Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines from Wales and beyond for Thursday, June 30 - the day Wayne Pivac officially names his Wales team to face South Africa.
Gatland eyeing UK return amid England links
Warren Gatland says he could make a return to the UK when his contract with the Chiefs ends next year, amid speculation linking him with the England job.
Gatland returned to New Zealand two years ago after a 12-year stint as Wales boss and has previously been touted as a future All Blacks coach. However, it appears he may have his eyes on other opportunities before then.
Live updates: Wayne Pivac names Wales team to face South Africa in first summer Test
"I am contracted with the New Zealand Rugby Union for the next 12 months and I have enjoyed my role as director of rugby with the Chiefs, working closely with the coaches and coaching the coaches and a hands-on role working with the players," Gatland told The Telegraph.
"After that I am probably going to look for another role overseas. I loved my time as a young coach in Ireland [with Connacht and then as head coach of the national side] and my time with Wasps and, of course, Wales. It was pretty challenging but the people made it special for me in Wales. I could end up in the UK again."
Those comments will only fuel suggestions that Gatland should take over from under-pressure Eddie Jones as England boss, although it seems there is nothing definitive in the pipeline at this stage.
"I loved my time in the northern hemisphere, the friends that I made and I enjoyed the rugby. I have nothing concrete yet and haven't had any conversations yet.
"There is a lot more pressure in international rugby because you are under the spotlight but the flip side is that every game is like a cup final. In club rugby you have a bit more leeway to try different combinations as you can lose some games and still make the top four. You look at the pros and cons of both and see hopefully where you can make a difference."
Jones' job 'on the line' in Australia
Will Greenwood says Eddie Jones' England future is on the line during this summer's tour of Australia.
Jones has faced growing speculation over his role in the England hotseat following a disappointing Six Nations campaign, but is set to stay in charge for the upcoming World Cup next year.
But World Cup winner Greenwood believes Jones cannot afford to come away from the upcoming series down under without a win.
"For Eddie Jones, his job is on the line after disappointing Six Nations results," he told Sky Sports. "You go to Australia, I think with the support he has from the RFU and Bill Sweeney, come away with just one win from three and he'll set sail for the World Cup.
"Come away with zero wins, which is eminently possible, and this debate continues to rage and therefore we stop focusing on the stuff that really matters which is what is going on on the field.
"Instability in sport is a killer for any team both on and off the pitch so it is huge. It's such a long way from where they were in 2016, when Eddie came in post-World Cup disaster in 2015, won a first Grand Slam in 13 years, went to Australia, 3-0 series white-wash, an extraordinary set of results and a World Cup final in 2019.
"It's just how the mighty have fallen and England are desperate, the supporters are desperate. More importantly in the World Cup run, the players are desperate."
Meanwhile, Australia debutant Cadeyrn Neville has been acclaimed as a standard bearer to determined veterans who still have their hearts set on playing at the highest level. At 33 years and 235 days, Neville becomes the third oldest Wallaby to make his Test bow after being picked in the second row for Saturday's collision with England at Perth's Optus Stadium.
"Cadeyrn got called into a Wallabies squad at the time when Michael Hooper made his debut, so that tells you something. Hoops has had 118 caps since then," head coach Dave Rennie said.
"He's an ex-rower and that's why he's got such a massive engine. He played a bit of league at one stage. He's a big man so you would have noticed him out there. He's had injuries, he's spent a bit of time overseas and he's come back for a final dig. He's a big man and a good athlete. He's a great story for the guys out there who might have thought the dream had passed them. From a perseverance point of view it's a great story."
Australia team to play England : T Banks; A Kellaway, L Ikitau, S Kerevi, M Koroibete; Q Cooper, N White; A Bell, D Porecki, A Ala'alatoa, D Swain, C Neville, R Leota, M Hooper (capt), R Valetini. Replacements: F Fainga'a, S Sio, J Slipper, M Philip, P Samu, J Gordon, N Lolesio, J Petaia.
Wales U20s giant signs for Cardiff
Wales under-20s second-row Joe Peard has signed for Cardiff Rugby ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The 20-year-old, who progressed through the Dragons' academy, has grabbed the gazes of many onlookers in recent months for his performances for Wales and has made the move to Wales' capital city side.
The 6f 8in lock joins Lopeti Timani, Seb Davies, Josh Turnbull, Matthew Screech, Teddy Williams and Rory Thornton to present Dai Young with plentiful options in the engine room next term.
“I’m really excited to join Cardiff and believe it is the best place for me to continue my development and become the best player I can be," Peard said.
“There are a lot of good second-rows at the club and I’m looking forward to learning from them, competing with them in training and hopefully kicking on. I know some of the coaches well and I’ve had a lot of good conversations with Dai about the direction he is taking the club and what he believes I can bring. Clearly my size and physicality is an attribute but I am eager to develop my whole game and contribute as much as I can to Cardiff.”
Director of rugby Dai Young added: “We’re really pleased to bring Joe on board next season and are looking forward to helping him fulfil his potential. At 6ft 8in and almost 20 stone, he brings something we don’t have a lot of in Wales and that’s size. You simply cannot coach that.
“He brings a physical and destructive presence and that is something we need more of. He’s like an old fashioned, tight second-row, who is also athletic and he will now work with our coaches and new teammates to bring on his entire game and fulfil his potential."
Wales name under-20s side
Wales head coach Byron Hayward has named his side to face Georgia at the Stadio Monigo in the second round of the U20 Six Nations Summer Series.
Hayward has made three changes to the starting XV which defeated Scotland 45-15 in the opening game last Saturday.
Exeter Chiefs’ Oli Burrows is in at hooker with Efan Daniel moving to the bench, while Morgan Morse gets his first start, replacing Benji Williams, who moves to the bench.
The only change in the backline is at scrum half where Morgan Lloyd replaces his injured Dragons teammate, Che Hope.
“We felt the boys did a really good job for 50 minutes or so against Scotland and it allowed us to give the 26 players opportunities that I didn’t think we would be able to before the game,” said Hayward when explaining his selection.
“We managed to look after a few of our front-line starters and give some boys game time which I wasn’t really expecting beforehand, so it is a vote of confidence really because the boys did the job,” he added.
Wales U20s squad in full: 15 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby), 14 Oli Andrew (Dragons), 13 Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby), 12 Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – Capt), 11 Harri Houston (Ospreys), 10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9 Morgan Lloyd (Dragons); 1 Rhys Barratt (Cardiff Rugby), 2 Oli Burrows (Exeter Chiefs), 3 Nathan Evans (Cardiff Rugby), 4 Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), 6 Ryan Woodman (Dragons), 7 Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff Rugby), 8 Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby), 17 Cameron Jones (Ospreys), 18 Adam Williams (Dragons), 19 Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), 20 Benji Williams (Ospreys), 21 Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys), 22 Josh Phillips (Scarlets), 23 Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), 24 Joe Westwood (Dragons), 25 Iestyn Hopkins (Ospreys), 26 Ben Williams (Ospreys/Aberavon)
Folau gearing up for return with Tonga
Controversial ex-Australia star Israel Folau is set to make his return to Test rugby this weekend by stepping out for Tonga as part of their Pacific Nations Cup campaign.
The 33-year-old saw his contract terminated with Rugby Australia after he said "hell awaits" gay people on social media three years ago, and hasn't played a single minute of international rugby since.
However, changes in World Rugby's eligibility laws means he is now able to represent Tonga, and he is now poised to make his return to Test rugby against Fiji in Suva this Saturday.
“It’s been awesome to be in camp with the ‘Ikale Tahi,” Folau said in the build-up this week. “For me, to come back to the team, with the opportunity to connect with the boys, back with the culture, and also a big part of that is our faith in God.
“It’s been a great week so far, and we’re looking forward to spending time with the boys over the next five weeks.”
Ireland name side to face All Blacks
Ireland have named their side to take on the All Blacks in Saturday's opening Test against New Zealand.
Captain Johnny Sexton will be partnered at half-back by Jamison Gibson Park, while Andrew Porter makes his return up front after missing the final two games of the Six Nations through injury.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose will line out in the centre, accompanied by James Lowe and Keith Earls on the wings with Hugo Keenan at fullback.
Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong will pack down alongside Porter, while Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan were named at lock. Peter O'Mahony will fill the blindside flanker role with Josh van der Flier at openside and Caelan Doris at No 8.
Cian Healy was named on the bench, despite suffering what appeared to be a serious leg injury in Ireland's 32-17 defeat against the Maori All Blacks on Wednesday.
He will be joined by Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Bundee Aki.
Ireland team to play New Zealand : H Keenan (Leinster); K Earls (Munster), G Ringrose (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster); J Sexton (Leinster, capt), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), J Ryan (Leinster), P O'Mahony (Munster), J Van Der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster).
Replacements : D Heffernan (Connacht), F Bealham (Connacht), C Healy (Leinster), K Treadwell (Ulster), J Conan (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), J Carbery (Munster), B Aki (Connacht).
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