These are your rugby evening headlines for Sunday, June 12.
'Brutal' Sarries training will benefit Wales new boy
Sam Wainwright will head for South Africa with Wales on an upward curve thanks to training with some of the best front rowers in the business.
So reckons former Scotland international Kelly Brown, now employed as Sarries’ assistant coach.
North Walian Wainwright has been restricted to a bit-part role with the Saracens since joining them from RGC 14014 in 2019.
But ex-back rower Brown told T he Rugby Paper the tighthead has improved in no small way after being exposed to the club's ‘brutal’ training sessions.
“He’s not played a huge amount, but he’s been involved in sessions every week scrummaging against the likes of Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Vincent Koch, and Eroni Mawi,” said the 64-cap Brown.
“He’s tested every week. A couple of years ago, it was really tough for him, and he had a few harsh lessons, but he’s definitely kicked on.
“There’s no hiding places in our training sessions and it is brutal. If you get it wrong as a tighthead, you get folded up, but he holds his own in training against all our international props.
“He’s got an opportunity now with Wales to prove himself.”
Care ready for shock England call
In-form Danny Care is being strongly tipped for an England recall, four years after his last Test.
The Telegraph say that the Harlequins scrum-half will be summoned to join Eddie jones’ squad for the game with the Barbarians next Sunday.
Care is widely seen as the top-performing N. 9 in the Gallagher Premiership this season and underlined the point with a big display for Quins against Saracens in the league’s playoff semi-final at the StoneX Stadium on Saturday.
The 35-year-old could even push for a place on England’s summer tour to Australia, especially if Ben Youngs opts not to make the trip after the recent passing of his sister-in-law, Tiffany Youngs.
Some have wondered why Care has been overlooked for so long, while others have speculated he may have clashed with Jones in the past.
Whatever, a recall finally appears to be coming his way.
Overseas Sam?
Sam Lewis is said to be mulling over the possibility of an overseas move after his exit from Worcester Warriors.
The 31-year-old from Swansea made 65 appearances for the Ospreys before heading up to Sixways.
Now he is a set for free-agent status when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.
The Rugby Paper report that he is open to moving to either Japan or to the USA to join a Major League Rugby side.
An outstanding openside who was a fans’ favourite at Worcester, Lewis hasn’t committed to anything yet, though he acknowledged in an interview with WalesOnline last week offers had come in since the announcement of his imminent Worcester departure.
Read more: Wales sweat on Dan Biggar's fitness
Dan's kind words of condolence over Tiffany Youngs
Dan Biggar made a point of offering his condolences after the passing of the wife of Leicester Tigers icon Tom Youngs.
The Northampton Saints and Wales fly-half spoke to Ben Youngs, Tom’s brother, at the end of the Gallagher Premiership semi-final between Tigers and Saints at Welford Road.
Tom’s wife Tiffany Youngs had passed away earlier in the week at the age of just 35.
“I was again offering condolences and saying I hope everything can be as well as it can be, which is a bit of a hollow thing to say," Biggar said.
“It showed immense character from him (Ben Youngs) to be able to focus on a game of rugby.
"There was a massive amount of pride and character from him.”
The Wales captain had set the right tone by saying before the game, using his pre-match press conference to state: “A game of rugby pales into insignificance beside what that family is going through.
“My hope is that the game can be played in the right way to honour Tiffany — and that it brings supporters and players together.
“As much as it means so much to us all, it is very much second fiddle to the greater good in terms of Tom and his family.”
Sincere words from a player who experienced heartache himself a year ago with the passing of his mother.
Leinster 'sick' after seeing silverware hopes ended
Leinster coach Leo Cullen admitted ‘everyone’s sick in there’ after the home defeat by the Bulls which sent the province spinning out the United Rugby Championship at the semi-final stage.
The South Africans turned on the power to win 27-26 in Dublin.
The defeat came less than two weeks after the Irish province fell to La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup final and means they end their season with only the Irish Shield for silverware.
Cullen said: ““Everyone’s pretty sick in there. So much work goes into getting the team to knockout games. To fall short, particularly at home in the RDS at this time of the year, is hugely disappointing. We started the game okay, we got ourselves in trouble a few times when we lose the ball at the ruck and that is probably the big thing in terms of how we go about playing the game.
“We weren’t quite at our best and that is the bit where that self-reflection has to take place from an individual point of view and collectively. Unfortunately, we will be watching the final this year. We would love to be there.
“It’s bitterly disappointing for our players that have come to the end of their Leinster careers, as well, whether they are retiring or moving on to new challenges. We wanted to give everyone the perfect send-off but we are not going to get the perfect send-off this year.”
