Tonight's rugby news as Wales star makes player review admission and Tipuric returns
These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, January 23.
Wales star makes player review admission
Jac Morgan says Wales' players have put the review into Welsh rugby's problems behind them as he admitted he's never been involved in anything quite like the in-depth look into a dismal 2024.
Warren Gatland's side lost all 11 Test matches last year, prompting an in-depth review into Welsh rugby that saw Gatland given the 2025 Six Nations to save his job. Welsh Rugby Union executive director of rugby Nigel Walker wasn't so fortunate, leaving his post after the findings of the review were published before Christmas.
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As part of the review - carried out by independent consultancy company Portas - players were asked for feedback anonymously, with WRU CEO Abi Tierney telling the media in December that Gatland had been "humbled" by the review and the findings of the players' questionnaires.
However, the Wales coach has since questioned the lack of winning experience held by many involved in the recent independent review into Welsh rugby - even defending those comments this week.
Even with the ramifications of the review still being felt as Wales seek to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming Six Nations, Morgan insists the in-depth investigation has been parked - with no mention having been made on the first day of camp at the start of this week.
"No, it’s done now," said the Wales captain. "It’s all on the Six Nations and looking forward. We’re looking forward to France. We’re back in camp and ready to get grafting to improve. We’re hoping to be better this year. Last year, we never went out on the field to lose a game. There were a lot of games we could have won, looking back.
"We lost a lot of experience last year. It was a year where we’ll learn from the mistakes we made. We’ll be looking forward to this Six Nations and hopefully we can be a bit better, keep on improving our performances and results will come with that."
Morgan, who led Wales in the 2023 World Cup alongside Dewi Lake, has been reinstalled as captain in the absence of his Ospreys team-mate and perennial room-mate. Indeed, with Lake not in the squad as he recovers from injury, Morgan admits that a Wales squad without the hooker - who captained Wales in the last two campaigns - is "going to be different".
Both Morgan and Lake have shown leadership beyond their years, having spent the fledgling seasons of their Test career engulfed in some of Welsh rugby's toughest moments. However, even in Wales - where most things have happened at least once before - Morgan found the recent review a novel experience.
"I’ve never been in a review like that, in that way," he added. "It came out when we were all back with the clubs. The review has gone in and we’ll see now what actions are on it. Our full focus as a squad is France a week Friday, trying to be better and as clear as we can in the details for next week."
'Incredible' Tipuric returns
Justin Tipuric will return to the Ospreys line-up as captain for their URC clash with Benetton tomorrow.
The veteran flanker missed last weekend's victory over Pau in Europe, but will lead the side in the absence of Jac Morgan, who is away with Wales ahead of the Six Nations.
Tipuric's return is one of six changes Mark Jones has made to his starting side from their win in France, with the coach also losing fly-half Dan Edwards, centre Owen Watkin and front rows Gareth Thomas and Sam Parry to international duty.
Number eight Morgan Morris, wing Keelan Giles, full-back Jack Walsh, centre Keiran Williams and scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams all start, with Owen Williams moving to fly-half from centre in place of Edwards, who received his first Wales call-up earlier this month.
Of course, Tipuric captained the Ospreys for six seasons before Morgan took over the role at the start of the season. The 35-year-old will hang up his boots at the end of the campaign and become the region's defence coach under Jones, with the head coach lauding his timeless ability ahead of this weekend's match.
"He's probably one of the best players in the competition whatever age he is," said Jones. "He is always willing to help the young players who are after his shirt, the little bits of detail he gives, the intellect he's showing them, the shortcuts he's teaching them before they work them out themselves.
"The one thing I'd say about Tips is he'll help anybody as much as he can, but he won't give his shirt to them. They'll have to take the shirt, that's quite a powerful thing, where you're prepared to tell everyone what they need to know, but they have still got to outwork him."
"I've always admired him from afar but to have the privilege to work with him and watch how he operates," the coach added. "His humility is incredible considering how good he is and how good he has been.
"He just wants to keep getting better, if you think of what he's achieved in the game, the trophies he's won and the kudos he's got, where he sits with his peers in terms of how they rate him. He is still asking to be coached, still wants feedback, positive and negative, because he still thinks he can get better, which tells you you're a humble person."
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Dan Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Garyn Phillips, Lewis Lloyd, Tom Botha, Will Spencer, James Fender, James Ratti, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Cam Jones, Ben Warren, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morse, Kieran Hardy, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins.
Legendary fly-half who sunk Wales retires
Argentina legend Nicolas Sanchez has announced his retirement from rugby at the age of 36.
The fly-half has brought the curtain down on a glittering career, which he ends as his country's leading point scorer and fourth-most capped player, having made 104 appearances for the national side.
Sanchez's last appearance in blue and white came at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, when his side lost out in the bronze medal final to England. However, he will also be remembered by Wales fans for the late interception try he scored to dump Warren Gatland's side out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage days earlier.
Over the course of his career, the Pumas star represented four French sides - Bordeaux-Begles, Toulon, Stade Francais and Brive - while he also spent time in Japan with Tokyo Sungoliath after the World Cup. However, he ended his career in his homeland, helping Tucumán Lawn Tennis to victory over Alumni in the National Club Championship.
Taking to Instagram to announce his retirement, Sanchez wrote: “Today I close a very important stage of my life. After many years of dedication, effort and passion, I have made the decision to retire from rugby, a sport that not only shaped me as a player, but also as a person.
“Rugby gave me so much more than I could have imagined. It taught me values such as teamwork, humility, respect and resilience. But, above all, it allowed me to meet extraordinary people: friends, coaches, rivals and all those who accompanied me on this path.
“I am deeply grateful to my family, friends and everyone who was by my side in every game, in every victory and in every defeat. Your support was always very important. I also want to thank the clubs, national teams and teams that trusted me and allowed me to live this dream," he added.
“I leave with a heart full of gratitude, taking with me indelible memories and the pride of having represented this great sport. Although I have stopped playing, rugby will always be part of my life. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey."
Former Wales captain steps down
Former Wales Women's captain Rachel Taylor has confirmed she will step down as Sale Sharks head coach at the end of the Premiership Women's Rugby season.
The 41-year-old - who won 67 caps for Wales and represented both Bristol and the Dragons - has been part of Sale's coaching team since 2021 having hung up her boots three years earlier.
Before joining the Premiership side, she had made history as the first female coach of a national league Welsh rugby team, having taken over at Colwyn Bay in 2018. She also became the WRU's first professional national female coach after joining the women's side as a skills coach in 2020, but resigned just three months into the role.
Sale have said they "hope to agree on a new role" for Taylor after she moves on from her post as head coach at the end of the current campaign.
“This role has been super-challenging but I’ve really loved it and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and what we’re building," said Taylor. "We were never going to get success overnight, creating a new team, but I’m confident that we’ve weathered the storm.
“It’s been a real journey but now I feel that it’s time for a change and for someone with fresh ideas to come in and lead the team forward to the next level. It’s an amazing opportunity because the future for this team is really bright and exciting.
“We want to build a sustainable, successful team and create a pathway for homegrown players to come through and play in the PWR," she added. "That’s the DNA of this club. I really believe in this project and what we’re trying to do and that’s why I want to stay involved in some capacity.”
