The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Friday, November 28.
Rees-Zammit’s future up in the air
Bristol Bears coach Pat Lam has remained tight-lipped over the future of Louis Rees-Zammit beyond this season after the Welshman’s plans took a dramatic turn on Friday.
The winger signed a one-year contract at Ashton Gate upon his return to the UK following his exploits in NFL, but had agreed to sign up to the R360 breakaway league next year. The rebel league, fronted by former England international Mike Tindall, has spent months targeting high-profile stars from around the globe to launch the competition with impetus.
But in the latest in a number of setbacks for the competition, Tindall and R360 announced on Friday that its launch – initially pencilled in for next year – had been pushed back to 2028.
What that now means for Rees-Zammit’s future is unclear but, with Lam keeping his counsel over the situation.
“I’m going to be consistent on recruitment,” he said. “If I have something to tell you, I’ll let you know. I’d love to keep all my players and bring more players in, and would love to have as many world class players as I can.”
There would be no shortage of suitors for the former Gloucester man, who returned to the Wales fold this autumn.
Rees-Zammit has been named among the replacements for the Bears’ PREM clash with Northampton this weekend, with Wales’ Test against the Springboks meaning their English-based players must return to their clubs.
Kolisi – Springboks can’t get arrogant in Cardiff
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi says the Springboks know what will happen if they get arrogant ahead of Saturday’s Test at the Principality Stadium, pointing to this South Africa team’s record against Wales.
“We prepare for everybody the same and we treat every game exactly the same,” said the two-time World Cup winner ahead of Saturday’s match. “We don’t have a good record against Wales in Wales in this group.
“So we know how tough the Welsh team is and we also have been in this position before, where we in 2015 all the guys retired at the same time. And then we went through 2016, 2017 and then coach Rassie, coach Stick and everybody came in.
“Then we started changing things. Every team goes through the season. That’s what happens when you don’t change your team, when you play the same personnel every single weekend, and that’s what’s been so good with our team, is that we’re chopping and changing.
“But while we’re wanting to win, the coach never says, I’m trying this team out. It’s okay if we lose. No, we want to win, and then we want to transform the team and also build squad depth.”
Speaking about the record against Wales, Kolisi is referring to the six matches that Wales have won against South Africa between 2014 and 2022.
At one point, Wales even defeated the Springboks four times in a row. However, since beating them in Bloemfontein in July 2022, South Africa have won the last four matches – scoring an average of 42 points in those games.
Even with both sides much-changed due to the match being out of the Test window, Kolisi doesn’t expect his side to take anything for granted despite being overwhelming favourites.
“This weekend’s team is all the players that we could have for this game,” he added. “And I’m very excited for the new team and we know what how the Welsh will come out for us this weekend.
“So we’re pretty excited for the game, and we’re gonna give it our all, and I’m gonna give it everything. If we come in and be arrogant, we’ve seen what happens.
“If you don’t prepare right for the team or you, and because we saw how well they played last weekend, they had amazing moments in the game, and only later in the game, New Zealand pulled away. So we’re going to have to start with the intensity and play within our standards.”
Wales ‘physically ready’ for Springbok onslaught
Wales captain Dewi Lake says his side are physically ready for the challenge of facing back-to-back world champions South Africa in Cardiff this weekend.
Steve Tandy’s side head into their final match of the autumn without 13 of their English and French-based players. They have also conceded 52 points in each of their defeats to Argentina and New Zealand this month.
As such, the bookies have the much-changed Wales side as 40/1 to win in Cardiff – perhaps the longest odds ever offered on them at home.
Despite that, Lake believes Wales can fight fire with fire when it comes to the Springboks’ power game.
“I think physically we’re ready,” he said. “We showed how physical we can be against New Zealand.
“I know it wore off for us in the end. I don’t think there’s a question of physicality in this group. Or especially the mentality to go and be physical.
“We’re excited to go and prove that.”
He added: “They’re a team I enjoy playing. They’re the best in the world for a reason.
“We know the threats they have, but also we know the threats we have. We’ve shown over this four week period we’re a team who can score tries. We’re excited to hopefully go and do that again this weekend.”
Women’s Lions won’t play at iconic venue
The British and Irish Lions will not play at Eden Park on their landmark first women’s tour in New Zealand.
The venues for the three-Test series in September 2027 have not been announced yet, but Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner has gone public on the country’s biggest venue missing out.
“I’m extremely disappointed that it is not being played at our national stadium,” he told an Auckland Council meeting.
The Lions will instead play the Black Ferns at the city’s Go Media Stadium, which has about half the capacity of Eden Park.
“The bid at Eden Park wasn’t strong enough or compelling enough,” said New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson.
“We are excited about what we can launch and can’t talk about it yet. Playing the inaugural women’s Lions series will be a step apart, no matter where the venues are.”
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