Here are your rugby evening headlines for Thursday, June 18.
Wales U20s Name World Championship Squad
Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin has named four uncapped players in his squad for the World Rugby Junior World Championship. Bristol Bears scrum half Cai Gealy, Scarlets second row Will Evans, Dragons RFC winger Brogan Leary and Ospreys flanker Sam Morgan are all set to earn their Wales debut in Tiblisi where Whiffin’s side will face hosts Georgia, Uruguay and defending champions South Africa in their pool games at Avchala Stadium.
Gealy and Morgan have been selected after impressing for Wales at Under 19 level earlier in the season. Gloucester backrower Deian Gwynne and Cardiff centre Steffan Emanuel have been named as co-captains. “Both performed really well in our U19s block and it shows the importance of our U19 programme which gives players an opportunity at international level to put their hand up,” said Whiffin.
Wales are also set to unleash giant Scarlets lock Will Evans who has been held back by a series of injuries in recent seasons. “I’m really pleased for him, he has taken a lot of effort and time to get back to fitness a couple of times now,” explained Whiffin. “He got through the game against Scotland and has backed up in sessions – he’s a little bit different to our usual crop of second rows – he is a very big man and gives us a point of difference.”
Wales U20s squad: Backs - Lewis Edwards (Ospreys), Rhys Cummings (Cardiff Rugby), Tom Bowen (Cardiff Rugby), Dylan Scott (Cardiff Met), Brogan Leary (Dragons RFC), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby) Co-capt, Bailey Cutts (Cardiff Rugby), Osian Darwin-Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff Rugby), Cai Gealy (Bristol Bears), Sion Davies (Cardiff Rugby). Forwards - George Tuckley (Dragons RFC), Dylan James (Ospreys), Oscar Thomas (Bath Rugby), James Talamai (Dragons RFC), Tom Howe (Cardiff Rugby), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Yestyn Cook (Scarlets), Isaac Godfrey (Exeter Chiefs), Will Evans (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (Cardiff Rugby), Luke Evans (Exeter Chiefs), Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester Rugby) Co-capt, Sam Morgan (Ospreys), Evan Minto (Dragons RFC), Caio James (Gloucester), Alex Ridgway (Bath Rugby).
Llanelli RFC Legend Dies
Former Llanelli RFC player Alan James has passed away at the age of 81. The former flanker played 255 games between 1967-77, scoring 33 tries and was a member of the squad that famously beat the All Blacks 9-3 at Stradey Park in 1972. James played in the same team as Welsh rugby legends Phil Bennett, Ray Gravell, JJ Williams, Delme Thomas and Derek Quinnell. After hanging up his boots James served on the club's committee for 15 years and was heavily respected within the rugby community.
Wales International Commits Future to Scarlets
Wales international Harri O'Connor has signed a new contract with the Scarlets. The 25-year-old tighthead has made 56 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2020 and has won five caps for Wales. O'Connor will compete with the likes of Australian Archer Holz, Wales international Henry Thomas along with youngsters Gabe Hawley, Jac Pritchard and Yestyn Cook for a place in the Scarlets side next season.
“At 25, Harri is still very much a young man in terms of front-row forwards,” said the Scarlets' interim director of rugby Nigel Davies. “He already has Test match experience for Wales and played more than a half century of games for the Scarlets in the URC and Europe. One of the things that has impressed me most since arriving at the club has been his attitude towards improvement. Harri sat down with the coaches, took on board the feedback he was given and has worked exceptionally hard on the areas of his game that we felt could take him to another level. As coaches, that’s exactly what you want to see. Players who are prepared to be honest with themselves, embrace challenge and commit fully to their own development. He understands what it means to represent this club, he has already achieved a great deal in his career and we believe his best years are still ahead of him. The front five is an area we are strengthening and re-signing Harri is part of that plan moving forward. We are developing a strong pool of young Welsh front-rowers at the club and I am sure Harri will want to push on to play a key role for the Scarlets in the coming seasons.”
Feyi-Waboso Passed Fit
Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has been declared fit for Saturday’s Gallagher Prem final against Northampton at Allianz Stadium Twickenham. The England international was initially expected to miss the remainder of the domestic season after requiring surgery on a facial fracture sustained in Chiefs’ win over Leicester at the end of last month. Director of rugby Rob Baxter will make a late selection decision on the 23-year-old following discussions between the Exeter and England medical teams.
“Manny has been declared fit,” said Baxter. “He’s had a full training week and we’ll make that call probably by the end of day today (Thursday).” Feyi-Waboso’s original return date was anticipated to be England’s Nations Championship opener against South Africa on July 4 in Johannesburg. Asked if the player’s availability would be a major boost, Baxter replied: “Without doubt. He’s an international quality player. The more players you have fit and available at this stage of the season who have played in big games and you know can have big influences on games, that can only be a very positive thing for us.”
England and Exeter’s medical departments last year publicly disagreed over treatment Feyi-Waboso received for a shoulder injury, with one advocating rehabilitation and the other favouring immediate surgery. As part of enhanced elite player squad contracts introduced in 2024, the national team have the final say on the match availability of their leading players. “I wasn’t involved in the conversation, it was our medical team and the England medical team and Manny,” added Baxter. “Basically all of the information was put in front of him and then it was Manny’s call.”
