Tonight's rugby news as new faces arrive in Wales camp and star out of Six Nations in hammer blow
These are your evening rugby headlines on Monday, January 20
New faces arrive in Wales camp
Wales' Six Nations squad have arrived in camp to begin their tournament preparations, with some new faces in the mix.
Warren Gatland's side are looking to finally end their miserable record losing run of 12 Tests, and banish memories of last year's competition which saw them pick up a first Wooden Spoon in 21 years after failing to pick up a single win. However, they face a tricky start with France in Paris up first on January 31. Sign up to our Welsh rugby newsletter here
READ MORE: Adam Jones offered Wales Six Nations job as Sam Warburton's mentor to also return
READ MORE: England star names Wales' four best players and the 'freak' who can change everything
Today saw them take their first steps towards their tournament opener as they gathered as a squad at Wales' training base at the Vale Resort, before going through the administrative formalities and having their squad photos updated.
Gatland included two uncapped players in his squad, calling up both Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards and Scarlets wing Ellis Mee for this year's tournament. Edwards - who was invited to train with Wales during the autumn internationals but had to turn it down due to injury - was seen beaming as he made his way into camp.
After a winless 2024 at Test level, Gatland has been given the Six Nations to save his job and said he has "selected a squad that we feel has a good blend of exciting young talent and experience".
While the likes of Max Llewellyn and Gareth Anscombe were surprise omissions, the Wales boss has been boosted by the return of experienced heads including Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams and Josh Adams.
Star out of Six Nations in hammer blow
By Duncan Bech, PA
Scotland have suffered a major blow after it was revealed that star centre and captain Sione Tuipulotu will miss the entire Guinness Six Nations because of a chest injury.
Tuipulotu is to undergo surgery on the pectoral muscle that was damaged in training for Glasgow Warriors last week and has been ruled out of action until later in the season.
The 27-year-old is clear favourite to claim the number 12 jersey for the British & Irish Lions in Australia this summer so his expected return towards the end of the campaign will come as a relief to the tourists’ head coach Andy Farrell.
Lock Scott Cummings could also be unavailable for the whole Six Nations after he fractured his arm in Glasgow’s 24-7 defeat by Harlequins on Saturday night.
A date for his comeback has not been set with Scotland yet to rule him out of the Championship, which opens against Italy at Murrayfield on February 1.
Cummings had forged a solid second-row partnership with Grant Gilchrist but head coach Gregor Townsend at least has Jonny Gray to call upon as an alternative following his return from knee and ankle problems.
With Tuipulotu unavailable, Rory Darge and Finn Russell will co-captain Scotland to reclaim the roles they performed in last year’s Six Nations.
In an indication of his growing influence on the team, Tuipulotu was placed in charge for the autumn and had retained the leadership duties for the Championship only to suffer his pectoral injury.
He has been one of the best-performing players in Europe and a standout centre in either hemisphere with his power as a carrier matched by subtler touches, making him a frontrunner for Lions Test selection.
“Sione Tuipulotu will miss the Six Nations after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury during a training session with Glasgow Warriors last week,” a Scottish Rugby statement said. “Sione will undergo surgery this week and is expected to return to action before the end of the season.
“Scott Cummings sustained an arm fracture during Glasgow Warriors’ match against Harlequins at the weekend. He is also likely to miss the tournament and will undergo further review to determine when he will be fit to return. There will be no additions to the squad at this point.”
France woes continue amid surprise twist
France's woes have continued ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales.
Head coach Fabian Galthie has already lost several experienced bodies to injury in the lead-up to the tournament, while doubts continue to linger over others. But the Les Bleus boss now faces another potential blow after flanker Anthony Jelonch pulled out of the 42-man squad that is preparing for the competition.
No reason was given by the French rugby federation for the withdrawal on Monday, with 29-cap Jelonch featuring for Toulouse in their 80-12 mauling of Leicester yesterday.
It came hours after the federation announced that lock Romain Taofifenua had also been ruled out of the preparation squad due to a knee injury sustained against the Stormers at the weekend, with five-cap international Mickaël Guillard replacing him.
However, it has now surprisingly been confirmed that Jelonch will in fact be replaced in the squad by Taofifenua.
Galthie has already lost the experienced trio of Charles Ollivon, Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty to injury, with the former facing six months on the sidelines after undergoing knee surgery.
There is also a question mark over the readiness of star winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who will also miss the squad's preparations ahead of the tournament after withdrawing from the Bordeaux side that beat the Sharks on Sunday after feeling dizzy. This was reportedly due to an inner ear issue, with the likely length of his absence still unknown.
Sean Lynn appointed Wales women head coach
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Sean Lynn has been appointed as the new Wales women’s head coach.
Welshman Lynn, who masterminded back-to-back Premiership Women’s Rugby titles as Gloucester-Hartpury boss in 2023 and 2024, succeeds Ioan Cunningham.
The Welsh Rugby Union said that Lynn, who has agreed a three-year contract, will switch full-time to Wales ahead of the Six Nations, which begins in March.
Cunningham left his role in November, while Nigel Walker resigned as the WRU’s executive director of rugby just before Christmas.
Those departures came following a turbulent spell last year that saw the WRU’s handling of now-completed contract negotiations for its top female players fiercely criticised.
Lynn’s arrival comes on the back of former PWR chief executive Belinda Moore taking a newly-created post as the WRU’s head of women’s rugby.
The head of rugby position was among recommendations from a recent strategic review into the women’s game in Wales.
The Six Nations, which Wales begin against Scotland on March 22, is followed by the England-hosted World Cup during August and September, with Wales in a tough pool alongside Scotland, Canada and Fiji.
Wales finished with the Six Nations wooden spoon last season, won only four of 11 Tests in 2024 and are currently a lowly 10th in the world rankings.
