Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, May 29.
Eddie Jones: I've changed my attitude, I love Alun Wyn
Barbarians RFC head coach Eddie Jones paid tribute to Welsh legend Alun Wyn Jones after the second-row led the Baa-baas to a 48-42 win over the World XV.
Jones missed two late conversions at Twickenham, which the head coach branded “disgraceful”, before adding: “But he has got plenty of plusses so we will excuse him for that.”
The Wales icon, 37, will play in the Swansea RFC 150th anniversary match on Wednesday, but whether we will see him on a rugby pitch after that remains up in the air. He said he still has a lot left in the tank in his post-match interview.
Speaking about the towering forward, Eddie Jones said: "For very few players it ends like a fairy tale. That is the reality, it ends probably on someone else’s terms, not on your own. I am not sure, I haven’t chatted to him about [what happened with Wales].
“Secondly, he will be remembered as one of the great competitors. If you look at the Welsh side that he has led over the last period of time, they have competed hard in every game that he has played in. He has captained the Lions, they have competed hard.
“He is one of those players that you hated coaching against because you knew he was going to be at it, you knew he was going to be at the referee, and you knew he was going to do everything to get his team to be in the hunt. Having coached him today I have changed my attitude towards him, I love him.”
Sexton could face ban over 'f****ing disgrace' claim
Johnny Sexton could reportedly face a ban after a newspaper has claimed the Irishman called officials a "f***ing disgrace" during Leinster's Champions Cup final defeat by La Rochelle. Sexton was unavailable through injury as he watched his side lose 27-26, but the Leinster captain was present for the clash and indeed made himself known at half-time.
According to The Rapport, via PlanetRugby, Sexton launched a verbal attack on the officials, including referee Jaco Peyper, at half-time. A source told the outlet that Sexton told the officials "you are all a f***king disgrace,” before walking away to console one of his team-mates.
It is claimed that Peyper did not hear Sexton's comments due to the raucous atmosphere inside the stadium. The Rapport claim they have obtained footage of the half-time exchange. It is reported that any action from the EPCR and World Rugby would depend on Peyper’s assistants – Karl Dickson and Christophe Ridley – confirming what happened.
Folau booed in Baa-baas match
Israel Folau was met with boos and jeers at Twickenham after his selection for the World XV against the Barbarians prompted a reaction from the LGBTQ+ community.
His selection in the game, which the Baa-baas won 48-42, came after he was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 over anti-gay posts on his social media accounts. The 34-year-old, who is a Christian fundamentalist, told "homosexuals" that "hell awaits you".
The RFU decided to fly a Pride flag on Twickenham's roof and there was a group of around 100 banner-waving LGBTQ+ protesters present at the fixture. RFU chair Tom Ilube also wrote in the matchday programme about the importance of inclusivity and said the union backed the LGBTQ+ community.
Folau, who scored for Steve Hansen's World XV, has switched national allegiance from Australia to Tonga, whom he will represent in the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Hansen: 'Folau must be allowed to move on'
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
World XV coach Steve Hansen insisted Israel Folau should be able to move on from the anti-gay views that resulted in Rugby Australia terminating his contract. Hansen, who was wearing a pride wristband, said a line should be drawn under the episode.
"Everyone is allowed an opinion. We don't necessarily have to agree with each other on our opinions but you are entitled to have one," Hansen said. "You can't be punished for the rest of your life for having an opinion that most of us disagree with. I've always been a great believer that you can't help somebody change by leaving them on the outside."
A 32,597 crowd enjoyed a 14-try thriller as stars such as Charles Piutau, Semi Radradra and Sbu Nkosi caught the eye in glorious conditions.
Saracens 'defy haters' with Premiership title
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Jackson Wray believes new Gallagher Premiership champions Saracens deserve more respect for emerging from one of the bleakest episodes in the league's history as a title-winning force once more. Sale were defeated 35-25 in a gripping final at Twickenham on Saturday as Saracens claimed their sixth domestic crown with captain Owen Farrell producing a masterclass at fly-half.
It provided an element of redemption after they were shaded 15-12 by Leicester in last year's showpiece, which they reached in their first season back in the Premiership having been relegated in 2020 for repeated salary cap breaches. As part of their punishment they were fined £5.4million and while some players departed, the bulk of them - including their core of England stars - remained for the campaign spent in the Championship.
The loyalty shown has enabled Saracens to return to the summit of the English game and Wray, who is retiring after 13 years as a professional at his only club, has sounded a note of defiance.
"I don't think people talk about this enough. It was the biggest fine in sporting history in a game where you lose money every year. Let's just put that in perspective for a moment," Wray said. "And we have got through it. That says a lot more about the owners. They said, 'we made a mistake and we will stay and put it right'.
"Together we have done it. We have done our bit as players - stayed and fought and gone against everyone. Even in this final. Everyone was with Sale. Every club in the land was with Sale. Do you know what? That's how we like it. That is how we have always liked it. No one wants us to win and we don't care.
"We want to do well for each other and well for the club because this club has given us everything. It has given me everything for 17 years and the least I can do is pull on this shirt with pride every week."
Saracens' celebrations spill over into Sunday, with the squad holding a retro sports shirt fancy dress event in London.
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