These are your headlines on Wednesday, June 17.
Nagy to leave Ospreys
Ospreys full-back Max Nagy has seemingly confirmed his exit from the club. The 27-year-old came through the ranks at Northampton Saints and had a spell playing in New Zealand. Attending Swansea University to study, he joined Swansea RFC before being included in the Ospreys development squad. His time with the club has now come to an end.
On Instagram, the back-three man wrote alongside a host of photos from his years with the club: "What a chapter - 8 years. Too many people to thank but so grateful for the friends and memories made. Diolch @ospreys_official @surfc_official @swansearfc."
For years there had been speculation over when Nagy would become Welsh-qualified, with the Ospreys seeking clarification over his status back in 2024. Originally from Buckinghamshire, Nagy went to university in Swansea, with confusion arising over whether that period counted towards his residency. That was eventually cleared up but a Wales call never came and Nagy could now be set for an exit from Welsh rugby, although nothing has yet been confirmed. Rumours have circulated over a move to England.
Mark Jones has signed Wales international Tom Rogers from Scarlets for next season who will be added to his back-three options.
Murchie gets down to work
New Wales defence coach Pete Murchie started work in his role yesterday. Murchie signed off his time with Kobe Steelers in style, as the club lifted the Japan Rugby League One final in Tokyo earlier this month. He has made the move back to the UK already and has got straight down to work ahead of a busy summer schedule for Wales.
Steve Tandy's side face games against the Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa, with the Tests against the latter trio part of the new Nations Championship kicking off next month. Murchie will be a big part of that, with Tandy waiting months to get his man for the defence coach role. On Tuesday, the WRU posted some snaps of the former Glasgow man at work on his first day.
"The opportunity to move into international rugby with Wales, where there are so many exciting competitions on the horizon was something that me and my family are hugely excited about," Murchie said when he was appointed. "Steve was a huge driver for me, I know he is a world-class coach and we have worked together closely before. I am looking forward to joining up with the squad in the summer and getting to work."
Mitchell could make surprise comeback
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent
Alex Mitchell could make a surprise comeback in Northampton's Gallagher Premiership final against Exeter on Saturday as he nears recovery from a pulled hamstring. Mitchell was expected to miss the rest of the club season after sustaining the injury while training for England last month, with the July 4 summer tour opener against South Africa earmarked for his return.
Saints were frustrated at losing their British and Irish Lions scrum-half during an international camp staged at the business end of the Premiership campaign, six weeks out from the Nations Championship opener in Johannesburg. Mitchell's absence has been partially offset by the outstanding form of 21-year-old rookie Archie McParland, but the half-back duo could both be involved at Allianz Stadium.
Director of rugby Phil Dowson will give England's first choice in the position until Friday morning to prove his fitness with the team scheduled to be announced at midday. Dowson said: "There is a chance – I would hate to say whether it is good or bad. We have got to make sure we get the balance right so that if Alex does get involved he can do enough minutes to cover us off. And there is Tom James and Weimann as well, who have been excellent."
Exeter stand between Northampton and a second Premiership title in three years that would cement Saints' position as English rugby's dominant force of the mid-2020s. The Chiefs' resilience was on display as they withstood 40 phases in a late Bath assault in their play-off at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, coming from behind to prevail 27-26.
Dowson said: "I knew about the character of Exeter's group from the first game at Franklin's Gardens when we were 33-7 up and they came back and drew the game. What (director of rugby) Rob Baxter does there in terms of putting a group together and how deeply they believe and how hard they work for each other is no secret to us. Their recruitment has been excellent – Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau – and they've had a big impact. Rob's experience as well. I try and ask him questions whenever I can. He probably gets bored of that. I've a huge amount of respect for the environment he has put together."
It will be George Furbank's final appearance for Northampton before joining Harlequins next season and the club captain is determined for Saints to sign off 2025-26 with the same endeavour they started it. Furbank said: "We want to go out and just attack this game. Often in finals you can play within yourselves and play a bit safe. I don't think we're a good team when we do that. So for us it's about going and expressing ourselves, attacking the game and performing the way that we want to perform."
