Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, January 31.
Tipuric linked with huge move to English club
Wales star Justin Tipuric has been linked with a sensational move across the border to Bristol Bears, according to the latest reports.
The openside flanker, who has spent his entire professional career at Ospreys, had previously been linked with a move to Ashton Gate in 2019, and Ruck reports that the Premiership club want him again, with director of rugby Pat Lam reportedly wanting to include him in his squad rebuild ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The former Wales captain is out of contract at the end of the season. With 88 caps for his country, he would still be eligible to play for Wales if he moved away from playing in the United Rugby Championship.
Bristol, who are currently bottom of the Premiership, are not the only club said to be chasing Tipuric, with Racing 92 also credited with an interest in signing the British and Irish Lion.
Gatland identifies 'tidy' future Wales fly-half
Joe Hawkins was one of the headline picks in Warren Gatland's team selection for the Six Nations opener against Ireland, with the 20-year-old centre keeping his place in the backline after winning his first cap against Australia in the autumn.
The former Wales U20s captain has an admirer in the returning Wales coach, with Gatland praising his performances at centre and lauding him as a "really tidy footballer". However, the Welsh boss has also said he could be a future pick at fly-half, with Neil Jenkins identifying his talent.
Explaining why he picked Hawkins for the Ireland clash, Gatland said: "I thought he was really, really good against Australia when he was on for that game. It was his first start. He’s a really tidy footballer. Neil Jenkins thinks he’ll potentially be a 10 as he’s played there before. He’s got a lot of those skills. There’s been real competition in that position [centre]. Keiran Williams has been outstanding in the last week or so."
He added: "We know the experience that Nick [Tompkins] has. Mason Grady has had some nice touches. I’m really excited about the midfield and the potential of that going forward. With Joe, it’s a bit of continuity with George in midfield, having played there before, as well as the experience on either side of him. He’s a lovely footballer and I wanted to give him the reassurance and confidence after the Australia performance to start again."
READ MORE: The Warren Gatland Q&A as Wales boss reveals exactly what he's asked of Alun Wyn Jones
'Wales happy to be underdogs against Ireland'
Warren Gatland has said Wales are happy to be written off in their first game of the 2023 Six Nations against Ireland.
Andy Farrell's side arrive in Cardiff as the world's top-ranked men's team following a memorable 2022 when they beat New Zealand twice, South Africa and Australia. But they have lost their last four Six Nations games in the Welsh capital since defeating Wales 10 years ago.
While Gatland admits Ireland will present a major challenge in his first game back since returning as coach, he added that being labelled as underdogs only provided motivation for his squad to perform at their best.
"I think all the Welsh like to be underdogs," he said. "We know how good a team they are. You don't become the number one team in the world without consistency. We realise what a challenge that will be, and they have the continuity of being unbeaten in the autumn as well and the confidence that brings.
"The underdog tag is something I've found in the past the Welsh boys tend to relish. They like people writing them off, as it tends to motivate them. I am confident we will give a good account of ourselves on Saturday and give a good performance."
Leicester sign ex-England star Mike Brown
Reigning Gallagher Premiership champions Leicester Tigers have signed former England full-back Mike Brown on a short-term contract.
Free agent Brown hasn’t played in the Premiership since appearing for Newcastle last March, and his only rugby this season came as part of the Barbarians squad for their three-game Premiership club tour in November.
His arrival comes after Freddie Burns joined Super Rugby side Highlanders, having played more than 100 times for Leicester in two spells between 2014-2017 and 2021-2023.
A statement read: “Leicester can confirm the signing of Mike Brown on a short-term contract. The back joins Tigers after previously representing Harlequins, where he won two Premiership titles, and Newcastle Falcons. Brown has made 72 Test appearances for England and featured in three Six Nations winning campaigns for the national side. Brown joins the club effective immediately.”
New Leicester boss Richard Wigglesworth added: “Mike is an experienced Premiership player, who has represented his country and won trophies at club and Test level. His experience and his knowledge are vital during this Six Nations period where we have a number of players away.
“Mike is hungry to prove himself out on the pitch and impressed us with not only what he is saying and doing off the pitch, but his efforts on the field and willingness to help those guys around him. Above all, Mike is a competitor and wants to be successful. We want those attributes in our players and he offers that.”
Keenan: Ireland must be 'a lot better' if they are to win Six Nations
Full-back Hugo Keenan admits Ireland's performances must vastly improve if they are to realise their potential by becoming Guinness Six Nations champions. Andy Farrell's men go into the championship as the world's top-ranked nation and the pre-tournament favourites.
In-form Ireland won nine of 11 Tests in 2022 but were far from convincing in beating Fiji and Australia in November after beginning the autumn by toppling world champions South Africa.
Keenan is among the Irish contingent who have yet to taste Six Nations glory and believes better displays are required to plug the gap on his CV, beginning on Saturday in Wales.
"That's what we're all chasing," he said of the title, according to the Irish Mirror. "I've never experienced it. I know some of the lads have from the 2018 side, and we're all pretty determined to do it again and I think it's taking things one game at a time.
"That's the challenge, that's the goal the coaches are setting and we're setting for ourselves. I think we have the capabilities to, so it's just about performing individually and collectively.
"I know it was still such a successful campaign in November with three wins, but I don't think we quite clicked in a lot of the areas. It was great beating South Africa, but then we slipped down in our standards against Fiji, and it wasn't the most polished performance against Australia.
"To go and compete in the Six Nations, if we're talking about winning the championship and going to Wales and beating them, we're going to have to be a lot better than in the autumn."
Ireland have not won a Six Nations fixture in Cardiff since 2013 and were frustrated to lose 21-16 there in their opening match of the 2021 competition following Peter O'Mahony's early red card. That match was played behind closed doors due coronavirus restrictions.
Keenan, who is anticipating a different type of challenge this time around as a raucous Welsh crowd prepare to welcome back head coach Warren Gatland, expects past Principality Stadium disappointment to enhance Irish desire.
"I think people who were part of that squad definitely use it as an extra motivation to bring it into this Six Nations, as that extra bit of fuel," said the 26-year-old Leinster player, speaking at Ireland's training camp in Portugal. He added: "It's a big challenge, isn't it? It's going to be a bit different from the last time, an empty stadium there."
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