Tonight's rugby news as young Welsh star's season wiped out and Wales' rivals make announcements
Your rugby evening headlines on Wednesday, January 15.
Welsh youngster's season wiped out
Cardiff wing Theo Cabango's season has been wiped out after he suffered a set-back in his recovery from hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old has not played since suffering the injury against the Ospreys back in June, with the Arms Park side confirming he will miss the rest of the season.
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Cabango had been vying for a Wales squad place at the end of last season, having produced a run of strong performances after returning from injury. Featuring in five out of Cardiff's last six United Rugby Championship games in 2023/24, Cabango dotted down three times to put himself on the brink of a place in Warren Gatland's squad to tour Australia last July.
However, injury on the final day of the season scuppered his chances - with the Wales coach later confirming he was an option for the squad.
Cabango, who had torn his hamstring off the bone in the initial injury, had been progressing well. However, he recently re-injured his hamstring and is now awaiting further specialist consultation.
Including Cabango, Cardiff have 15 players unavailable for Friday’s clash with Connacht.
Wales squad members Taulupe Faletau, Josh Adams and James Botham all miss out, while there are also injuries to Tinus de Beer, Aled Davies, Corey Domachowski, Regan Grace, Mason Grady, Liam Belcher, Harri Millard, Iwan Stephens, Ben Donnell, Ed Byrne and Gwilym Bradley.
France name squad
By PA Sport Staff
Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack have been included in a 42-man France squad for the upcoming Six Nations tournament.
Toulouse scrum-half Dupont, who has returned as captain, has switched focus back to the 15-a-side game after leading France to the gold medal in the rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics.
Fly-half Ntamack missed the entire Autumn Series due to a calf injury sustained while playing for Toulouse last October.
France, who finished runners-up to Ireland in last year’s tournament, face Wales at Stade de France in their opening match on January 31.
Coach Fabien Galthie has also included Leinster’s 35-year-old prop Rabah Slimani and back Noah Nene, who plays for second-tier US Dax Rugby Landes, in his provisional squad, which will be reduced to 28 players next week.
France won all three of their Autumn Series matches against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina.
Forwards: Esteban Abadie, Dorian Aldegheri, Gregory Alldritt, Uini Atonio, Hugo Auradou, Cyrill Baille, Giorgi Beria, Paul Boudehent, Joshua Brennan, Georges-Henri Colombe, Francois Cros, Marko Gazzotti, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Matthias Halagahu, Oscar Jegou, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Danny Priso, Rabah Slimani, Romain Taofifenua
Backs: Theo Attissogbe, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Leo Barre, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Nicolas Depoortere, Gael Drean, Antoine Dupont, Antoine Frisch, Emilien Gailleton, Matthieu Jalibert, Nolann le Garrec, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Noah Nene, Romain Ntamack, Damien Penaud, Thomas Ramos, Gabin Villiere
Gray returns for Scotland
By Anthony Brown, PA
Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray and Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry have been recalled to the Scotland squad for the Guinness Six Nations.
Uncapped duo Jack Mann and Fergus Burke have also earned call-ups for the first time, with Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn the most notable absentee from Gregor Townsend’s 37-man pool after sustaining an injury in recent days.
Gray is the most eye-catching inclusion as he won the last of his 77 caps almost two years ago, in the Six Nations match at home to Italy in March 2023.
The 30-year-old second-rower, who missed the 2023 World Cup with a knee injury, appeared to have burned his bridges under Townsend when the head coach expressed “disappointment” in October that he had declined a call-up for the autumn series after returning to action with Bordeaux at the start of this season.
Another player handed a surprise recall for the upcoming championship is 34-year-old Cherry, who has not been included in a single squad since making an early exit from the 2023 World Cup after suffering a concussion when falling on stairs on a day off at the team hotel in Nice the day after coming on as a substitute in the Scots’ pool-stage opener against South Africa.
New Zealand-born Burke – who has a Scottish grandfather – has earned his maiden call-up after moving from Canterbury to Saracens last year and will provide competition for Finn Russell and Tom Jordan at stand-off.
Back-rower Mann, 25, has been playing number eight for Glasgow recently while Jack Dempsey has been injured, although the latter is fit again and included in the Scotland squad despite not playing a match since the November defeat by South Africa.
Warriors clubmate Steyn, however, has not made the squad after suffering a knee injury. The wing’s situation will be monitored as the championship progresses.
Sione Tuipulotu, who was handed the captaincy for the autumn series, continues as skipper, with Russell and Rory Darge named as vice-captains.
Forwards: Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Dave Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge (vice-captain), Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Patrick Harrison, Will Hurd, Jack Mann, D'Arcy Rae, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Marshall Sykes.
Backs: Fergus Burke, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Finn Russell (vice-captain), Kyle Rowe, Sione Tuipulotu (captain), Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White.
Ireland name two injured players in squad
By Ed Elliot, PA
Interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has named uncapped Leinster prop Jack Boyle in a 36-man squad for the Guinness Six Nations.
The 22-year-old Boyle has been selected ahead of Ulster’s Tom O’Toole, who is unavailable for his country’s first two games of the tournament due to suspension following his red card against Munster.
Having taken temporary charge of the team while Andy Farrell oversees this year’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, defence coach Easterby has made few alterations from the autumn.
Hooker Dan Sheehan and wing James Lowe are both included and will link up with the squad on Sunday, January 26, subject to successful returns from injury with Leinster.
Sheehan has been out with a damaged anterior cruciate ligament since last summer’s tour to South Africa, while Lowe sustained a calf issue during the the 22-19 win over Australia on November 30
Versatile back Jimmy O’Brien and back-rower Jack Conan are also back after injuries.
Connacht’s Caolin Blade is selected as third-choice scrum-half behind Jamison Gibson-Park and Conor Murray due to Craig Casey’s knee injury.
Centre Stuart McCloskey, who has a hamstring problem, Ulster team-mates Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney and Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan are the other players omitted from the last squad selected by Farrell.
Uncapped quartet Hugh Cooney, James McNabney, Ben Murphy and Cathal Forde will join the group as development players.
Ireland begin their quest for an unprecedented third successive Championship title on Saturday, February 1 when England visit the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Easterby said: “The Guinness Six Nations is one of the most keenly contested competitions in the global calendar and there’s great excitement across the playing group and coaching team for this year’s tournament.
“Personally I’m hugely excited to work with a talented group and speaking to the players you can sense that they are up for the challenge.
“One of the highlights from the recent Autumn Nations Series was the emergence of a number of new internationals in Thomas Clarkson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Gus McCarthy and Sam Prendergast.
“We are also delighted to welcome back a number of players who were unavailable for the recent Autumn Nations Series and their return will further boost competition levels across the panel.
“While there is a good sense of continuity in selection, having those players back massively increases our competitiveness.
“The thing about the Six Nations is that you have to hit the ground running and there’s no room for building or easing your way into competition. Every match counts and facing England at home in the first round sharpens everyone’s mind to what will be a big task ahead.”
Forwards: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Cormac Izuchukwu, Rónan Kelleher, Gus McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Josh van der Flier.
Backs: Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawle, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose.
George North posts comeback message
Wales legend George North has posted a message to fans after making his rugby comeback.
The iconic former Ospreys man made his long-awaited debut for Provence Rugby in the French Pro D2 over the weekend, in his first competitive game in almost a year.
North ruptured his Achilles tendon in his final ever game for Wales in the home defeat to Italy during the 2024 Six Nations. He has spent the months since in rehabilitation.
Taking to Instagram to provide a message, North included some photos from the game. "It was great to be playing again. Great way for the boys to start 2025. Big thanks for all your help and support. A big week coming up!," he wrote.
Provence, who Tomas Francis also plays for, defeated Agen 17-10 away from home. Wales star josh Adams commented: "Class to see you back out there my friend", whilst TV presenter Gethin Jones commented: "Love to see it brawd."
