The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, March 28.
Taulupe Faletau suffers cruel blow
Cardiff are sweating on the fitness of Wales legend Taulupe Faletau after he was forced off with an apparent shoulder injury in their defeat to the Sharks.
The No. 8 was making his first start since New Year’s Day, having endured an injury-hit campaign. A calf problem kept him out of the Six Nations, with a knee injury preventing him from playing in the autumn.
The 35-year-old was going well, only to be forced off after 45 minutes. You can see how all the players rated here.
He left the pitch in Durban using his jersey as a temporary sling for his arm – begging the question whether he will feature in Cardiff’s remaining matches this season. Faletau’s future at the Welsh region beyond this season is unclear and this could yet prove to be his last appearance for Cardiff if the worst is confirmed.
The Wales legend has been beset by a series of cruel injuries in recent years, particularly arm issues. He suffered a broken arm in Wales’ World Cup victory against Georgia in October 2023, before fracturing his shoulder in his comeback match six months later.
The Blue and Blacks have five guaranteed matches left, plus whatever comes in the way of further knockout matches in the United Rugby Championship and Challenge Cup.
As well as Faletau, Cardiff lost second-row Josh McNally and prop Corey Domachowski in the first-half to injury.
“It was tough to lose those players early on and that put us under pressure,” said Cardiff coach Corniel Van Zyl. “There were two actions we probably could have dealt with better and they ended up scoring twice.
“The pressure of those early changes meant we couldn’t bring fresh legs at the end, and that makes a difference in a tight game like that. It was close at the end, but we just came up short.”
Cardiff set for English invasion
Around 50,000 English rugby supporters are expected to take over Cardiff’s Principality Stadium today as Bristol Bears play Harlequins at the iconic rugby venue.
Bristol bring a top Gallagher Prem clash to the Wesh capital for the second year running after the success of last year’s first ‘Big Day Out’ occasion against Bath.
Louis Rees-Zammit starts for Bristol at full-back, with former Wales under-20s star Aidan Boshoff named on the wing.
There is also strong Welsh interest in the Harlequins team, with Jarrod Evans starting at outside-half and rising young talent Bryn Bradley at 12. The match kicks off at 3.30pm at the Principality.
Bristol: Rees-Zammit; Ravouvou, Moroni, Williams, Boshoff; Jordan, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska; Dun, Owen, Luatua, Harding (c), S. Grondona.
Replacements: Gwilliam, Woolmore, Chawatama, Taylor, B. Grondona, Marmion, Janse van Rensburg, Ibitoye.
Harlequins: Benson; Isgro, Murley, Bradley, David; Evans, Townsend; Kerrod, Walker, Jones; Treadwell, Williams, Petti Pagadizabal, Kenningham, Dombrant (c).
Replacements: Riley, Hobson, Delgado, Green, Carr, Driscoll, Grant, Kerr.
International accused of jersey scam
A current Tonga international has been accused of scamming people out of money through the sale of match-worn jerseys.
Tau Koloamatangi, who has played for Waikato, Otago and Super Rugby outfit Moana Pasifika, has been accused of taking payment for the sale of jerseys before ceasing any contact with buyers. The former New Zealand U20s international has reportedly been listing jerseys for sale through social media and online marketplace websites.
He is then alleged to have blocked some buyers after receiving payment, as revealed by an investigation by the New Zealand Herald.
The majority of the jerseys are understood to be from Tests he has played in. The paper also claim he has allegedly taken old listings and pretended they were his.
The Herald said they had spoken to multiple people who feel helpless after not receiving the jersey they paid for, leaving them thousands of NZ dollars out of pocket.
One person they interviewed had paid NZ$1650 – around £714 – for an All Blacks jersey they did not receive, while another said they had paid NZ$2250 – roughly £974 – for a 2023 World Cup Springbok jersey that did not arrive.
The Herald did say they had tried to reach Kolomatangi without any success, although he has reached out to alleged victims – providing at least one with a refund.
Gloucester looking for final piece after Morgan and Lake signings
Gloucester head coach George Skivington admits a loosehead is the final position the Gallagher Prem club need to strengthen, having already signed Wales captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan for next season.
The Ospreys pair will head to the Kingsholm club later this year amid ongoing uncertainty in Welsh rugby. The Cherry and Whites are on the lookout for a prop, having missed out on Scotland international Jamie Bhatti.
The Glasgow loosehead will instead join Bath – with Skivington having to move on to other targets.
“There’s one position we’re working away on still,” he said this week. “I thought we were done, but that one is just dragging on a little bit, so that could still take a few twists and turns, but we’re only one position away from being done now,”
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