Today's rugby news as Lions to appoint Welsh coach and Dewi Lake decides future
These are your rugby headlines on Friday, January 24.
Welsh coach joins Lions staff
Aled Walters is set to join Andy Farrell's coaching staff for this summer's British & Irish Lions tour, according to reports.
The strength and conditioning guru, who hails from Carmarthen, will join the coaching team alongside Scottish Rugby's performance director David Nucifora, MailOnline reports.
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The publication reports that Walters was part of a Lions touring party - which also included Farrell and Nucifora - that travelled to the southern hemisphere earlier this month to "assess hotels and training bases" ahead of the tour of Australia.
While Nucifora's appointment comes as a surprise, Walters' is less so, having emerged as one of the best in his field after helping South Africa win the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The Welshman then went on to become a key figure in Steve Borthwick's coaching set-up with England as head of strength and conditioning, until he shockingly quit his role in August last year.
Walters then joined Ireland and worked under Farrell as their head of athletic performance during the autumn internationals, with the head coach heaping praise on him.
"He has a wealth of experience and has been a key part of many successful environments over the course of his career to date," said Farrell at the time. "I know how excited he is to return to Ireland and hit the ground running and I'm confident that he'll play an important role in the squad as we embark on a busy international season."
Lake commits future
Hooker Dewi Lake has followed Wales' Six Nations captain Jac Morgan in signing a new deal with the Ospreys.
The 25-year-old - who himself skippered Wales over the summer and autumn internationals - has played 59 times for the region since making his debut in 2018 and has since emerged as one of the best front rowers in the northern hemisphere.
Lake is currently sidelined with a bicep injury which is expected to rule him out for the majority, if not all, of the Six Nations, but said he was "really happy" to have committed his future to the Ospreys.
"The atmosphere here is second to none and there are boys in this team that I have grown up playing alongside," he said. “There is a bright future ahead for this team, we’re all buying into Mark’s ethos for the team and we’ve got a quality group of youngsters coming through that are bringing a fresh energy for us every week.
"Off the pitch, we’re all looking forward to the move to St Helen’s next season as well, which will be great for everyone involved with the club. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my family, the Ospreys, our supporters and everyone else that has played a part in my career, for their belief and support to this point.”
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones added: “I think I can speak for everyone at the club when I say how delighted we are that Dewi has signed a new deal. He’s an unbelievable professional, that gives his all for the team every time he steps onto the pitch.
“When you have someone his size with his athleticism, that combines those attributes with a first-class work-rate and set-piece astuteness, you’re left with an elite modern-day hooker, and that’s what Dewi is.
"What really sets him apart though, is his willingness to improve himself and everyone else around him," Jones continued. "With so many promising youngsters in the squad at the moment, it’s imperative that we have difference-makers like Dewi at the club, giving them advice and helping them to get better every day.”
Ritchie eyes Scotland spot after blow
By Anthony Brown, PA
Jamie Ritchie is "really proud" of the way he has responded to the blow of losing the Scotland captaincy a year ago and believes his game is in good order ahead of the upcoming Guinness Six Nations.
The 28-year-old back-rower was one of the first names on Gregor Townsend's team sheet as he skippered the Scots from the autumn of 2022 through to the 2023 World Cup in France. However, Ritchie's status within the squad has been diminished somewhat over the past year since he was replaced as captain and simultaneously lost his starting place at the start of last year.
The Edinburgh flanker - who started just two games in the 2024 Six Nations and then just one of the autumn Tests - believes he has bounced back strongly and is in upbeat mood heading into this year's championship.
"Yeah, obviously it was disappointing," said Ritchie. "It's something that I really enjoyed doing, being captain. But I think for me it didn't define who I was.
"I'm the same person with or without the armband and I would try and be the same person in and around camps whether that's leading by example or using my voice. I am still that person.
"Obviously, there was disappointment in and around selection but again, that's outwith my control. All I can do is prepare as best I can to play or prepare the team as best I can to play at the weekend if I'm not involved.
"I felt really proud of how I reacted to that and my performances for Edinburgh off the back of the Six Nations. I felt like I was playing some of my best rugby and I'm hoping that I've continued that form into this season and that maybe I'll get some more opportunity to play for Scotland.
"It's something that I love doing and I've loved it just as much from cap one to cap whatever, 50-odd it is now. I'll continue to do it for as long as I can."
Ritchie believes his form has been strong enough in recent months to ensure he is under consideration for a starting place in Scotland's back-row as they prepare to begin their Six Nations campaign at home to Italy next Saturday.
"I'd like to think so," he said. "I think I played really well against Australia so hopefully that's a little bit of money in the bank from that. I feel like I've been playing well for Edinburgh as well.
"Obviously, we've had a couple of tough games between the autumn and now, but I feel like our European form has been really good and I feel like I've been playing well. It's not up to me but I'd love to be selected. Any opportunity you get to put on a Scotland jersey, I relish it."
