Your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, October 1.
Young so frustrated by Cardiff
Cardiff Rugby coach Dai Young bemoaned his side's discipline as they slumped to a second consecutive URC defeat at home to the Lions on Friday night.
Cardiff were soundly beaten 31-18 after earlier leading a game that saw them cough up a raft of penalties that ultimately led to their undoing.
Young said: "With 15 minutes to go, the penalty count was 16-3 and you are never really going to get your hands on the ball. When we did manage to do that we spilled it within the first few phases. I'm hugely frustrated with the second half. You are never going to allow yourself to build pressure and momentum on teams if you are going to have that sort of penalty count.
"I think we turned over the ball 12 times in the first three phases. You'd like to think that can improve. I know the players are really disappointed.
"Once things start to go against us you can see the energy draining out of the team a little bit. We are certainly getting the right messages on but they need to sink in quicker than they are to be honest."
Wales v England sells out
Wales' Six Nations clash with England has sold out within minutes of the final tickets going on sale on Friday.
Despite some prices being raised to £130 for a single ticket, the third round clash with the English will have a full house in February. Most tickets had been allocated to debenture holders and Welsh clubs, but the final few went on sale on Friday, seeing online queues for the last available seats.
The opening round match against Ireland still has some availability, with that game expected to be sold out early next week.
WRU Commercial and Legal Director Rhodri Lewis said: “The appetite for Welsh international rugby tickets is as strong as ever and we take great care to ensure we have something for everyone across all available matches throughout the season,” said a WRU ticket office spokesperson.
“From family offers, with all tickets available at half-price for children across all four Autumn Nations Series matches, to reduced prices in the Alcohol Free Zone category and our lower priced tickets frozen at £40 in the Guinness Six Nations we are proud to have offered a full range of experiences for Welsh rugby fans at Principality Stadium.
“We are delighted with how ticket sales have gone and we have some big news to come on how we plan to make our matchday experience at Principality Stadium even better this autumn, which means those all-time attendance records are well within our sights."
Warburton tips World Cup bolter
Sam Warburton has tipped young Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins to be a World Cup bolter, in similar fashion to the likes of himself in 2011.
Current Wales head coach Wayne Pivac is known to be a keen admirer of the young Chiefs man, who has impressed when he has trained with the senior squad in recent times.
Jenkins is in the same age bracket as fellow lock Christ Tshiunza, though the latter is slightly further along his journey, having made his Test debut last autumn.
Writing in his column for the Times, Warburton said: "I can see next year’s World Cup being a bit like the 2011 tournament for Wales. It was then that players such as myself, George North, Taulupe Faletau and Dan Lydiate announced ourselves, and that could be the case for Christ and a few others in France.
"I would be surprised if he is not starting for Wales by then, and I actually think another Welsh player at Exeter, the lock Dafydd Jenkins, could be a bolter for that trip too."
Read more: Exeter face 'interesting' challenge to keep Christ Tshiunza as Welsh clubs put on alert
Worcester owners' remarkable statement
Worcester's owners have taken a swipe at the club's players and supporters as the crisis surrounding the Gallagher Premiership side deepened.
Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham issued a statement in response to an interview that Worcester captain Ted Hill did with ITV Central on Friday, in which he said an apology was required "from not only the owners, but also from other people high up from the company as well".
Addressing "staff, supporters and community of Worcester Warriors", the owners said: "We are sorry to you all that the club is in this current position, and for the emotional distress this must have caused.
"But we remain hopeful, through the process of administration, that the club can find a new owner and emerge in a stronger position in order to preserve rugby at Sixways.
"We are thankful to those supporters who turned up week in, week out to support the club but sorry that there were not more, nor enough of you on a regular basis to help make the club financially viable, despite the significant personal funds we put into the club.
"We are sorry that we did not have the foresight during the pandemic to cut back on the squad budget, but instead remained committed to giving the club the best chance of being competitive.
"We are thankful to all of the staff that supported the club through Covid in accepting a significant reduction in their salary, but sorry that the playing squad could not accept a similar level of reduction.
"And in some players' instances would not accept any pay cut at all despite our openness at the financial impact this would have on the club."
Read more:
Sam Warburton identified Wales' next rugby superstar years ago as he drove around Rhiwbina
Coach says Welsh wing is 'unplayable' six years after Wales call came to nothing
Tonight's rugby news as Wayne Pivac talks with Jonathan Davies emerge after snub
Exeter face 'interesting' challenge to keep Christ Tshiunza as Welsh clubs put on alert
