Here are your rugby morning headlines for Friday, May 29.
Two youngsters singled out by Wales great
Former Wales full-back Liam Williams has backed two young players to break through at the Scarlets in the coming years.
The 93-cap Williams has been working with the Scarlets since hanging up his boots earlier this year, dealing with the younger players in particular as he considers a move into coaching.
And he has chosen two specifically that he believes will shine in years to come.
“Loads of talent,” said Williams on Scrum V. “A couple of 20s boys are really good.
“Carwyn Leggatt-Jones at 10, he’s going to be a hell of a player, that kid. Ioan Jones, the 15. He’s definitely one to watch.
“There’s a couple of other guys coming through that I’ve been working with. Hopefully we’ll see if I’m there next year.”
Leggatt-Jones’ inclusion is no surprise, given the Wales U20s fly-half has long been tipped for a bright future. Having broken into the Scarlets side this season while still in school, the sky is seemingly the limit for Leggatt-Jones.
As for Jones, the former England U20s full-back joined the Scarlets from Gloucester last year. During his time in England’s age-grade set-up, he won a Junior World Championship in 2024 – starting in the final.
However, he does qualify for Wales through his father.
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Cardiff coach hits back at ‘easy’ jibe
Corniel van Zyl has hit back at Stormers boss John Dobson’s claim that Cardiff was the “easiest” of the United Rugby Championship quarter-final opponents.
Cardiff take on the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday having beaten the same opponents at home a fortnight ago to seal a first ever URC play-off appearance.
But despite falling short against the same opponents, Dobson was happy to get drawn against Cardiff.
“It’s probably the easiest of the quarter-finals,” the Stormers director of rugby told CapeTalk.
“If we won in Cardiff, we would have played the Lions and I think we’d be a lot more angst-ridden than we are about Cardiff.
“It sounds arrogant and presumptuous, but I think if I was to choose a quarter-finalist, it’s the first time they have been in a quarter-final so I would probably choose them.”
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Van Zyl has welcomed the claim made by Dobson and believes Cardiff can upset the odds.
“It makes it even better,” said Van Zyl when asked about the Stormers boss’ comments.
“It’s a nice little challenge and it will come down to the 80 minutes and hopefully the boys can perform well.
“With Stormers’ last few results after starting the season so well, the pressure was on us last time at Cardiff Arms Park, but that has moved a little bit now.
“I know people will be writing us off, but we will have a good crack at it and see what happens.”
Welsh marquee signing hoping for ‘fairytale finish’
New Cardiff signing Scott Sio is hoping for a “fairytale finish” to his Exeter career.
The 34-year-old prop is heading to Wales after four years with the Gallagher Prem club, having not enjoyed the most successful of times at Sandy Park. Having joined from the Brumbies in 2022, the former Australia prop – who now plays Test rugby for Samoa – has had to make do with a two seventh places and one ninth place in the league.
However, with Exeter pushing to reach the play-offs for the first time since 2021, Sio will be hoping he can sign off in style.
“You always want to achieve great things at clubs and and win trophies,” Sio told BBC Sport. “We understand there’s obviously a process to that, but I’d be ecstatic if we could push forward and have a big win at Twickenham in three weeks’ time.”
He added: “I came over in October 2022 with an open mind to just improve as a player and a person and I definitely feel I’ve done that here.
“The club have really just given me a great environment to do that and [given me] opportunities to express myself as a player in a new competition.
“So much has happened to me, not just on the field – I’m getting married in July to my fiancée Nara, and I’ve had a little one, my son – so it’s just been blessings on blessings coming over here.”
His boss at Exeter, Rob Baxter, is also hoping Sio can leave with some success before joining Cardiff.
“Scotty’s been fantastic – he’s been one of our key and consistent performers through a pretty challenging time,” he said.
“I actually said to Scotty ‘I really do hope this season has a lot of positives for you’ because he’s worked extremely hard and been a very good player at a challenging time for the club.
“I said ‘I’d love it if you were here at a time when you feel like we’ve had a really successful season and you’ve been a part of it’ – that’s how I would like him to sign off his time here.”
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Glasgow boosted by return to fitness of Scotland star
By Gavin McCafferty, Press Association
Scott Cummings has made a timely return to full fitness ahead of Glasgow’s BKT United Rugby Championship play-off campaign.
The British and Irish Lions second-row forward will start in the quarter-final clash with Connacht at Scotstoun on Friday night.
The Scotland lock has been out with a hamstring injury since January.
Patrick Schickerling, Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge also return to the team.
Head coach Franco Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “We are pleased to welcome Scott back into our matchday 23 after his injury lay-off – he has worked hard and worked closely with our medical and S&C teams to put himself in the best possible position ahead of his return.
“Connacht will present a strong challenge. They have a well-drilled squad full of talent, and come here as one of the most in-form teams in the competition.”