The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Friday, March 27.
Politicians react to WRU bombshell
Politicians have reacted with approval following the news that Welsh Rugby Union chair Richard Collier-Keywood will step down from his role later this year.
The WRU announced on Friday afternoon that the under-fire chair will not seek a second term. Instead, Collier-Keywood, who was facing an EGM vote to oust him next month, will depart at the end of his term in July.
The 64-year-old has faced considerable criticism in recent months over the governing body’s plans to cut the number of professional teams from four to three.
Quite what his departure means for that plan, or next month’s EGM, remains to be seen. However, following the announcement, some of the chair’s most vocal critics have already responded.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said: “So it looks like the EGM motion has now already succeeded without a vote being cast!
“There is a chance now for the WRU to change course and reengage with fans, clubs, players and public!
“The WRU should now accept that a new plan must quickly come forward. Clubs, players fans need certainty as quickly as possible. It will be financial madness for the WRU and outgoing chair to preside over months of further drift and uncertainty.
“Well done to the fantastic rugby public who have clearly made this happen.”
MP for Swansea West, Torsten Bell, also commented on Collier-Keywood’s departure.
“It’s right that Richard Collier-Keywood has decided to step back from leading the WRU,” said Bell. “It’s not just that on his watch the organisation brought forward the wrong plan for the future of Welsh rugby, but that they went about it in absolutely the wrong way.
“The truth is that the approach of trying to ride roughshod over near universal opposition to push through chaotic changes simply couldn’t work. Those brave clubs who put their heads above the parapet to call the EGM deserve huge credit for spelling that out.
“We now need a reset – as I said to the WRU chief executive just a few weeks ago. There needs to be a new plan and new way of working, not just a new face at the top.”
Pollock signs with Matchroom
England rugby star Henry Pollock has signed with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn’s new sporting talent agency, it has been announced.
The back rower becomes the second high profile name behind UFC fighter Tom Aspinall to team up with Hearn, and more are now expected to follow. Pollock is already one of the most talked about rugby players in the world, with his huge profile and confident personality making him highly marketable.
Hearn was recently present at the Wales v Italy Six Nations match, just days after announcing his new venture. The likes of Louis Rees-Zammit are also likely to be targets for Hearn as he looks to expand his portfolio of athletes.
“I’m delighted to be joining forces with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Talent Agency alongside Stellar Rugby, at such an exciting stage in my career,” Pollock said.
“Their experience and vision in the global sports market make them the perfect partners to help me grow both on and off the field, and I’m looking forward to what we can all achieve together.”
Hearn said: “I watched this kid and I immediately thought: superstar. I honestly believe he can singlehandedly ignite this sport and I am delighted to welcome him to the Matchroom family.
“With Henry, alongside UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall, we are building a team of all stars – and we have many more top names still to bring in as our new Matchroom Talent Agency makes huge strides forward.”
Morgan: Wales boys were brilliant
Wales skipper Jac Morgan has hailed the efforts of his international team-mates during the last Six Nations.
Morgan had to look on from the sidelines during this year’s tournament after a shoulder injury last autumn ruled him out.
He made his long-awaited comeback last weekend for club side Ospreys and ahead of the clash with Connacht this Saturday had a word for his Wales contemporaries.
“The boys were brilliant,” he said, adding: “You could see how the boys and the squad were growing, learning and getting better every week.
“I loved being there to support.
“It was great to see everything that they’ve been building on, working on and improving on coming to fruition in that last game.
“Being able to get that win, it was a great feeling. It’s an opportunity now to build on that and and hopefully take it into the summer.”
Andy Farrell not talking to RFU about England role ‘at present’ – Bill Sweeney
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent
Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney insists there has been no contact with Andy Farrell as part of England’s succession planning for the time beyond next year’s World Cup.
Sweeney has indicated that current head coach Steve Borthwick will be given the summer tour to orchestrate a revival following an abject Six Nations campaign which saw England finish fifth having suffered four successive defeats.
If Borthwick delivers a satisfactory return against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in July, he will be in a position to see out his contract until Australia 2027 when it expires.
Farrell’s deal with Ireland also ends after the global showpiece and he revealed in the wake of the Six Nations that talks over an extension with the Irish Rugby Football Union will begin soon.
The head coach of last year’s British and Irish Lions tour would be the standout candidate to take over at Twickenham should it be decided by either Borthwick or the RFU that change is needed, but no discussions have taken place.
“He’s under contract to the 2027 World Cup,” Sweeney said of Farrell. “We’re not in a dialogue. We’re not in a discussion with him at the present.”
The review of England’s Championship will be completed by the end of next month and is being conducted by an anonymous panel of figures drawn from inside and outside the RFU with Sweeney, director of performance rugby Conor O’Shea and non-executive director Ben Kay among those involved.
Players and Borthwick’s assistant coaches are also being canvassed for their opinions on why the same team that registered their 12th successive victory when routing Wales in round one then collapsed to their worst ever Six Nations performance.
Although the review has yet to reach any conclusions on the events of the past few weeks, Sweeney’s inclination is to give Borthwick more time with England’s stirring performance against France in the climax to the tournament pointing to a brighter future.
“There is a lot of noise out there,” Sweeney said. “You’ve got to take emotion out of the equation. You just look at it purely in terms of: What was the performance? What were the issues? Why did they arise? And how do we fix them?
“I see the outcome being for us to make sure we have got the right support mechanisms in place to address them and support Steve to get that right going forward.
“We are really focussed on seeing progress again and seeing better and more consistent performances. That is the focus – it’s not a set number of wins or a percentage.
“It’s about getting back to the way we were playing. Steve talks about playing big. That has been the intention and you saw that against France.
“We still think this is an extremely strong squad that has got the potential and capability to do some really good things.”
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