Here are the latest rugby headlines on Sunday January 29 with major change at the WRU as Six Nations kick-off looms closer.
Walker warns Welsh rugby has had 'wake-up call'
New Welsh Rugby Union interim boss Nigel Walker has vowed to help right the wrongs in the game after warning the sport has just had 'a wake-up call' and is 'facing an existential crisis.'
The 17-times capped former Wales wing steps up as acting WRU chief executive with immediate effect following the resignation of Steve Phillips early on Sunday morning.
The dramatic developments come at the end of a turbulent week for the WRU following claims made by former employees in a BBC documentary last Monday.
You can read the full Steve Phillips resignation speech here
Walker, who has been WRU Performance Director since July 2021, moves into his new role while the recruitment process to find Phillips' full-time successor is established.
As well as playing for Wales and Cardiff, Walker is a former Great Britain Olympic athlete and has held down a number of high-profile roles in sport since hanging up his playing boots at the end of the 1990s.
Upon being named as interim chief executive, Walker didn't hold back in how he plans to go about the job.
"There is no doubt that Welsh rugby is facing an existential crisis,” he said. "This has been a wake-up call. Perhaps it is a call that has been overdue. The first step to any recovery is admitting the problem.
“We must listen intently to what people from outside our organisation are telling us. We care and are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we work hard in this space with dedicated resource and investment.
"But we need to do better. We need to do much better and we will.
“We will take the necessary corrective steps and stick closely to what the new Taskforce advises."
The Taskforce Walker talks of is the one announced by WRU chairman Ieuan Evans which will investigate culture and behaviours.
Walker continued: “I would like to add my gratitude to Steve Phillips who is someone I have always found to be open-minded, caring and dedicated to Welsh rugby.
“I will work tirelessly and relentlessly with our chair Ieuan Evans, with our Board and with the newly appointed Taskforce to ensure the WRU progresses to a better place.
“Welsh rugby is an integral part of Welsh society and we need to ensure that we are not only perceived as a welcoming institution with a place for all, but that our every action reflects this in all quarters of our business.”
WRU chairman Evans said: "We are delighted to be able to call on an individual, a businessman, and former elite sportsman of Nigel’s calibre to come in as acting CEO.
“Nigel will work closely with the new Taskforce and help lead us through the next urgent steps."
Gatland worries over Six Nations Netflix plans
Wales coach Warren Gatland says he has reservations about the type of comments and potentially inappropriate language Netflix will be privy to inside dressing rooms during filming for a fly-on-the-wall documentary.
Six Nations bosses have granted the film giants the green light to embed camera crews in each of the six camps during this year's tournament, which kicks off with Wales versus Ireland on Saturday.
It is hoped the show, to be aired in 2024, will bring a new audience to rugby in much the way the Netflix Drive to Survive has given Formula One.
But Gatland, ready for his first Wales game since returning as head coach, is wary of some highly private dressing room moments being caught on camera and shared with the world.
"I can tell you that in a rugby environment, when you are talking about creating emotion, the language used isn’t always appropriate, especially when you’re talking about nations playing each other," he said.
"In the past when we’ve had the crews that have been involved with Lions and Wales, what’s been really important is their ability to create a relationship with the players and the coaching team, so it’s almost like they become an invisible part of it.
"Then you find yourself just carrying on with your normal routine, because of the trust that you build up with them. So that’s the challenge with Netflix.
"At the moment my understanding is that we don’t have any editorial rights and that is a little bit of a concern because you want to make sure you are able to protect yourself.
"Sometimes you say something that is a little bit out of kilter when you’re trying to get the best out of players, or they’re trying to get the best out of each other. Some of the things that get said in the changing room might not be stuff that you actually always believe, but it’s part of getting the best out of your performance. And then afterwards you’re friends and mates again.
"So there’s a few things that we need to be conscious of, and iron out. The last thing we need is to be bland in the way it comes across, but I’m also conscious that we need to protect ourselves, too. That’s pretty important."
Webb inspired by Messi and Ronaldo
Rhys Webb has taken inspiration from football greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after ending more than two years in the international wilderness.
Ospreys scrum-half Webb is on course to make his first Wales appearance since November 2020 in Saturday's Six Nations opener against Ireland. Webb, who toured New Zealand with the 2017 Lions, featured on just five occasions during Wayne Pivac's 34-Test reign as Wales head coach.
But with Warren Gatland back at the helm, 34-year-old Webb is once again battling for a Test spot as part of Wales' Six Nations squad.
"It's like when I first got called up in 2012 with the goose-bumps. The feeling has come back to me and I am just loving every day being in camp. I am a competitor and believe in myself and my ability. I never once wrote it off," said Webb.
"I have still got that fire in my belly, and every time I put that Welsh jersey on it fills me with pride."
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Webb is among a number of seasoned campaigners in the Wales squad, with his 36-cap international career spread over the last 10 years. And he looks set to have a key Six Nations role alongside the likes of fellow thirtysomethings like Dan Biggar, Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric.
"For me personally, I look at the footballers like Ronaldo and Messi, who are still playing in World Cups at 37 and 35. If they can do it, we can do it," said Webb.
Young dismay as Cardiff crash to Leinster
David Young expressed his dismay after a youthful Leinster team maintained their United Rugby Championship table-topping form with a 38-14 win over his Cardiff side at the RDS. Luke McGrath scored two tries in a 10-minute spell, adding to Max Deegan's opener, as Leo Cullen's much-changed side led 19-0 at half-time.
Cardiff struggled to get going in greasy conditions. They had two late scores from replacements Rory Thornton and Kristian Dacey, but found themselves outclassed.
It prompted coach Young to say: "We have got to be better than that, we played against a quality team, but we just made it a lot easier for them.
"We got taught a lesson with basic skills, theirs were so much better than ours.
"It was a very similar story last weekend against Brive, the first 25 minutes were exactly the same, we are just giving teams the possession inside our 22 and they are going to end up scoring.
"We showed a bit at the end to come back, but I don't think we can tap ourselves on the back, I am hugely disappointed."
Dragons boss vows to 'stress' squad
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan has vowed to "stress" the squad in the coming weeks to ensure they continue to develop following the 42-28 defeat to Glasgow Warriors.
Flanagan admitted Dragons had been the masters of their own downfall at times at Rodney Parade, but insisted the team can continue to grow and a period without games until mid-February can be beneficial.
“We’ve been in a tough 10-game block with short turnarounds," said Flanagan. "Physically we’ve had to get ourselves ready and mentally we haven’t stressed ourselves enough, but that excites me. Now we have a block with only two games over the next six weeks.
"We can really stress ourselves, put pressure on the players, and we can coach in depth and move on."
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