Here are your rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, June 6.
Gatland made statement to squad - Shane
Wales legend Shane Williams feels for discarded prop Rhys Carré but warned that with Warren Gatland, Wales players should get used that sort of ruthlessness.
Carré was dumped from Welsh preparations for the upcoming World Cup, with a statement announcing that he had failed to meet individual performance targets.
That came after the Cardiff loosehead had initially been named in a 54-man squad in early May.
And Williams, who experienced Gatland’s methods first-hand back in 2011, believes the decision may also have been a message to the remainder of the squad.
He said: “I feel a bit for Rhys. He’s a player who has had weight issues before and fitness and he’s gone away and worked at it. I know that Warren Gatland is ruthless in what he says but he says these things for a reason.
“He wants the players to win and he wants the players to have no excuses, to go out there and do their best. Sometimes things can get handled a bit better but also it’s a statement to the other players in the squad, 'if you drop your standards, I will get someone else in to come and do your job'.
“I think that is the way Warren works and Rhys will have known this. I do feel for Rhys, and it potentially means he misses out on the World Cup. But it’s also a kick up the backside to Rhys and to other players who might think they can take their foot off the gas.
“But I know Rhys, he’s a lovely character as well and I feel for him in that respect. Who knows, maybe it will give him the boost he needs and it will give him another opportunity hopefully. That is international rugby I’m afraid.”
Wales head into the World Cup off the back of a Six Nations in which they won just one match, beating Italy to finish fifth.
And since the start of their preparations, former skippers Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, as well as scrum-half Rhys Webb, have all announced their retirements from international rugby.
Despite that less-than-ideal build-up, Williams has backed Gatland to have the squad in tip-top shape by the time they play their World Cup opener against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.
“Warren is a coach that instils confidence in players, he will certainly be putting them through their paces in the training camp,” added Williams, who was speaking as part of Gareth 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.
“I’ve seen some pictures and videos coming back of boys doubled over, throwing up after a session. It’s old school training, but a World Cup is such a short tournament, it’s over in the blink of an eye.
“You lose a game and you are out of the competition completely. He’s got a lot of work to do, there has been a lot of negative publicity around Welsh rugby in the last 24 months, whether it be the WRU, whether it be wages of players, whether it is the regions.
“Now that the players are having the opportunity to go away and train hard, get out of the huge goldfish bowl that is Wales and really prepare to have no excuses going into a World Cup. What you find with Wales is you never write them off. There have been times when we have been written off and we have gone and won huge games and Grand Slams. My heart is saying is that is what is going to happen in this World Cup.”
Tackle HIV is a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and Terrence Higgins Trust and aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. For more information visit www.tacklehiv.org and follow @tacklehiv
Three leave Scarlets
The Scarlets have thanked three young players who have joined the ongoing Welsh rugby exodus this summer.
Wales U20s scrum-half Harri Williams, lock Griff Evans and back-rower Iestyn Rees are all joining English Championship side Ampthill RFC ahead of next season, as revealed by WalesOnline.
Talented Williams made two appearances for the Scarlets senior side and represented Llanelli RFC in the Welsh Premiership. The 20-year-old also featured for Wales at the 2023 U20s Six Nations.
Second row Evans played for the Scarlets in the friendlies against Bristol Bears and Saracens last season. He was also part of the Llandovery side that lifted the Premiership trophy.
Back-rower Iestyn Rees played six times in Scarlets colours, coming off the bench in this season’s Judgement Day clash against the Dragons and the Challenge Cup semi-final against Glasgow Warriors.
A statement read: "Scarlets would like to thank all three players for their time at the club and wish them well for their move."
Ampthill coach Paul Turner told WalesOnline he was excited by the talent Williams has, adding: "I remember telling Gareth Jenkins about him who came up to watch Harri play when he was at St Joseph's College in Ipswich, and he obviously liked what he saw.
"Things haven't worked out as well for him in Wales as he would have liked, and I tried to sign him on loan last season but the Scarlets needed him.
"He's still very young, and I'm really excited to work with him."
Dawson tips England to overcome Wales or Pool rivals
England World Cup-winner Matt Dawson believes England have a chance of winning the Rugby World Cup and should at least get to the semi-finals after being placed in Wales and Australia's side of the draw.
Steve Borthwick's side are set to face either Wales, Australia or Fiji in the quarter-finals of the tournament, depending on who finishes in the top two spots in Pool C. England have to overcome Argentina and Japan in their group.
Dawson told Virgin Media Sport: “I’m not going to stand here and say ‘England are going to win the World Cup’,” he said. “I think they’ve got a chance and with the draw they have they should get to a semi-final. Then as we all know, all bets are off. You become superhuman. Teams have played five or six games, there are injuries, form; all these things come into play.
“But England are not going to be the favourites. Ireland, France, New Zealand and maybe South Africa are likely to be two of the teams in the final.
“Potentially an Australia, England, Scotland get into further qualifications with the bounce of a ball, a yellow card or whatever can happen. We know what this game can produce. Fingers crossed it happens for England but I think it will be a tough tournament for them.”
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