Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, June 12.
Cardiff coach's exit confirmed by new club
Former Wales hooker T. Rhys Thomas has left his Cardiff Rugby forwards coach role to join Gloucester in the English Premiership, it has been announced. He will act as forwards transition coach, aiding players through the academy and into the senior squad.
WalesOnline reported last week that highly-rated forwards coach Thomas was on the verge of joining the Cherry and Whites, and the club has now confirmed the news in a statement on Monday.
A statement said: "We are also pleased to confirm that T Rhys Thomas has agreed to join Gloucester Rugby, taking on the role of forwards transition coach. Thomas’ responsibilities will focus on developing players through the academy pathway and into the senior squad alongside Tim Taylor. Thomas joins Kingsholm from Cardiff Rugby having worked in multiple roles within the academy and the senior squad for the URC side."
Gloucester's 2023/24 coaching team: George Skivington (head coach), Dom Waldouck (rugby strategy and defence coach), Trevor Woodman (scrum coach), James Lightfoot-Brown (attack coach), Tim Taylor (skills and backs transition coach), T. Rhys Thomas (forwards transition coach).
Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young remains suspended following a number of complaints from employees, while the region's coaching staff is set to look dramatically different next season. Assistant coach Richie Rees is on the radar of a leading Japanese club, Duane Goodfield has left the Arms Park, and defence guru Richard Hodges has left to join Italian side Zebre.
England prop investigated over alleged headbutt in tunnel
The Rugby Football Union has launched an investigation after England and Saracens forward Poppy Cleall allegedly headbutted a member of Exeter Chiefs' coaching staff during the Premier 15s semi-final on Sunday, according to reports.
Sarries went in at half time 14-0 up, but tensions spilled over when the players were making their way down the tunnel at Sandy Park.
The Telegraph reports that Exeter assistant coach Steve Salvin and Saracens Women scrum coach Juan Figallo are among those to have also been involved in the incident. They report that Salvin was unhappy that Cleall was talking to referee Charlie Gayther as the players headed to the dressing rooms, and made a comment which antagonised the 61-cap England international. Cleall reportedly reacted and leaned in towards Salvin to produce a “soft headbutt” which caught Salvin underneath his eye. Former Argentina prop Figallo allegedly then got involved in the fracas.
In a statement, the RFU said: “We are investigating reports of an alleged incident. Should a charge be brought, we will provide an update.”
Cleall returned to the field for the second half, which saw Exeter stage a successful comeback to claim a 24-21 victory. They will face Gloucester-Hartpury in the Premier 15s final on June 24, while Saracens miss out on a final for the first time since the league's inception in 2017.
Welsh prop joins Ealing
Prop Brad Thyer has joined Ealing Trailfinders from Cardiff ahead of next season.
The loosehead heads to west London after spending the last eight years in the Welsh capital, where he racked up almost 100 appearances for the United Rugby Championship side.
After representing Wales at U20s level, he made his debut for Cardiff in 2014 against the Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
His breakthrough season came three years later, when he made 22 appearances for the region during the 2017/18 season and was part of the team which came back from 20-6 down at half-time to win the European Challenge Cup 31-30 against Gloucester. He also went on loan to Glasgow Warriors at the start of the 2021/22 campaign, before returning to the region.
Thyer said: "Joining Ealing Trailfinders poses a really exciting new challenge for me at this stage of my rugby career. From speaking to people here, I’m really attracted to the vision of the club and the aspirations of the side to keep developing and to be competing at the highest level.”
Director of Rugby Ben Ward said: “We’re really pleased to be able to bring a player of Brad’s ability to the club. When he visited us, I really enjoyed meeting him and chatting about his game. He brings all the fundamentals that you need from a prop at the set piece, but also has the mobility around the park to really flourish in this environment.”
Cardiff Rugby said on Twitter: "Thank you for all of your efforts in Blue and Black and good luck for the next chapter. Pob lwc!"
England name first World Cup training squad
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Zach Mercer and Danny Care have been selected in England's first World Cup training squad of the summer. Number eight Mercer, who will move to Gloucester from Montpellier next season, last played Test rugby in 2018.
But Exeter back-row forward Sam Simmonds - signed by Montpellier as Mercer's replacement - has ruled himself out of World Cup contention following discussions with England head coach Steve Borthwick. Simmonds joins another Exeter player - wing Jack Nowell - in making that decision. Nowell is set to join reigning European champions La Rochelle.
Mercer's stint in France, which included him winning Top 14 player-of-the-season honours, meant he was not eligible for England selection. Harlequins scrum-half Care, meanwhile, won the last of his 87 England caps on tour in Australia a year ago.
There are also places for Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer in a 28-player group, alongside the likes of Bristol number nine Harry Randall, Bath flanker Ted Hill, Quins prop Joe Marler and London Irish flanker Tom Pearson.
Irish last week filed for administration following their suspension from all club competitions by the Rugby Football Union. The RFU confirmed that neither Irish's owner Mick Crossan nor an American consortium planning to buy the club were able to prove they had the finances to compete in the Gallagher Premiership for the 2023-24 campaign. All four Exiles players in the squad - Pearson, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Henry Arundell and Will Joseph - wanted to be listed on the official squad press release as London Irish players.
Former Wasps lock Joe Launchbury, meanwhile, was not considered due to a minor injury. Borthwick's group, which assembled in Surrey on Monday, does not include players from Premiership semi-finalists Saracens, Sale, Northampton and Leicester, who are on rest periods. Three players - Saracens number eight Billy Vunipola, Leicester forward Ollie Chessum and Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie - will also attend the camp to continue their rehabilitation from injury.
Borthwick said: "The World Cup is full of top-quality teams and high-quality players, and we are relishing the challenge in front of us. We have lots to get through before our first summer series fixture in August against Wales in Cardiff, so the hard work starts now. We are looking forward to it."
Borthwick's men face Wales twice, Ireland and Fiji in August before launching their World Cup campaign against Argentina in Marseille on September 9.
The final England World Cup squad of 33 players will be announced on August 7.
England training squad: Backs - H Arundell (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins), J Cokanasiga (Bath), O Hassell-Collins (London Irish), W Joseph (London Irish), O Lawrence (Bath), J Marchant (Harlequins), J May (Gloucester), C Murley (Harlequins), H Randall (Bristol), H Slade (Exeter), M Smith (Harlequins), B Spencer (Bath).
Forwards - J Blamire (Newcastle), A Dombrandt (Harlequins), T Dunn (Bath), C Ewels (Bath), E Genge (Bristol), T Hill (Bath), J Marler (Harlequins), Z Mercer (Montpellier), B Obano (Bath), T Pearson (London Irish), V Rapa-Ruskin (Gloucester), K Sinckler (Bristol), W Stuart (Bath), S Underhill (Bath), J Walker (Harlequins).
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