Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, February 21.
Jiffy's rage
Wales legend Jonathan 'Jiffy' Davies has hit out at the current "scandalous" Welsh rugby crisis, blaming a lack of trust among those who run the game.
Davies is appalled we have got to a situation where the Wales v England match is under threat. Although he believes the game will ultimately go ahead, he says reform is needed throughout the game here. You can read the latest dramatic developments on the story after the Wales team announcement was cancelled today, here.
Appearing on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod podcast, he said: “It’s a scandalous position to be in. You can’t expect players to perform when they have been promised finances to be sorted. It was pre-Christmas or whatever and it is still the situation.
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“They are serious about it and hopefully they can all get around a table and get it sorted ASAP. Everybody wants the game to go ahead and I’m sure all the players would but unfortunately, they have been caught up in a situation. It’s not a great reflection on Welsh rugby and the WRU and they have had a disastrous last couple of months.
“The problem is the union doesn’t trust the regions, the regions don’t trust the union and I don’t think the regions trust each other. That has always been an issue and if you have got five parts to this, they should work in harmony for everyone to get better because they need the grassroots, they need the regions, and then all of a sudden you have got Wales. For me, it’s the union’s fault that it has come to this.
“I don’t know how that is going to work… but what they need first and foremost is trust between the lot of them. I don’t even know what Gatland is going to be doing. Is he staying, is he going to be a rugby director? What influence is he going to have over the regions? The regions won’t want him to come in because he is a union rep.
“So this is an opportunity to have total reform, on finances, on the rugby, on the culture in the WRU. You need a CEO to run the business and either a CEO or a director of rugby to run the rugby because we have been failing the youngsters. I am looking at it now and we haven’t got strength in depth and I do blame coaching at the lower level.
“When you get to regional standard you shouldn’t have to be taught how to pass or how to kick, which tackle to use in a tackle. We have failed the youngsters coming through as well because we neglected the finances at grassroots and age-group rugby.”
Would you support Welsh rugby players taking strike action amid contracts turmoil? Have your say here
Another Scarlets star leaves
Scarlets prop Javan Sebastian is to leave the club at the end of the season. The academy product made his 65th appearance for the URC side on Saturday but is now set to depart Parc y Scarlets to join rivals Edinburgh.
The 28-year-old tighthead was born in Carmarthen but qualifies for Scotland through his father, who was born and raised in Edinburgh. He has three caps for Gregor Townsend’s side having made his debut off the bench against Japan in the Autumn Test series in 2021, and was also named in the extended Scottish training squad for this year’s Six Nations.
Sebastian is the third player to announce they are leaving Scarlets in a matter of days, with back rower Sione Kalamafoni departing at the end of the season to join French ProD2 side Vannes and former Scotland back Blade Thomson announcing his retirement from rugby at the age of 32 due to a head injury.
Speaking to the Edinburgh Rugby website Sebastian said that it was a difficult decision to leave the Welsh side but he wanted a new challenge that would help him to push for a place in the Scotland squad.
“Leaving Scarlets certainly wasn't an easy decision and I've got a huge debt of gratitude to the club,” he said. “They are my home region and gave me my first opportunity to play professionally.
"However, this move to Edinburgh is massively exciting and it's an opportunity that I genuinely can't wait to get stuck into. The club is really ambitious with a talented squad and cracking new stadium, and Edinburgh is a beautiful city.
"This is a fresh challenge for me and one that really excites me because of my aspirations to continue playing international rugby. Hopefully I can keep myself in a strong position with Scotland by playing consistently for Edinburgh”
Gatland wishes he'd known
Warren Gatland wishes he'd known about some of the huge issues in the Welsh game before he returned for a second spell as coach.
While he insisted he has no regrets about coming back, he maintains he was in the dark about key details around the financial side of the game and the looming dispute with players that has now exploded. He says he only became aware of them last week.
You can read the full Q&A with Gatland here.
"I wasn't aware of any of the issues that were taking place at all," he said.
"Everyone needs to take some responsibility and I think people are well aware these negotiations and discussions have been going on for too long.
"I think the players were given assurances on a number of occasions it would be sorted out, and the unfortunate situation (is) that they haven't been able to come to an agreement in terms of the PRB, Union and regions, and it finally came to a head.
"I think we have all been asking for things to get sorted. I wasn't aware of any of the issues going on when I took the job.
"I wish I had have known a few things that were going on, actually. It has been a challenge. It is what it is, and you have just got to take it on the chin and focus on your role and your job in terms of preparing the team."
South Africa star keen to join Six Nations
Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe says it would be “amazing” if South Africa were to join an expanded Six Nations.
It’s an idea that has been mooted against the backdrop of the four top teams from the Rainbow Nation competing successfully in the United Rugby Championship, alongside sides from Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
It’s provoked a lot of debate and a fair amount of opposition, but wing wizard Kolbe is all for the potential plan.
In an interview for The Telegraph Rugby Podcast, the 29-year-old Toulon threequarter said: “If it does happen, it would be massive and change the whole scenario regarding the Six Nations.
“For the Springboks, it would be amazing to be part of the Six Nations. You get to play against top countries each week when you’re part of that competition. It would be amazing if it comes off one day, but who knows.”
Read more:
Warren Gatland confident Wales dispute will be resolved today as training session called off
Wales cancel team announcement as Warren Gatland to hold press conference amid strike threat
Today's rugby news as Welsh game faces two possible strikes and Wales cancel team announcement
The Wales Six Nations team that Warren Gatland should announce to face England
Welsh rugby powerbrokers clash on 60-cap rule as clock ticks down on strike threat
