Ospreys head coach Mark Jones has backed his side to push for a United Rugby Championship play-off place after a difficult campaign last year. The Dragons are also targeting a top-eight finish following an improved season, while Shaun Edwards has allayed fears over his England role and New Zealand Rugby has dismissed reports of a Lions Test in Australia.
Ospreys chase play-off spot
Last year was beset by off-field speculation, with captain Jac Morgan and co-captain Dewi Lake eventually leaving amid ongoing uncertainty over the club's future. Much of the last 12 months was dominated by owners Y11's bid to buy Cardiff from the WRU, which eventually collapsed.
While that uncertainty remains, a move to St Helen's and the signings of some Australian internationals have handed Ospreys fans positivity going into the new campaign. Having fallen short of a top-eight finish last year, former Wales wing Jones is hopeful his side can reach the play-offs for the first time since 2024.
"It's normally 49 to 50 needed," he said. "So the target is stretched all the time, but I think we're very capable of doing that."
Jones believes the addition of Australian quartet Marika Koroibete, Lalakai Foketi, Lawson Creighton and Liam Wright could provide the edge needed to take that step.
Dragons outline lofty ambitions
The Dragons are also targeting a top-eight finish after a much-improved campaign. The Men of Gwent were just a score away from a European final, having pushed eventual Challenge Cup champions Montpellier all the way in the semi-final. Even if they ended up finishing 15th, their league form was better, with three wins and four draws an improvement on the season before.
Following those steps forward under Filo Tiatia, chief executive Rhys Blumberg set the target of pushing for the play-offs. "We want to shift from where we have been on the ladder, we want to go up and the CEO has given his expectations," said Tiatia.
Speaking earlier this month, Blumberg said: "We want the top eight, I have made that very well known to Filo and he is definitely on board with that as an ambition. That would be a huge step up for us but last year we had the biggest swing in league points in the URC, so I am hoping to build on that. So, why not the play-offs? It's a really ambitious but realistic target."
Edwards not trying to 'bunny hop' to England job
Shaun Edwards has convinced England women's players that he is not just working with them to "bunny hop" to the men's team following his surprise appointment. The former Wales defence coach joined the Red Roses as a coaching consultant earlier this week, just days after expressing his desire to return to coaching following his France departure.
Edwards will be part of England's coaching team for the rest of the autumn campaign, with the players told about his arrival last Sunday. The 59-year-old has spent the week getting to know the players ahead of Saturday's clash with New Zealand, telling the group that his desire to be part of the team was inspired by his mother, Phyllis, who never had the chance to play rugby.
"He told the team why he's in camp," said England winger Jess Breach. "That was probably our biggest question around him coming into the programme – why? I think a lot of coaches come into women's teams to potentially bunny hop and progress into male teams."
Edwards will be in place against the Black Ferns in the final WXV home match before England take on Canada in two away Tests next month and then conclude the campaign against the United States.
New Zealand dismiss radical Lions plans
New Zealand Rugby has rejected reports that the All Blacks and British and Irish Lions could play a Test in Australia as part of the 2029 series. Earlier this week, The Australian reported that the Melbourne Cricket Ground was being considered as a possible venue, having hosted the second Test between the Lions and Australia last summer.
It comes as New Zealand Rugby look for different ways to produce revenue amid reports that they will record major losses in the coming years. A four-Test series against the Lions is another thing that has been mooted. However, NZR boss Steve Lancaster says that playing in Melbourne is off the cards.
"That's a good rumour, but it's not the one," Lancaster told Newstalk ZB. "I can tell you that that is not under consideration."
