Today's rugby news as Welsh rugby stalwart officially leaves and star to miss Wales' Six Nations opener
These are your rugby headlines on Friday, January 3.
Welsh rugby stalwart officially leaves
Cardiff Rugby stalwart Gafyn Cooper has officially left the region to become Leinster's new team operations manager.
Cooper has been with the Arms Park side since 2006 and, having served as youth team captain in 1994, has worked his way through roles throughout the community game, academy and semi-professional set-up. The current campaign is the 13th in which he has served as Cardiff's rugby operations manager.
READ MORE: Wales 'set to make move' for top coach as he leaves English champions
While his decision to leave Wales for the Irish giants was announced in October, it was agreed he would stay on as part of a lengthy handover process until the new year, before being replaced by former Cardiff lock Chris Dicomidis as team manager.
Cooper was given a rousing send-off following Cardiff's 13-13 draw with the Ospreys on New Year's Day, with the region sharing photos of the team showing him their appreciation out on the pitch and in the changing rooms.
The post read: "Not the win, which we wanted to send [Cooper] off with yesterday, but from everyone at the club, thank you for an enormous contribution. 18 years, including 11 as Rugby Operations Manager. Diolch yn fawr a pob lwc @leinsterrugby Coops."
In October, Cooper said leaving the region was "one of the hardest decisions" he had ever made, adding: "My association with Cardiff stems back to 1994, and I have been proud to represent the club as a youth player and in the roles I have held across the academy, Premiership and the professional team since 2006.
“I would like to thank the countless players, back room and administration staff, board members and coaching staff that I have worked alongside, for the help and support they have given me throughout my tenure at the club. I wish the club every success in the future.
“I am hugely excited to be joining Leinster Rugby as Team Operations Manager and working alongside the staff and players of such a successful club.”
Star to miss Wales' Six Nations opener
France star Gael Fickou will miss the start of the Six Nations after undergoing an operation on a broken thumb.
The 30-year-old centre only played the first half of Racing 92's 25-25 draw with Lyon at the weekend after suffering the injury and now faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
That means he will certainly be absent for the first two rounds of the upcoming tournament, including the opening match of the championships when Wales travel to Paris on January 31.
Fickou is also set to miss Les Bleus' clash with England at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham the following weekend, but could return in time to face Italy in Rome on February 23.
A mainstay of the France team for a decade, the former Toulouse and Stade Francais star has 93 caps for the national side and would become the fourth most-capped player in French rugby history with a further Test appearance.
England to play two Tests in Argentina
By PA Sport Staff
England are to play two Tests against Argentina in July in their first tour to South America since 2017.
Steve Borthwick's team, minus those players selected for the British and Irish Lions' visit to Australia, will be in action against the Pumas in La Plata on July 5 and San Juan a week later.
Argentina play their first match of the summer against the Lions in Dublin on June 20 as the curtain raises to the tour Down Under.
Bristol confirm losses
Bristol Bears have confirmed a pre-tax loss of £5.5 million in their latest annual financial report, an increase of half a million pounds on the previous year.
A statement issued by the Gallagher Premiership side read: “Bristol Rugby Club Limited made a pre-tax loss of £5.5m for the 2023/24 financial year. The results for the year ending June 30, 2024, compare to a pre-tax loss of £5m for the 2022/23 financial year and reflect revenue challenges across the board, with less home competitive fixtures and reduced distribution income from Premiership Rugby Limited.
“The club undertook a number cost-cutting measures during the year in efforts to reduce its operating loss. A significant focus on homegrown academy players and operating efficiencies led to a £2.8m reduction in costs.”
Bristol Sport Group CEO Gavin Marshall added: “Recording such a significant loss demonstrates that there is a lot of work left to do, although the club has taken a number of effective measures to reduce costs across the organisation.
“We continue to be extremely thankful to the Lansdown family for their ownership, particularly at a time of continued losses and economic uncertainty.”
