Here are your rugby evening headlines for Sunday, July 28.
Young Wales star summoned after red card
Wales Under-20 wing Tom Bowen has been called before an independent disciplinary hearing after being sent off during his side’s dramatic World Rugby U20 Championship victory over Georgia.
World Rugby has confirmed Bowen will appear before an Independent Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) on Sunday following the red card he received in Saturday’s opening pool match in Tbilisi.
The Cardiff youngster was dismissed for an accumulation of two yellow cards, the first for a high tackle under Law 9.13 and the second as a result of repeated team offending under Law 9.10.
Bowen’s case will now be considered under World Rugby’s expedited disciplinary process, with hearings typically taking place within 48 hours of the incident.
His availability for Wales’ remaining pool fixtures will depend on the outcome of that hearing.
Bowen’s dismissal came during a frantic closing spell as Richard Whiffin’s side clung on for a thrilling 25-24 victory despite finishing the match with just 13 players.
After Wales had moved eight points clear late on, Yestyn Cook was shown a yellow card as Georgia were awarded a penalty try, reducing the deficit to one point.
Moments later, Bowen was shown his second yellow card of the contest, which automatically resulted in a red card.
Georgia piled on the pressure in the closing stages and thought they had snatched victory when replacement back-rower Irakli Kolbaia forced his way over the line. However, the try was ruled out after he was held up, allowing Wales to secure a dramatic opening win.
Bowen had earlier been shown his first yellow card early in the second half for a high tackle, with Georgia taking immediate advantage as prop Gabriel Razmadze crossed from the back of a line-out.
Despite being temporarily reduced to 14 men, Wales responded impressively. Although Lewis Edwards had a try ruled out after losing control of the ball over the line, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones eventually crossed to restore Wales’s advantage before the chaotic closing minutes.
The victory gave Whiffin’s side a winning start to their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign, but they must now wait to discover whether they will be without Bowen for their next outing after the disciplinary review.
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Eddie Jones takes swipe at England
Former England head coach Eddie Jones has launched a stinging critique of the country’s rugby set-up, claiming the national side continue to underperform despite having all the advantages needed to be among the world’s elite.
Jones, who coached England between 2015 and 2022, questioned the quality of the player development pathway, arguing it is failing to produce enough top-class talent.
“England like to boast about their development system but it’s not as good as it could be,” Jones told The Times.
“As national coach, you can only select from the pool of players you’re given and I just don’t think they’ve got the quality of player that allows them to be where they should be.”
England reached the Rugby World Cup final under Jones in 2019 and won three Six Nations titles during his tenure, but the Australian believes the country’s resources should enable them to achieve far more.
“If you look at all the infrastructure and the numbers, they should be consistently a top-three team in the world but they’re not,” he said.
“They bounce between probably six and three and, to me, they’re always underperforming. But they seem happy enough with it.”
‘Freak’ Feyi-Waboso can be best in world
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent
Anthony Watson is backing “uniquely freakish” England star Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to become the best wing in the world – if he can avoid any more injuries.
Cardiff-born Feyi-Waboso is poised to start England’s July tour opener against South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, putting behind him the run of shoulder, concussion and hamstring issues that have limited him to 13 caps since making his debut in 2024.
Now restored to full fitness after making a successful comeback from a broken jaw in the Prem final for Exeter, Watson believes one of his successors in the number 14 could soon become world class.
“Manny is unlike anything we’ve seen from an athletic standpoint for a number of years,” former England and British and Irish Lions finisher Watson told the Press Association.
“Everything that you’d want athletically from a winger, he’s got. People want to talk about his size, but then they see him get up in the air and then it’s like, well, you don’t need to be tall if you jump like he can.”
Referencing England great Jason Robinson and Fiji flyer Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Watson continued: “He’s got a lot of characteristics of other wings, but he’s uniquely freakish.
“He’s probably not as agile as Jason was, but then Jason didn’t have the same ability to run over people like Manny does.
“He’s got a bit of Rupeni Caucaunibuca in him in terms of the way that when he’s going, there’s just no stopping him, whether it’s around you, through you, whatever.
“Then defensively he bangs people. It’s quite rare in the wing position to have someone who actually puts dominant tackles in.
“He makes things happen, which in international rugby is extremely difficult, and those guys are worth their weight in gold.
“He can be the best winger in the world and I don’t think he’s a million miles off at the moment. He’s just been unlucky recently with that stop-start nature of the injuries that he’s had.
“With sustained opportunities to play and show what he can do in international rugby, he can definitely be the best winger.”
With Feyi-Waboso starting on one wing, head coach Steve Borthwick will reveal on Thursday if Tommy Freeman will be selected on the other or continue to be trialled in midfield.
“Tommy’s got the capabilities to play at outside centre, there’s no question about that, but against South Africa in Johannesburg, you get your best possible team on the pitch,” Watson said. “That means Tommy and Manny playing on the wings.”
Watson was speaking at a Team England fundraiser for Lewis Moody, the former red rose captain who is now a campaigner for Motor Neurone Disease after he was diagnosed with the life-shortening neurological condition in 2025.
“It’s important for us to show support and love for someone who has been there, done it and who is going through some tough times,” Watson said. “And despite it all, he’s still doing it with a smile on his face and in the typical Lewis fashion.”
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