Tonight's rugby news as new Welsh kid backed to reach Louis Rees-Zammit heights
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Sunday, January 5.
Welsh wing can reach Rees-Zammit heights
Gloucester boss George Skivington has backed Wales wing Josh Hathaway to follow in the footsteps of Louis Rees-Zammit and become a major player for both club and country.
The 20-year-old had a rapid rise to the Test scene last year, as some star turns for the Cherry & Whites saw him called up to Warren Gatland's squad for summer clashes against South Africa and Australia. With two international caps to his name, and over 50 senior appearances for the Premiership side, Skivington has tipped Hathaway to go from "strength to strength" in the coming years.
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Given their shared club and international allegiances, comparisons to Rees-Zammit have been made ever since Hathaway burst onto the scene, and while the Gloucester coach doesn't expect the latter's rise to the top to be quite so rapid, he believes he has the natural skillset to reach the same heights.
Of course, before he sensationally walked away from rugby to pursue a career in the NFL at the start of last year, Rees-Zammit had emerged as one of the best young players in the world, winning 32 caps for Wales and touring with the British & Irish Lions at the age of 20. After some strong showings for the Premiership side in recent weeks, Skivington believes Hathaway has a lot to offer both Gloucester and Wales.
“I think Josh’s physicality has been really good the last few weeks,” the coach told The Rugby Paper. “He’s probably matured as a young man to understand that the wing gets so much action in the Premiership now – under the high ball, making tackles … there is a lot more to it than there was 10 years ago or whatever. But he is still learning and he still has some way to go.”
“Is he on the same trajectory as Zam? He’s probably not going to get there as quickly, as Zam’s out and out gas was something unique, and the size of the bloke, but I do think Josh wants to get there, and I do think he has got the skillset to get there.
“He is really applying himself and maturing nicely and over the next couple of seasons, hopefully he will go from strength to strength," Skivington added. "He is a good lad, he works really hard and we’ll do our best to push him there.”
Welsh stars help spoil Maher's big debut
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Social media sensation Ilona Maher’s eagerly-anticipated Bristol debut ended in defeat as Premiership champions Gloucester-Hartpury beat the Bears 40-17 at Ashton Gate.
American back Maher has more than eight million followers across Instagram and TikTok, making her the world’s most followed rugby player.
Maher’s mere presence generated a Bristol record crowd of 9,240 for a women’s game – and league-highest for a standalone fixture – with the 28-year-old having a 20-minute introduction off the replacements’ bench. Maher won Olympic sevens bronze with the United States in Paris but she has not played 15s since 2021.
She is hoping to reacquaint herself with the format in a bid to gain selection for the USA squad that will travel to the England-hosted World Cup later this year. The USA’s opening World Cup game is against tournament favourites England in Sunderland on August 22.
Her three-month Bristol contract began in a repeat of last season’s Premiership final, going on after 60 minutes with her team 18 points adrift following a Gloucester scoring burst of three tries in eight minutes that secured a bonus-point.
The Gloucester team was full of Wales internationals, including captain Hannah Jones, outside-half Lleucu George, flankers Kate Williams and Bethan Lewis and prop Sisilia Tuipulotu.
Maher had already made a significant impact, underpinning a considerable increase in replica shirt sales, while Bristol’s Instagram following has risen from 21,000 to 67,000 since her signing was announced.
Maher rose to fame on social media through combining messages of body positivity and female empowerment with her signature sharp sense of humour.
She was also runner-up on Dancing with the Stars – the American equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing – and received the afternoon’s biggest cheer when she replaced Reneeqa Bonner and lined up on Bears’ right wing.
Maher made her presence felt in a couple of rucks and looked for work off the wing, but she could make little impact to the overall picture and did not receive a pass as Bristol finished second-best despite tries from Millie David, Alisha Joyce-Butchers and Sarah Bern.
Gloucester-Hartpury outscored them on tries as Emma Sing, Natasha Hunt, Maud Muir, Rachel Lund, Mia Venner and Georgia Brock touched down, with Sing kicking five conversions.
Saracens boss tips Willis for Six Nations
By Duncan Bech, PA
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall believes Tom Willis’ England debut is only a matter of time after the number eight spearheaded a 35-26 victory over Bristol at StoneX Stadium.
Willis ran in two tries and was imperious throughout, mixing raw power with more subtle touches to finish man of the match as Saracens responded to their record Gallagher Premiership defeat at Bath last weekend with a bonus-point win.
England head coach Steve Borthwick has so far resisted the clamour to pick the 25-year-old, but with the Six Nations opener against Ireland looming on February 1, he has been presented with more compelling reasons to select the tackle-busting number eight.
“Tom was outstanding and he’s been outstanding all season. I can’t remember a match where he hasn’t been outstanding,” McCall said.
“He just needs to keep on doing what he’s doing. If he keeps putting in performances like this, I think he will get rewarded in the end.
“He leads by example, by what he does, by getting over the gainline, by breaking tackles and making tackles – all of the things that you want your number eight to be able to do. He’s been a focal point all year.
“He’s very curious and he wants to get better. He wants to be playing for England and he’s willing to do anything that he has to to make that happen. He’s a great guy to have around the team.”
Willis’ performance also caught the eye of Bristol boss Pat Lam, whose playing career was as a number eight for Samoa, as well as Newcastle and Northampton.
“I was very impressed with Tom and I’ve been impressed with him all season,” Lam said.
“The stats show he’s good, but I can also see that with my eyes. He sets stuff up and he’s been doing that all year. He’s a quality player who is in form.
“It’s over to Steve (for England selection) and there are some good back rows, but certainly Tom is playing consistently well.”
