Tonight's rugby news as Wales international Roberts dies and top coach resigns after sex offence charges
These are your evening rugby headlines on Monday, January 6.
Wales international dies
Former Wales international Meirion Roberts has died at the age of 90.
The centre moved to Cardiff from north Wales in his youth, representing Welsh Schools and Cardiff High School Old Boys. He went on to captain Cardiff, making 225 appearances, while he also represented London Welsh.
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Roberts was capped eight times by Wales during the early 1960s, making his debut against South Africa in 1960 and taking part in three Five Nations campaigns, while also helping the Barbarians to victory against the Springboks in 1961. After retiring from playing, he coached Cardiff Medicals RFC for over 20 years.
He passed away on Monday morning, with some of his former sides paying tribute to him.
"Saddened to hear the news that Meirion Roberts has passed away," Cardiff Rugby said in a post. "Meirion made 225 appearances for Cardiff, scoring 58 tries and represented Wales and the Barbarians."
Cardiff Meds also paid tribute, writing: "So very sad to share the news that the Great Meirion Roberts passed away earlier this morning, aged 90. An amazing man in every respect and a true legend of the Meds. RIP Meirion."
Cardiff Quins RFC wrote: "Extremely sad to hear the news that Meirion Roberts passed away this morning. A former CHSOB player who went on to capt Cardiff and represent Wales. Our thoughts and prayers with Joey and all the family. RIP."
Top coach resigns after sex offences charge
Samoa head coach Mahonri Schwalger has resigned with immediate effect.
The 46-year-old former hooker - who previously represented the Scarlets between 2007 and 2009 - was suspended in the autumn after being charged with 'multiple serious offences', including 'sexual conduct with a person under 16'. Reports in Samoa stated that police also charged Schwalger with "unlawful sexual connection, attempted sexual violation, indecent assault, and common assault."
However, the ex-Hurricanes, Highlanders and Chiefs player has now stood down from the role, with the Samoa board accepting his decision to resign just over nine months after taking charge. The search for a new head coach will now begin.
A statement from Samoa reads: “Lakapi Samoa has announced that Mase Mahonri Schwalger has resigned from his position as head coach of Manu Samoa, a decision that has been accepted by the Lakapi Samoa Board, effective immediately.
“This resignation follows a period of suspension granted to Mase following the filing of criminal charges against him in court. Under his leadership in the past year, 2024 Manu Samoa achieved significant milestones including strong performances on the international stage, beginning with defeating Tier 1 Nation, Italy at home and a respectable performance in the Pacific Nations Cup.
“Lakapi Samoa will begin the search for a new head coach and remains committed to ensuring that Manu Samoa continues to grow and succeed at the highest levels of international rugby.”
Ireland prop ruled out of Six Nations games
Ireland international Tom O'Toole will miss his side's first two Six Nations games after being hit with a hefty ban.
The tighthead prop has been issued with a six-game suspension after he was red carded during his Ulster side's defeat to Munster in the URC on December 20.
O'Toole was given his marching orders by Welsh referee Ben Whitehouse shortly after the half hour mark, after he was ruled to have dropped his weight onto the exposed leg of Munster centre Alex Nankivell at a ruck. The New Zealander was withdrawn from the field shortly after with an injured hamstring tendon.
The Irishman conceded to a URC disciplinary committee that he had committed an act of foul play that was deserving of a red card, with the entry point of the top end offence 10 weeks. However, his admission of foul play and immediate and further apologies saw O'Toole given four weeks mitigation.
Having already missed his side's clash with Connacht on December 28, the prop will now miss Ulster's Champions Cup fixtures against Leicester and Exeter Chiefs, as well as their URC meeting with Zebre at the end of the month.
After it was confirmed that the 16-cap international - who featured three times off the bench during the Autumn Nations Series -would have been involved in the Ireland squad next month, the ban will also see him sit out the first two matches against England and Scotland.
"Barring injury or suspension he would be included in the 2025 Guinness Six Nations squad with a very good chance of being named in the match day squad," said the URC in a statement. "In these circumstances it is appropriate that Ireland's first two matches are included."
With O'Toole out, interim Ireland coach Simon Easterby will have to hope that Tadhg Furlong returns to full fitness, with Finlay Bealham providing cover.
'Superstar' Maher wants to lift Welsh teammate
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Ilona Maher hopes she can inspire and elevate more players to superstar status in women's rugby.
Olympic sevens bronze medallist Maher announced her arrival in English rugby by helping Bristol Bears generate a club-record crowd for a women's game of just over 9,000 at Ashton Gate. Her eagerly anticipated debut against Premiership champions Gloucester-Hartpury attracted fans from Kentucky and Washington DC, while Maher spent more than an hour after the game signing autographs and posing for pictures.
With more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, 28-year-old American back Maher is the world's most followed rugby player on social media.
She will undoubtedly make a major impact during her three-month stay with Bristol, then potentially the England-hosted Women's World Cup later this year when Maher hopes to be part of the United States squad. Her commitment to the sport, enthusiasm for it and engagement with supporters makes her a box-office ticket.
"I love being a superstar," she said. "People call me a superstar of rugby, but that's not enough for the sport. We can't just have one superstar, we need to have more, we need to have people connecting with so many different players, and that is what will grow our game.
"Right now, it seems to be 'Oh, it's Ilona Maher, we've got to get her in this, this and this'. That's where I want to bring these team-mates up.
"I am always trying to get my team-mates from the US sevens up. During the Olympics, so many of them put media out there and grew their following. I have seen the power in it, I've seen the power of people connecting with the individual and then going to a sport.
"People connect with [basketball player] Caitlin Clark and go and see a game, and that brings more fans in. If we can have more people connect with Holly Aitchison, [Wales international] Jaz Joyce, Evie Gallagher, that brings them in, that brings fans in, so that is my goal.
"It is cool to be the face of a sport that isn't thought of as a woman's sport. The impact I am having is felt across men's and women's, and I've had some of the best men's players in the world be, like, 'keep doing what you're doing'.
"I think everyone sees the value in it. If one rises, we all rise. So I am really proud of what I have done and the impact I am having on social media, not just in a rugby sense but in a body positivity sense, the way people are treating themselves."
