Here are your rugby evening headlines for Friday, 24 June.
England winger tests positive for Covid
England winger Jonny May has tested positive for Covid-19 in Australia - making him a huge doubt for the first Test.
The Gloucester wing will undertake seven days in isolation as required by local regulations in Australia, meaning he will be free from self-isolation the day before the first Test. England reported that no other player had returned positive tests, with May becoming symptomatic upon arriving in Perth.
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May underwent knee surgery in January and, having made his comeback as a replacement against Saracens earlier this month, he started in last Sunday's heavy defeat against the Barbarians.
Thomas speech moves people to tears
Delme Thomas’ greatest speech is said to have been the pre-game talk he gave to Llanelli’s players before they faced New Zealand in 1972.
It famously inspired the 9-3 win on the day the pubs were reckoned to have run dry.
The hardest speech Llanelli’s captain that day would have had to give was the address he gave at Phil Bennett’s remembrance service at Parc y Scarlets on Friday.
Standing just metres from his old friend’s coffin, Thomas, 79, said: “It is very hard to stand here and explain how I feel about this little man.
“What can you say about the greatest player I’ve ever seen play the game?
“That’s a big thing to say because I’ve played with some great players – a lot of them are sat in the stands today – but Phil was something special, a great gentleman and a great rugby player.
“Our outside-half in 1971 was the great Barry John. He was such a great player that they called him ‘King John’. When he came back after the Lions tour in 1971 he dropped a bombshell and announced his retirement. Most people thought that was the end of Welsh rugby, but up stepped the boy from Felinfoel (Bennett), and he never looked back.
“Who can forget that day at Stradey Park in 1972. I was lucky enough to play in that game, and from that day forward Phil stamped his authority on Welsh rugby. I had never seen a performance like it. After that day, everyone knew who Phil Bennett was.
“A wonderful friend, ‘Benny’. I am sorry, boy, to be standing here in front of you.
“I refuse to say goodbye. As a Christian, I hope we will meet again. God bless you.”
Thomas then stood by Bennett’s coffin, lingering for 15 seconds before giving it a loving tap as he walked away.
All stood and applauded around the ground, with some wiping away tears.
It was a moment those present will never forget.
Hayward delighted by return of Exeter duo for Wales U20s
Wales U20s coach Byron Hayward is delighted at the prospect of starting Exeter Chiefs duo Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza against Scotland in their opening Six Nations Summer series match.
The pair both missed the recent Six Nations, but have boosted the age-grade side by being in Italy this summer, with both being named alongside each other in the second-row. The last time Jenkins and Tshiunza played together for Wales at U20 level was in a victory against Scotland in last summer’s Six Nations.
“It’s a massive boost for us to have the calibre of players coming back in to enhance the team,” said Hayward. “The one thing we lacked in the Six Nations was a physical presence, particularly in the forwards.
“If you look at the team selected for Scotland, two of the boys who played in the second row are now playing in their proper position in the back row.”
Dragons scrum-half called up by Argentina
Dragons scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou has been called up for the Argentina squad for the summer Test series with Scotland.
The 28-year-old had initially been selected to play for the Argentina XV in a pair of European international fixtures this summer. Bertranou would have featured in uncapped games against Georgia and Portugal .
However, the 36-cap scrum-half has now been called up to the senior squad for three Tests against Scotland.
The region have also announced that they will host Wasps at Rodney Parade in their second pre-season friendly on Friday, 2 nd of September (kick-off 7pm).
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