Tonight's rugby news as Wales star makes sad family announcement and Anscombe refuses to quit

Your rugby evening headlines on Monday, November 4.

Wales star announces tragic news

Wales international Elliot Dee has announced the death of his father.

In a post to Instagram, the Dragons RFC hooker included pictures of the family together at Dee's Wales matches, along with the caption: "Deeply saddened to announce the passing of our old man, he passed away yesterday afternoon with me and the girls at his side, we couldn’t have asked for a better role model, thank you dad!

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"We love you! Thank you all for the messages of condolence, they are much appreciated."

Rugby friends such as Aaron Wainwright, George North and Sam Costelow left messages of condolences in the comments section. Dee lost his mother Lynn in 2016 when he was just 20-years-old.

Dee, who has 51 caps for his country, has an ankle injury and has therefore not been included in Warren Gatland's 35-player squad for the autumn Tests.

Gareth Anscombe: I wanted to fight back

Wales international Gareth Anscombe has revealed that giving up on the game was never an option.

The 33-year-old sustained a groin injury for Warren Gatland's team during a warm up at the World Cup last year, before his registration was cancelled with new club Suntory Sungoliath because he still hadn't recovered from the injury.

Speaking to the BBC, Anscombe explained that despite his history of long injury lay-offs, and being in the latter stages of his rugby career, it was always his ambition to pull on the red jersey once more.

"I probably always had in the back of my mind that I could come back for Wales," explained Anscombe. "You can give up and move on and retire, or fight to get back, and I've always chosen the latter.

"When you've been out for as long as I have and had so many setbacks, you figure out what drives you."

Anscombe ruptured two knee ligaments in 2019, which ruled him out of the World Cup in Japan that year. The following two years were spent rehabilitating from the injury, eating up a significant portion of his career. Despite all of the hardship, though, Anscombe has always remained optimistic about a return.

"So even during those times I've been out, I've always felt like I could, if I got myself back to fitness, add something at this level," he continued. "That competitiveness and resilience is enough to believe I can come back and make a difference here. Time will tell in the next few weeks."

Anscombe adds some much-needed experience to Gatland's collective ahead of the autumn internationals. Wales fans will be pleased to see him and Tomos Williams performing so well for Gloucester Rugby in the Premiership, with many hoping their can replicate that form in the Test match arena.

All Blacks drinking Guinness in Dublin pub

Some of the All Blacks players were seen in a Dublin pub drinking Guinness ahead of their clash against Ireland.

Getting into the Irish spirit, players sampled some of the local tipple, with Leinster-bound Jordie Barrett even pouring a pint himself at Gleesons in Booterstown, a Dublin suburb.

Ireland have not played against New Zealand since October 14 2023, where the Kiwis won 28-24 at Stade de France in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup. It was one of the best games of the tournament, and one of the most entertaining in the history of the competition. Prior to that, Ireland won the summer series 2-1 in 2022.

The match kicks off at 8.10pm on Friday, November 8 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Ireland will be pleased to know that key players Codie Taylor and Beauden Barrett are unavailable for this clash. This is due to mandatory 12-day stand-downs after sustaining concussions against England.

Wallaby defends Eddie Jones

By Mark Walker, PA

Australia centre Samu Kerevi has defended Eddie Jones after claims the coach ruled by fear during his seven-year spell in charge of England.

Former England scrum-half Danny Care claimed in his autobiography that “everyone was bloody terrified of him” and compared Jones’ regime to a dystopian novel.

In an excerpt of Care’s new book, Everything Happens for a Reason: My Life in Rugby, published by The Times, the 37-year-old said: “Did Eddie rule by fear? Of course he did, everyone was bloody terrified of him.

“(England wing) Jonny May probably summed up the situation best: he’d walk in for breakfast, head down, muttering, ‘Expect anything today, boys, expect anything …’

“We used to say to each other, ‘Just remember, boys, everything’s a test,’ as if we were characters in a dystopian novel.”

But Kerevi, currently preparing for the first match of Australia’s UK and Ireland tour against England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, takes a different view of 64-year-old Australian Jones, now in his second spell as Japan head coach.

Kerevi, currently at Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks and who played under Jones during his second stint as Wallabies coach until October last year, said: “I wouldn’t say (it was) terrifying.

“I think it’s how you take it. I grew up in a different culture to what it is now in rugby. The pursuit of excellence puts pressure on everyone and I think that’s just what Eddie is like. I’ve got a good relationship with Eddie. I think he puts pressure, not just on the players, but the staff.

“I think that’s what Danny Care’s talking about, but again, it’s how you receive it. Whether you thrive under it. I guess for us he didn’t get the results, in the last year with Eddie, but our focus now is on Joe and the team. I wish Eddie all the best.”