Today's rugby news as Gatland vows to spring surprise on France and great fights for life
Here are your rugby headlines for Thursday, January 30.
Gatland vows to spring surprise on France
Warren Gatland claims Wales are ready to go out in Paris and do things France aren't going to expect.
On the back of a record 12-Test losing run, Wales head to the Stade de France on Friday as underdogs. However, Gatland believes they can spring some surprises on the home side as they seek to "play some good rugby".
READ MORE: Jiffy column: I don't want this to be the end for me but this Six Nations might be
READ MORE: Clive Woodward says Wales have one player every rugby fan should watch
"We haven't spoken about the negativity," said Gatland. "The things that I do is you try and create a little bit of your own siege mentality where you build that up in your own environment and you try and not take too much note of the stuff that's going on outside that.
"All I can say is the players have been good. They've come in, the chat has been good. I think Gareth Thomas said the preparation has been outstanding in the last few weeks in terms of the way that the players are prepared, them getting up to speed, the clarity that they've had in terms of that preparation.
"I think they're well aware of the task and they're up against it. We want to go out there and play some good rugby.
"We want to go out there and do some things that potentially France aren't going to expect us to do. We've talked about being really positive in terms of the way that we play against them, to see that there's opportunities to attack them as well.
"We know how good they are as a side but we go out and on our day we're accurate and we're disciplined then we've got a good chance to be in that game."
Fiji great fighting for life
Fiji rugby great Setefano 'Sete' Cakaunivalu is in a critical condition in hospital after collapsing at the South Darwin Rugby Union Football Club clubhouse on Friday.
The 46-year-old back-row forward, who played for Fiji 7s from 2003 to 2008, suffered a suspected heart attack after a match against Casuarina.
He was immediately rushed to the Royal Darwin Hospital where he is currently on life support. Club members, including president Tauraa Exham, performed life-saving CPR for over 15 minutes until emergency services arrived.
Thanks to their swift actions, Cakaunivalu was resuscitated and stabilised. Although he has shown signs of improvement, he remains in intensive care.
A former captain of Fiji's 7s team, Cakaunivalu is also a respected community leader in Darwin, contributing significantly to the growth of rugby in the area. He works as an NDIS support worker for children and as a school student support worker.
Last year, he travelled to the Paris Olympic Games as part of the Fiji 7s squad's management team. Members of South Darwin RUFC and the wider community have rallied around his family, with Exham setting up a GoFundMe page.
"He better recover quickly!" said club president Exham. "We've been working with some of the most remote communities in Australia to bring their kids coaching clinics, and he still has work to do!"
A GoFundMe page, named 'Hearts united for Sete: Give, prey and support his family', has managed to raise $17,791 since its inception. Exham, speaking on the fundraising platform, stated: "Sete has given so much to rugby and his community - now it’s our turn to give back. Let’s come together to support him and his family in this critical time.
"Donations will ensure Sete’s wife and children can focus on supporting him through his recovery, without worrying about the financial burdens that come with such an unexpected crisis."
Donations to assist Cakaunivalu's family can be made here.
Wales prop signs new deal
The Ospreys have announced Wales international Gareth Thomas has put pen to paper on a new contract to stay with the club.
Thomas is both formidable in the scrum and is solid in defence, too. Having started his rugby journey at Newcastle Emlyn RFC, the front-rower has made 137 appearances for the Ospreys since debuting back in 2014 and has donned the Wales jersey 35 times.
Upon signing the extension, Thomas said: "It’s a real honour to be continuing my career with the Ospreys. I’ve been here for over 10 years and I’m still as happy to be here as I was when I joined the club, so it was a no-brainer to sign a new deal.
"During my time here, I’ve had the privilege of working under some great coaches, especially Dunc (Duncan Jones), who has really helped in my development to where I am now. I’m excited to continue working with him and to continue pushing myself in being the best player I can be.
"We’ve got a great mix of boys in our pack, from experienced players to some quality young talent coming through. All of us are looking forward to building on what’s been a great start under Mark (Jones), and giving our all for the club for the rest of the season."
Head coach Mark Jones expressed his delight at retaining the services of the front-rower, saying: "We’re really happy to have Gar commit his future to the club. He has been an integral part of our squad for a long time, and similarly to Dewi and Jac, he’s been a highly influential leader.
"Gar is often credited for his work at the scrum, but his work rate from a defensive standpoint is incredible, especially for a front rower. He sets a great example for our younger props coming up, in both how he carries himself on the pitch, and off it.
"When you have players of his standard that not only want to commit to the club, but are also proud to pull on the jersey, I think that says a lot about the culture that we’re building here."
Senedd members say Six Nations 'must remain on free-to-air TV’
By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Senedd members called for the Six Nations to stay on free-to-air television amid reports the tournament could go behind a paywall from 2026.
Heledd Fychan raised concerns about reports of TNT Sports bidding for the TV rights on the eve of this year’s Six Nations which kicks off on Friday with Wales travelling to France.
Plaid Cymru’s shadow culture secretary criticised the previous UK Government for not adding the tournament to Ofcom’s list of events that must be broadcast on terrestrial TV.
She told the Senedd: “Watching our national teams should not be a privilege that only those who can afford subscriptions are able to do so. It’s more than just a sport: it’s about our national identity, our culture and the ability of every person in Wales – no matter their background – to be part of something bigger.”
Gareth Davies, the Tories' shadow culture secretary, said: “I think we're all united in this chamber in the belief that the Six Nations must remain free to air and we're a rugby nation.”
The current deal, which sees live broadcast coverage shared by ITV and the BBC, is entering its final year, with TNT Sports reportedly in “pole position” to secure TV rights.
Labour’s Alun Davies said: “The Six Nations does bring us together as a country and as a community and everybody should have the right to be a part of that community.
“Everybody should have the right to go through the joy and the sorrow of supporting Welsh rugby union. The terror that we've felt at different times, and the utter joy that we've felt.”
The Blaenau Gwent Senedd member added: “This is a part of us, a part of our national story, a part of our national life – it cannot be taken away by anyone.”
