary available.
Townsend's challenge to Scotland stars
Gregor Townsend has challenged his Scotland players to "go up a few levels" as he backed them to deal with the formidable test they face against France in Paris this weekend.
The Scots are top of the Guinness Six Nations table after opening their campaign with bonus-point wins away to England and at home to Wales.
However, head coach Townsend feels they will need to show further improvement if they are to maintain their perfect start in the Stade de France against the side ranked second in the world.
"We were tough on the players going into the Wales week, and rightly so because in the past we haven't backed up our first performance going into the second week of the Six Nations and also because we believed there was much more to come from the group," Townsend said, speaking on Friday morning as the team prepared to fly to Paris.
"We feel the same way this week. I think the players realise what a big test this is going to be, playing one of the best teams in the world on their home patch, at a venue we haven't had much success (at) over the past 100 years.
"It's going to be a tough challenge but we can match that challenge. We can improve from the Wales game. Going into a game like this on the back of wins is a much better place to be than if you're coming off the back of defeats.
"You've got that confident feeling about how you're playing and you've also got evidence that what you're doing is leading to good things."
Townsend unsurprisingly has kept changes to a minimum, with just one alteration to the starting XV as 2021 British and Irish Lions squad member Hamish Watson takes the place of fellow Edinburgh flanker Luke Crosbie. Ali Price - another Lion - is back in the squad as one of the subs after being left out of the 23 for the opening two games due to lack of form.
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