The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
These are your latest rugby headlines on Saturday, January 10.
Tuipulotu: I’m glad I’m out here
Welsh back-row Carwyn Tuipulotu has opened up about his new life in France and admits he is glad to be overseas as uncertainty continues to hang over the game in Wales.
The Wales U20s international, who had long been tipped for senior honours, was let go by the Scarlets last season as he struggled for game-time and, after a brief spell with Saracens, joined Top 14 side Pau as a medical joker in the hope of getting more minutes.
Having impressed in his debut campaign, Tuipulotu signed a new deal with the club over the summer and he admits it has been an ideal move, with the big No.8 suiting Pau’s style of play.
“The Top 14 is beautiful chaos,” he told Rugby World. “They play attractive rugby, so it suits me. Obviously some teams are very direct and physical, and I think Section Paloise have a playing style with the big forwards that they’ve got.
“So I definitely suit the way they play and the game plan. I just told them to give me the ball and I’ll run it, so it was pretty simple from that point of view. I made my intentions clear.
“I’ve found that in the Top 14 anyone can win, like anyone could beat anyone,” he added. “And it’s an exciting league. It’s one of the best in the world, so yeah, it’s really good. A good place to develop my rugby.”
While Tuipulotu – who will return to Parc y Scarlets to face his former side in the Champions Cup tonight – is thriving overseas, he feels for his former team-mates and friends back in Wales, after the WRU announced plans to cut the number of Welsh regions from four to three.
However, as he admits, he is “glad” he moved when he did as he got away from the “anxiety-inducing” situation.
“My agent was telling me about the regions moving down to three clubs and it’s obviously really sad because I know a lot of the boys back in Wales,” he said.
“Obviously, I was there when all the conversations started happening, and it was a bit nerve-wracking and anxiety-inducing. But I definitely feel glad that I’m out here in France.”
Star hospitalised by pitch
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson has revealed that his lock Adré Smith has been hospitalised with an infection caused by the condition of the pitch at their home stadium.
Smith injured his knee during his side’s URC win over the Bulls last weekend and has spent the last couple of days in hospital, where he is set to remain over the weekend.
With Ruan Ackermann also ruled out for the Stormers due to a neck issue, Smith would have been in consideration to face Harlequins in the Champions Cup this weekend, but has been sidelined with the infection which doctors have “put directly down” to the condition of the pitch in Cape Town.
Issuing an injury update, a frustrated Dobson said: “Adré was a consideration for us, but he is not available. He sustained quite a serious injury last week on that pitch, which is a source of enormous frustration for us.
“There is no beating around the bush about it. He split his knee and got an infection where the field was not adequately covered by grass. The doctors put it directly down to the condition of the field.”
The lock was not the only casualty from the turf, with tighthead prop Neethling Fouché among those who ended the game with scrapes on their face, and Dobson has called for action to be taken having named a much-changed team to face Quins.
“[Smith] is not the only guy who sustained grazes,” the Stormers boss continued. “He also picked up a turf toe against Cardiff. It doesn’t make us happy at all.
“We were promised a world-class pitch after the final against Munster, and we didn’t have that. It is a really desperate situation, and we hope Stormers Rugby takes this up.”
Matches postponed after ‘giant’ dies
Scottish Rugby has announced that all matches involving Berwick RFC’s teams this weekend have been postponed following the death of a club “giant”.
Jim Turner, who was a founding member of the club, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 92. A former player for Leicester, Cambridge University and the British Army, he had a 57-year association with Berwick in which he held “almost every off-field role” at the club, serving twice as President and being elected on to the Executive Committee.
In more recent years, he was famed for his in-game scoring announcements at the club, while he had a “near-perfect record” of attending games, home or away.
Current Berwick President, Ian Jackson, paid tribute to Turner, writing: “Jim was a giant of Berwick Rugby Club and will be very sadly missed. Our condolences go to [his wife] Ruth and all of the family members.”
In a statement, Scottish Rugby also expressed their condolences and confirmed that Berwick’s matches would be postponed this weekend as a mark of respect.
“Scottish Rugby is saddened to hear about the passing on Wednesday 7 January of Berwick stalwart Jim Turner,” the governing body said. “He was 92.
“As a mark of respect, all matches involving Berwick teams this weekend have been postponed. Scottish Rugby sends its condolences to Jim’s family and countless friends at Berwick Rugby Club.”
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