Cardiff are leading the race for Wales star Christ Tshiunza as he ponders a return to Welsh rugby. The loose forward has only recently joined Sale Sharks, but is already considering his next move given he's only signed on a 12-month contract.
As revealed by WalesOnline earlier this week, he is subsequently pondering a return to Welsh rugby, in a move that would put himself back into contention for the 2027 World Cup. It's previously been suggested that all four Welsh sides are keeping tabs on his situation, but former club Cardiff are leading the chase after coming close to signing him before he headed north.
Tshiunza's Cardiff roots
Tshiunza was part of Cardiff's academy as a youngster, before he made the move to Exeter Chiefs, where he made 50 appearances. He has been named among the replacements for this weekend's clash against a Saracens side featuring Nick Tompkins and Tomos Williams, the latter of whom produced a man-of-the-match showing in his competitive debut for the club on the opening day.
Saracens: Daly; J Bracken, Tompkins, Va'enuku, Segun; Burke, Williams; Mawi, Dan, Street, Itoje (c), Tizard, Isiekwe, Gonzalez, Barbeary. Replacements: Clarke, O'Driscoll, Clarey, Martin, Michelow, Earl, C Bracken, Malins.
Sale: Carpenter; O'Flaherty, Marchant, Lozowski, Reed; Ford, Warr; Smith, Jibulu, Opoku-Fordjour, Van Rhyn (c), Bamber, Lawes, Curry, Vermeulen. Replacements: Caine, McIntyre, Francis, Tshiunza, Canakaivata, Hanson, Louw, Loganimasi.
Parling hails Wainwright impact
Leicester Tigers boss Geoff Parling has hailed the influence of new signing Aaron Wainwright following a sparkling debut against Saracens on the opening day of the new PREM season. The Wales international is poised to feature in a strong Welsh contingent in the back row for Saturday's clash with Newcastle Red Bulls, lining up alongside Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell.
Parling has been hugely impressed with what he's seen from Wainwright so far. "I think he brings grit, determination and real application to his craft to start with," he said. "He is 29 and highly experienced, having played at a top level. I thought he was brilliant at the weekend, I really did. He did a lot for us throughout the game through his work rate, through his attack. The brilliant bit is you can see he has come here because he wants to get better, so let's see where he gets to this season but I was really impressed."
Newcastle Red Bulls: Obatoyinbo; Wade, Hearle, Harris, Ene; Connon, Elliott; Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills; Usher, Jordan, Hicks, Christie (c), Sotutu. Replacements: Fletcher, Brocklebank, Harper, Molina, Leatherbarrow, Graham, Benítez Cruz, Henry.
Leicester Tigers: Steward, Radwan, Kata, Bailey, Hamer-Webb; Searle, Van Poortvliet (c); Vunipola, Moli, Heyes; Thompson, Henderson, Wainwright, Reffell, Cracknell. Replacements: Thunder, Haffar, Hurd, Manz, Moro, Whiteley, Wand, Hassell-Collins.
Adams eyes third World Cup
Wales winger Josh Adams says he's "desperate" to play in a third World Cup next year. Steve Tandy's men take on Zimbabwe in their opening game in exactly a year's time, with Wales also set to take on Tonga and England.
Adams, now 31, has never played in Australia, but admits he'd love to play in another World Cup, having been the top try scorer of the 2019 tournament in Japan. "I'm desperate to go, but there is loads of rugby to be played and months ahead of us," Adams told the BBC. "It is important that you navigate your way through correctly and get to that start line in a good spot to be selected. I've never been to Australia, so that, as well as playing in a World Cup, is something I'm determined to do."
Welsh duo backed as difference-makers
Lawrence Dallaglio has backed Wales duo Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to help Gloucester improve their Champions Cup ahead of their huge clash with reigning champions Bordeaux. Bordeaux bring their squad full of stars to Kingsholm on the opening night of their title defence on October 16, and Dallaglio says the hosts should relish the challenge of the French giants.
"I don't think they're necessarily there to light up the Champions Cup and win the competition - I think they would argue that themselves," he said, speaking at this week's EPCR season launch in Lyon for Premier Sports. "But there are definitely signs, with the addition of Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and their other recruits, that they're going to be competitive."
However, before that mouth-watering showdown, Gloucester are poised to take on Harlequins in the PREM on Saturday, with both Welsh players involved.
Gloucester: Barton; Thorley, Joseph, S Atkinson, Loader; C Atkinson, Englefield; Rapava-Ruskin, Lake (c), Fasogbon, Kleyn, Clark, Thomas, Morgan, Trenholm. Replacements: Innard, Bleuler, C Knight, Clement, Ludlow, Robson, W Knight, Denny.
Harlequins: Furbank; Anderson, Beard, Bradley, Murley (c); Slevin, Porter; Hobson, Walker, Delgado, Dun, Browne, Kenningham, Evans, Carr. Replacements: Riley, Wenger, Kerrod, Petti, Cunningham-South, Friday, Lang, Green.
