Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, January 6.
Gatland back to monitor Wales players
Warren Gatland is expected to watch his first Welsh regional rugby match in person for some time on Saturday as he attends the Cardiff v Scarlets Welsh derby at the Arms Park.
The Wales coach will closely monitor the players hopeful of making his first Six Nations squad since returning as national head coach. Some of Gatland's old favourites like Liam Williams, Taulupe Faletau, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens and Josh Adams will be on show, while a number of fringe players have a chance to impress before the squad is announced in the next week or so.
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Cardiff flanker Thomas Young struggled to convince Gatland he was worthy of consistent selection in the past when he was playing in England, but his red hot form could be too good to ignore if he can produce the goods once again. The likes of Rhys Carre, Dane Blacker, Rhys Patchell, Seb Davies and Jarrod Evans will also be looking to force their way into contention. You can read the full Cardiff v Scarlets team news here.
It remains to be seen who will join Gatland in running the rule over the players. Jonathan Humphreys and Neil Jenkins remain part of the set-up following Wayne Pivac's exit, with Jonathan Thomas, Paul Gustard and Alex King the current favourites to be added to the backroom staff. The Wales coach is likely to have at least one of his lieutenants at Saturday night's Ospreys v Leinster game too as he finalises his squad.
New England new attack coach for Six Nations
England have appointed Nick Evans as their attack coach as new boss Steve Borthwick finalises his management team for the upcoming Six Nations. Evans, the Harlequins assistant coach and former New Zealand fly-half, will fill a role that has been undertaken since August 2021 by Martin Gleeson, who now faces an uncertain future.
A player for Quins from 2008 until 2017 when he moved into a tracksuit role, Evans has helped shaped one of the most effective attacks in the Gallagher Premiership and has also been responsible for mentoring Marcus Smith. Harlequins have revealed that Evans will resume club duties during the Six Nations' two fallow weeks and will return to Twickenham Stoop full-time once the tournament is finished.
"I'm delighted that Nick is joining our team ahead of the Six Nations," Borthwick said. "Nick brings with him a wealth of different experiences as a player and coach, which will be incredibly valuable to the growth of our team. I know that Nick understands the pride and responsibility that comes with representing your country.
"We aim to build an England team that our nation can be proud of and I know that our supporters will be very excited by what Nick can bring to our side. We'd particularly like to thank Harlequins for their support in allowing Nick to work with us during this period. It's a great example of club and country working together."
England play their opening match of the Six Nations in four weeks' time when Scotland visit Twickenham. Evans oversaw Quins' attack for their title-winning 2021 season when they swept aside their rivals with an all-action style of rugby. The Rugby Football Union has declined to say what impact Evans' presence will have on Gleeson's role within the coaching team.
Shane backs Ospreys against Leinster
Shane Williams insists the Ospreys are back to their best - and can prove it with a statement win over eight-times URC champions Leinster this weekend.
The Swansea-based region take on the only side left unbeaten in the URC this season, Leinster - who have won their first 11 games of the campaign - in a game which is being broadcast live on S4C on Saturday.
But Williams insists Toby Booth’s men have come into their own over the past few weeks, picking up one of the most impressive European wins by a Welsh side for more than a decade when they beat French champions Montpellier before Christmas, 21-10 away from home. They followed that with two further wins against the Scarlets (34-14) and Cardiff (22-19) during the Welsh festive derbies, but they continue to be tested as part of a gruelling schedule as they are set to face Leinster before confronting the current French and English Champions in Europe.
Williams said: “I think the win in Montpellier has awakened this Ospreys side. I’m not sure if they went into the game expecting the win, but they will be confident they can compete against the better sides now. Toby Booth will be waking up scratching his head trying to understand why they can’t play like that week in week out, but maybe they have found that balance they have been searching for all year.
“I don’t think I have seen an Ospreys performance like the one out in Montpellier for about 10 years. I have really been impressed by their defence this year, but when they had the ball in hand, they looked dangerous.
“It has been an issue this year and teams have had a lot of ball against the Ospreys, and have punished them for that reason, but there seems to be a never-say-die attitude in the camp. There is a positive feeling now, and it is hugely exciting as they face the likes of Leinster and Leicester in the next few weeks.”
Ospreys v Leinster is being broadcast live on S4C on Saturday from 7.30pm, with English commentary available.
England want head coach shortlist to include woman within 10 years
English rugby bosses hope a woman will be in contention to become head coach of England's men within the next decade.
The Telegraph reports that at least four women coaches have been included in the Rugby Football Union's Project Everest England head coach succession plan to ensure that the "best person" is appointed in the future, and that gender is not a determining factor. The programme develops male and female coaches in the same pathway.
Nigel Redman, the former England and British and Irish Lions second row who heads up the programme as the RFU’s team performance director, said it was his aspiration for a woman to be a contender for the top job with the England men’s team “within five to 10 years.”
While the England women’s side has previously been coached by men, a number of female head coaches take charge in the RFU-run Premier 15s women's competition.
“I would love to see a woman one day coach the England men’s team,” Redman told Telegraph Sport. “That was one of my aspirations that from a career perspective there is one [coaching] path. From an aspirational perspective, wouldn’t it be great if there was a woman coaching the men’s team and a greater balance of female coaches?
“It is something that British Swimming [where Redman previously worked as head of team performance team development] has done really well. At [the Olympic Games in] Rio, three of the eight coaches were women.
“I was recently asked by a [RFU] board member how many years it might take, and I said: ‘wouldn’t it be great if it was between five and 10.’ Somebody said it may take longer but I said ‘whatever, we keep striving'."
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