These are the rugby stories making headlines on Sunday, April 27.
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Sunday, April 27.
Faletau’s future still in doubt after ‘best display’
Taulupe Faletau’s club future remains in doubt with Cardiff yet to confirm whether the Wales back-row is staying. The talismanic No. 8 was superb in the club’s 26-21 win over Munster on Friday night, but has been linked to French clubs like Nice and Provence in recent months.
Given the Munster game was Cardiff’s last home game of the season, it begged the question whether supporters had seen the last of Faletau at the Arms Park.
However, the three-time Lions tourist – who is surely in contention for another tour after Friday’s outing – has yet to agree a deal either in Cardiff or elsewhere. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
“I don’t know yet, it’s something that over the next couple of weeks we will chat about,” said Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt.
“Toby is enjoying it here, but we will have to see how we go over the next few weeks. That’s all the information I have.”
Faletau has struggled to make consistent appearances since joining from Bath, playing just 21 times across three seasons.
A broken arm at the 2023 World Cup was followed by a fractured shoulder the following year in his first game back. However, when the 110-cap back-row has been available, his class has shined through.
Faletau has no intention to retire, although Cardiff could be forced to cut cloth.
“He’s one of the best that has ever pulled on the red of Wales and he was unbelievable [against Munster],” said Sherratt.
“We saw his full repertoire against Munster, his stepping, line breaks, timing of the pass and solid in defence. It was probably his best performance in a blue and black jersey.”
Welsh coach delighted fate is still in their hands
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones was delighted as his side bounced back from consecutive derby defeats in the league to hammer the Dragons and give their URC play-off hopes a boost.
They now head to South Africa for the final two games of the season still in the hunt for the top eight after the 57-24 win in Swansea. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“I am delighted for the group,” said Jones. “We lost a derby last week and it hurt. We have won one this week and it feels a lot better.
“They now need to follow it up by winning in South Africa with games away to the Sharks and Lions in the final two rounds of the league campaign.
“It’s a tough place to go, but if you want to be in play-offs you have got to go to those places and get results. It’s in our hands.”
As for the Dragons, the wait for a second league win of the season – having not tasted victory since beating the Ospreys on the opening day of the season – goes on.
“We were in the game and the boys were competitive but we lost our shape defensively in the last 25 minutes,” said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia.
“The learnings are how do we stay in the match. We are where we are at and we want to be so much better than we were in that final 20 minutes.”
Peel hails ‘brave’ players
Dwayne Peel has hailed his ‘brave’ players after they ended a lengthy wait for a win over Irish opposition by beating runaway league leaders Leinster in Llanelli.
The 35-22 victory at Parc y Scarlets moved them back into the play-off places with two games to go, as they became just the second side to beat the Dublin province this season.
Speaking afterwards, Scarlets head coach Peel said: “The players were brave from the start and didn’t sit back because we knew Leinster can be so dominant on the front foot.
“The players were hungry for it and they showed great character. In the last two games we had to fight our way back but this time we led all the way.
“It was a pressure game and we’re delighted our future is in our own hands going to South Africa.”
England star backed for Lions spot by legend
British and Irish Lions legend Brian O’Driscoll has backed England scrum-half Alex Mitchell for a spot on this summer’s tour of Australia.
An impressive Six Nations campaign by Mitchell saw him move ahead of Wales nine Tomos Williams in the pecking order for the Lions, with Irish scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park still the favourite to start for the tourists.
Whether Williams goes could be touch and go after a tough Six Nations, but four-time tourist O’Driscoll is under no illusions that the Northampton scrum-half will be on the plane down under this summer.
“Very good,” said O’Driscoll about Mitchell’s performance in the Saints’ win over Bristol on TNT. “I think the quality of the ruck ball that he was getting was so fast.
“He took the try so well. His clearance kicking was a joke. It was more like an 80:22, rather than a 50:22.
“He was really good, decision-making was excellent. A very, very impressive performance by Mitchell.
“I think, in everyone’s book, he’s on the flight in a couple of weeks’ time.”
