Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, June 5.
Wales players have one month to impress Gatland
The 2023 Rugby World Cup may still be three months away but some Welsh players have a matter of weeks until they are cut from Warren Gatland's plans, with the coach set to trim his squad down even further.
Gatland's initial 54-man training squad is already down to 50, with Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb all announcing their retirements from international rugby before prop Rhys Carre was cut from the squad having "failed to meet individual performance targets set at the end of the Six Nations".
The squad will travel to Switzerland at the start of July for the first of their specialist training camps, before later flying to Turkey for the second. However, around 45 players are expected to be included for the Swiss camp, with a further four expected to be cut in a month's time. Players have been in camp since the end of MAy, however have been arriving on a rolling basis depending on when their club season ended.
“We’ve gone for a bigger squad than normal," said Gatland when he outlined his summer plans after confirming his training squad. "In previous World Cups, we’ve picked up a number of injuries towards the end of tournament. This gives this group of players the chance to come in for the first five weeks and get conditioned.
“We’ll reduce the squad to about 45 for Switzerland and then again when we go to the second camp in Turkey. There’s a good opportunity for a number of new players in Wales to come in and to impress the coaching staff in that first part. There’s a bit of jeopardy with us reducing the size of the squad as we go on. It’s a great chance for players to make an impact.”
After their two training camps abroad, Wales will face England in two warm-up games before hosting South Africa in their last run-out before heading to the World Cup in France.
Navidi hopes to coach in Iran
Former Wales international Josh Navidi says he has aspirations of coaching in Iran.
The 33-times-capped star decided to call time on his rugby career earlier this year due to injury after damaging his neck in a Test match against South Africa last summer.
Since hanging up his boots he has been contemplating life after his playing days - which has seen him set up his own car dealership - and he told the Telegraph he is also considering putting his knowledge to good use in the country of his family roots.
“Sevens is pretty big and XVs is slowly growing,” Navidi says.
“The genetics of the Iranian people are perfect for rugby. If you think the main sports are weightlifting and wrestling. They also love football and volleyball so you have that skill element too. That concoction of genetics and all the different sports they play, I think they could be a very good side one day if it keeps growing.
“I have spoken to a couple of people in the past about getting involved. If I go I think I have to do national service so I am looking at getting a visa where I can go and coach and just see what they are doing. I would love to go out and see where my dad’s from and maybe see if I can get involved.”
Poll: How far will Wales go at the World Cup? Have your say here or below
World Cup-winning coach knighted
All Black Wayne Smith has been knighted for services to rugby after a prestigious coaching career which has seen him win three Rugby World Cups to date.
Smith, who won 17 caps for New Zealand as a player, was assistant coach when the All Blacks won the 2011 and 2015 tournaments before overseeing the Black Ferns win the Women's Rugby World Cup last year as head coach.
The 66-year-old, nicknamed 'The Professor' due to his knowledge of the game, also had stints at the Crusaders, Chiefs and Northampton Saints, and joins fellow All Blacks Sir Graham Henry and Sir Steve Hansen in becoming a rugby knight.
He received the award in the King's Birthday Honours, which also saw Black Ferns co-captains Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Simon become members of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
On receiving the knighthood, Smith said: "[It's] a massive honour, but I feel it’s an absolute privilege. You can’t do anything by yourself in rugby, you’re reliant on players, coaches, staff and I’m really grateful for the people I’ve been surrounded by in my career. There are so many people you're grateful to. I decided that was a bloody good reason to take the award. I'll be thinking about them when I get it and referring to them. That's what's made my career.”
Amateurs vow to carry on club's name
London Irish Amateurs how vowed to carry on the club's proud name and traditions should the professional side be suspended from the Premiership.
London Irish are facing a winding up order amid a takeover bid and have a deadline of tomorrow afternoon to provide proof of a viable business plan.
The amateur club share the same clubhouse as the professionals and, according to the i newspaper, have signed a 15-year lease at the Hazelwood site which also has a stipulation for community use.
Kevin Flynn, the chairman of London Irish Amateur RFC, said: “We share the history of the club, going back to its formation in 1898, and many of our 2,000-plus members are season-ticket holders or supporters of the professional team when they are playing at Brentford.
“So the message is, we are very much hoping for the best for the professional side. But, either way, we are planning to continue at Hazelwood, and we are expecting to restart our rugby for next season in July, as per normal.
“London Irish Amateurs are in rude health with around 800 players overall, including the lifeblood of the club in the mini, youth and colts sections, plus around 150 coaches, volunteers and team managers, and the adult men’s side playing at Level 6 of the RFU system.
“We have the benefit of a world-class facility at Hazelwood, we have a lease there, we share the costs of running it and we have put money in to maintain it.
“We are advised we have a good position as a sitting tenant, and there is an agreement in planning for community use of the land for a certain amount of time each year.”
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