The latest rugby headlines from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, June 12.
Anscombe answers SOS call
Gareth Anscombe has revealed how his move to Bayonne came about and why he “had to take the opportunity” after turning down another approach from France earlier in his career.
It was confirmed in May that the Wales international would be moving to the Top 14 side ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, having spent a season with Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership. Despite some impressive performances alongside Welsh half-back partner Tomos Williams, Anscombe was told his contract would not be getting renewed at the Cherry and Whites, leaving him on the hunt for a new club.
While he was linked with a move to Leicester Tigers, the 34-year-old says he was approached to fill the sudden void left by retiring French fly-half Camille Lopez at Bayonne, and he was happy to answer the SOS call. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
“I have to admit that it all happened very quickly,” he told SportIn Wales. “I knew that my deal at Gloucester was not going to be renewed, so I was on the market for a new club.
“Bayonne, whose current fly-half is former France playmaker Camille Lopez, were not aware until very recently that Camille intended to retire at the end of the season, so were in need of an experienced number 10 to fill in. I guess that’s where I came in!”
While he enjoyed his time at Gloucester, Anscombe is now fully focused on his next challenge, with his new side set to battle it out in the Top 14 semi-final on Friday, while boasting a “formidable” back line for him to join next season.
Admitting he wants to build on his strong performances at Kingsholm and test himself in France’s top flight, the fly-half added that he was hoping to “bring more glory” to Bayonne
“In my opinion, the Top 14 is the most competitive, high-quality league in the world at the moment, and joining a club towards the top is very exciting,” he said. “The crowds in France, at least from my international and European experience, are a different level, too.”
But, as Anscombe admits, moving to France is about more than just what happens on the pitch, with the Wales international excited to experience a new culture after seeking advice from former team-mates Dan Biggar and George North.
“At the moment, most of my attention is focused on moving across the Channel and finding a home for me and my family,” he said.
“Bayonne is a wonderful place to live and play rugby. You’re so close to amazing cities like Biarritz and San Sebastian in Spain that it will be the ideal place to settle for a year (or two!).
“My daughter will start school in France, which will be such an amazing experience for her. I’ll bet that she picks up the language much quicker than me!
“I’ve spoken to former team-mates like Biggsy and George, who have absolutely loved their time in France. They’ve given me plenty of advice around the admin of moving over there.”
The move to Bayonne comes less than two years after Anscombe was approached to join a French side as a medical joker in a deal that would have seen him miss the 2023 Rugby World Cup. While he is glad he turned that offer down to pull on the red jersey instead, he admits the time is now right for him to make the switch across the Channel.
“I was close to playing in France before in my career,” he said. “Back in the autumn of 2023, I had an offer to be a medical joker, but it would have meant giving up my World Cup spot for Wales.
“Having missed the 2019 tournament through injury, playing at a World Cup was still the pinnacle for me and our experience at that tournament was amazing. I thought that my chance had come and gone, but to get another opportunity, I had to take it.”
Wales warned they’ll be ‘run off their feet’
Japan head coach Eddie Jones has warned that his side will be looking to take full advantage of the heat and humidity and “run Wales off their feet” during their double Test showdown next month.
Led by interim coach Matt Sherratt, Wales head to Japan looking to finally put an end to their miserable losing streak of 17 successive Test matches, but face a side that are also chasing a morale-boosting win following a run of mixed results.
Former Australia and England boss Jones is no stranger to facing Wales and admits it is “a good time and a bad time” to play the tourists, who have only lost Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan to British & Irish Lions duty.
However, he added that while the “law of averages” meant that Wales would soon put an end to their losing run, he knows that his side will be able to use the sweltering conditions in Kitakyushu and Kobe to gain an advantage.
“Obviously having 17 losses in a row dents the confidence of the team and as a result they’ve only got two Lions players,” said the head coach after announcing his training squad for the upcoming games.
“Normally on a tour like this you’d expect eight or nine players to be out, so they’ll be basically full-strength.”
“We’re hoping that it’s a nice hot day, the sun comes out and we can really run Wales off their feet.”
Wales’ Six Nations fixtures announced as tournament revamped
By PA Sport Staff
A revamped Guinness Women’s Six Nations will feature back-to-back matches on a single day in each round during the 2026 tournament.
The ‘Super Saturday’ style format has been introduced to “deliver the best possible fan experience” and “optimise the audience of fans tuning in around the world”.
Reigning champions England will launch their title defence on Saturday, April 11 against Ireland at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.
Perennial runners-up France will host Italy in the opening match earlier that day before Scotland travel to Wales in the third game.
Competition will conclude with a ‘Super Sunday’ on May 17, with England scheduled to visit France for a potential title decider in the final fixture.
The Red Roses, who have won seven Six Nations titles in a row and are preparing for this year’s home World Cup, will take on Scotland in round two on April 18 at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. John Mitchell’s side will then host Wales a week later before travelling to Italy in round four on May 9.
After kicking off their tournament at home to Scotland, Wales face France before a huge clash against England in round three. Sean Lynn’s side then travel to Ireland before rounding off their tournament at home to Italy.
The tournament will begin four weeks after the final weekend of the men’s championship, having previously started a week later.
“The new approach to the schedule has been built to deliver the best possible fan experience for those attending fixtures, and through collaboration between unions and broadcasters to meet and optimise the audience of fans tuning in around the world,” read a statement from organisers.
“Following Rugby World Cup 2025 in England later this year, and with interest for the women’s game anticipated to be at an all-time high, the opportunity in front of women’s rugby is huge, and as the biggest annual event in the women’s rugby calendar, the Guinness Women’s Six Nations is in pole position to drive momentum.”
