The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, May 29.
Wales star goes under the knife again
Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins is set to go under the knife again and have surgery on a back injury, ruling him out of this summer’s tour of Japan. The 22-year-old Exeter Chiefs star has opted to undergo the procedure next week in a bid to get himself ready for the start of next season, having made his decision following talks with the Welsh Rugby Union and his club side.
Jenkins missed the start of the Gallagher Premiership season after undergoing surgery on both his knee and shoulder, with his return to action for the Chiefs in December his first appearance since last summer’s Wales tour of Australia.
He has gone on to make 17 appearances for club and country over the course of the campaign, but will spent the summer recovering from another operation having decided to sort out his back issue now rather than leaving it. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Issuing an update on Jenkins, Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “He’s having surgery on a back issue; he’s going to have that this week, and so he’ll be out for a period.
“It wasn’t an operation he actually desperately had to have now, but it’s one that he’s needed to have.
“He’s felt the degree it needed doing now rather than leaving,” he added. “So it’s one of those decisions that Daf, the WRU and ourselves just sat down and decided, let’s get this done now.”
Welsh players turn up at camp early
Wales’ summer camp officially begins next week, but some players have taken the opportunity to hit training early by attending an optional extra conditioning session at their Vale Resort base.
The likes of Taulupe Faletau, Elliot Dee, Rhodri Williams, Alex Mann and Cam Winnett were seen being put through their paces in various drills, with the Welsh Rugby Union sharing photos from the session on their social media pages.
Also in attendance was Dragons tighthead Chris Coleman, who earned his first senior international call-up for this summer’s tour of Japan after impressing scrum guru Adam Jones.
Led by interim head coach Matt Sherratt, Wales will take on Japan in two matches in July as they look to end their miserable run of 17 straight Test match defeats.
Star banned after Pollock incident
Bordeaux prop Jefferson Poirot has been suspended for two weeks after clashing with Northampton Saints star Henry Pollock at the end of the Champions Cup final in Cardiff last weekend.
The 32-year-old – who helped his side to a 28-20 win to claim the trophy – was alleged to have grabbed the England international by the throat when several players came together in an incident after the final whistle.
After the match, Saints’ director of rugby Phil Dowson claimed the alleged act was “uncalled for and out of order”, and Poirot has now had his fate confirmed by an independent disciplinary committee.
The loosehead accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which deserved a red card, with the panel determining that he had acted “against the spirit of good sportsmanship”.
While four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point for the sanction, his suspension was halved to two weeks due to his guilty plea, cooperation and good disciplinary record.
An EPCR statement read: “Taking into account the player’s guilty plea, his good disciplinary record and his full co-operation with the disciplinary process, the Committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50% before imposing a two-week suspension.”
Poirot will now miss Bordeaux’s final two games of the Top 14 regular season against Toulon and Vannes, but will be available to return for the play-offs.
Star returns after tumour diagnosis
By PA Sport Staff
Emma Wassell has been included in Scotland’s Women’s Rugby World Cup training squad after recovering from a benign tumour in her chest.
The 30-year-old, who has 67 caps, has not been involved in the national set-up since last year.
Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has picked an extended 38-player squad as he begins preparations for the tournament, which takes place in England in August.
Easson has included four uncapped players – Aila Ronald, Hannah Ramsay, Hannah Walker and Meg Varley – all of whom trained with the squad through the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Easson said: “We’ve named a strong, competitive group that blends hard-earned experience with exciting young talent.
“I was particularly pleased with how our debutants and uncapped players performed during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations – both in training and in matches – and this window gives them a chance to step up and show us more.
“It’s also fantastic to welcome back Emma Wassell, Coreen Grant, Hollie Cunningham, and Meg Varley, all of whom have worked hard to return from injury and are now fit and available for selection. Their return adds even greater strength and competition to the squad.”
Scotland kick off their campaign against Wales at Salford Community Stadium on August 23 and also face Fiji and Canada in the pool stage.
