The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Thursday, June 4.
Welsh club pick up utility back after English exit
The Ospreys have signed Dan John from Exeter ahead of next season.
On Wednesday, the Gallagher Prem club announced that the former Wales U20s international would be leaving Sandy Park to take up an option elsewhere. That has turned out to be the Ospreys, with Mark Jones signing John to offer cover to the backline.
His signing is a timely one, with the Ospreys having lost full-back Jack Walsh – who also joined from Exeter – to French club Montauban.
“I’m really excited by the prospect of playing for the Ospreys in the BKT URC,” said John. “There are some quality players in the team and they play some exciting rugby, I think it’s somewhere that will help me take my game to the next level.
“I’ve spent so many years at Exeter and I’m incredibly grateful to the players, coaches and supporters for making my time at the club as good as it was. I’m looking forward to starting this new chapter of my career back in Wales, and I can’t wait to get started.”
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Having joined Exeter’s academy in 2020, John made his senior debut for the club the following year – going on to make 33 appearances for the Chiefs.
“We’re really happy to have Dan joining up with us ahead of next season,” said Ospreys head coach Jones. “He’s a versatile player that can affect the game from a few different positions and we think he’ll be well suited to the brand of rugby that we want to play at St Helen’s next season.
“It was important for us to not only add depth to our backline but to add quality where possible and Dan is someone that will definitely have a welcome impact on our options in the backline.
“As a club we place a high importance on developing Welsh talent, so this signing made a lot of sense for us on multiple fronts. We’re exciting to see how Dan progresses in an Ospreys jersey.”
Ireland and Lions legend dies
By Damian Spellman, Press Association
Former Ireland and British and Irish Lions back row Fergus Slattery has died at the age of 77, Blackrock College has announced.
Slattery played 61 times for Ireland and also captained the side in a distinguished career which also saw him represent Blackrock, University College Dublin, the Barbarians, Leinster, the French Barbarians and the Lions.
He was part of the Ireland team which secured Triple Crown success in 1982 and 1985 and a veteran of the Lions tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa three years later.
Blackrock said in a statement on their official website: “Blackrock College RFC bows its head in gratitude, pride and sorrow as we remember one of our greatest sons.
“There are players who wear a jersey and there are players who define it. Fergus defined ours.
“To those who watched him play, he represented rugby at its purest.
“An open-side flanker of extraordinary intelligence, courage and relentless competitiveness, he always seemed to arrive first where the contest was fiercest.
“He played with ferocity and grace, but without ego or theatre.
“Modest in demeanour, yet monumental in achievement, Fergus never sought admiration, but earned it universally from team-mates, opponents, supporters and generations of young rugby players, who dreamed of following in his footsteps.”
Slattery, who after retirement combined running his commercial property business with working for the BBC, is survived by his wife Margo, children Nikki and Cameron and grandchildren.
Referees named for Wales’ summer Tests
Wales have learned who will referee their matches in the maiden Nations Championship.
Ireland’s Eoghan Cross is in the middle for Fiji v Wales in Cardiff, with Paul Williams taking charge of the game against Argentina in San Juan the following week.
Finally, Andrew Brace will officiate the match against South Africa in Durban.
A total of 16 referees from eight nations will oversee the 18 matches in July, with a wider group of 35 match officials from 11 unions involved throughout the competition.
New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe and Australia’s Nic Berry are the only referees appointed to two matches during this opening phase.
Luke Pearce will take charge of the opening clash between New Zealand and France in Christchurch on July 4.
The opening day also sees O’Keeffe take charge of Australia v Ireland in Sydney, James Doleman appointed to South Africa v England in Johannesburg, and Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli overseeing Argentina v Scotland in Cordoba. Australia’s Nic Berry will referee Japan v Italy in Tokyo.
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The following week, Hollie Davidson will become the first Scottish referee to officiate 50 Test matches when she takes charge of Fiji v England.
In doing so, she will become only the third female official to reach that milestone, and the 19th overall in Test history. She joins England’s Matthew Carley and South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron in achieving the landmark during 2026.
Elsewhere in the second round of fixtures, Karl Dickson will referee Australia v France in Brisbane, while France’s Luc Ramos takes charge of New Zealand v Italy in Wellington.
Pierre Brousset is appointed to South Africa v Scotland in Pretoria. Andrea Piardi oversees Japan v Ireland.
The concluding round of fixtures in this July window on 18 July sees Angus Gardner take charge of Argentina v England in Santiago del Estero, while Berry referees New Zealand v Ireland at Eden Park. O’Keeffe has been appointed to Japan v France in Tokyo.
Christophe Ridley will handle Australia v Italy in Perth, while Carley takes charge of Fiji v Scotland in Edinburgh, bringing the opening chapter of fixtures to a close.
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