The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
These are your latest rugby headlines on Thursday, March 26.
Young Welsh star flown home
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia has provided an update on young openside flanker Harry Beddall who was stretchered off the field following a sickening incident his side’s defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town last Sunday.
The clash in Cape Town was just 20 minutes old when proceedings were brought to an abrupt halt, with Dragons star Beddall getting his head on the wrong side of a tackle as he tried to bring down Stormers number eight Evan Roos.
He took the full force of the South African’s knee to the side of his head and hit the ground hard as he lay there in a daze.
As referee Andrew Brace blew his whistle to stop the game, medics immediately rushed to the former Wales U20s star’s aid and supported his neck as they began treatment.
Beddall has suffered a concussion but should be back before the end of the season.
“When I saw it live it didn’t look good,” said Tiatia.
“As a father or as a coach it’s tough when you see young men get injured that way. He’s actually home now.
“So, we flew him home. The main thing for him is recovering well and go through the protocols.
“Hopefully he has no symptoms and he’s back on the horse again soon.”
Nations Championship deal plunged into doubt
A huge sponsorship deal for the upcoming Nations Championship has been plunged into doubt due to the war in Iran.
The inaugural tournament campaign will kick off in July, pitting the best sides from the northern and southern hemisphere together in a 12-team competition held every two years.
It is a move to transform the summer and autumn international windows and make them more competitive than the series of ‘friendly’ matches currently on offer, with all the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides involved alongside Fiji and Japan.
Qatar Airways had proposed a £80 million deal to cover four tournaments over eights years, with the proposal reported to include Doha hosting the finals in 2028.
However, the Telegraph reports that the deal is yet to be signed, with the commercial arrangement thrown into doubt due to the uncertainty caused by the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The Gulf states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates – have found themselves at the centre of that uncertainty and there is concerns it could lead to the deal collapsing.
It has been reported that the resulting loss of revenue would not be catastrophic due to the strength of the broadcasting deals signed for the tournament, with ITV securing the rights in the UK in a £90 million agreement announced earlier this year.
However, the deal collapsing would leave Nations Championship organisers with little time to secure a replacement.
On Wednesday, tournament bosses started the 100-days-to-go countdown by illuminating Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square with the colours and crests of all of the competing nations.
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Faletau still has Wales future
Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl believes Taulupe Faletau still has something left to offer Wales.
The 35-year-old backrower made his long-awaited comeback as a second-half replacement for Cardiff during their 40-7 defeat to the Bulls in Pretoria. Faletau has not played for Wales since the 2025 Six Nations.
“First of all it was great to see him back after that setback against the Ospreys a few months ago,” said van Zyl. “It is good to have him back and on tour.
“He’s a special player. I can’t see how anyone can dispute that.
“He’s a special player and he does bring the best out of the rest of the team as well so he’s a good one to have.
“Ultimately he’s doing stuff that not a lot of players can do.
“Yes, I back Toby to be able to perform at whatever level.”
But van Zyl has warned Faletau will have to be managed carefully.
“Yes, there will be some restrictions,” he said. “I can’t see that he will be playing a lot of games consecutively but I do see that he can add value to any team he plays for. “I’ve got no doubt on his motivation to play for the team.”