Here are your rugby evening headlines for Monday October 7.
Welsh clubs keeping tabs on Joe Hawkins
Welsh clubs are keeping tabs on Joe Hawkins over a move that would make him eligible to play for Wales again.
Reports in RugbyPass suggest that Cardiff are keeping an eye on the five-cap Wales centre, but WalesOnline understands they are not the only Welsh team to do so.
Other Welsh sides are understood to be keeping tabs on the player – although there are no offers on the table and nothing imminent in terms of a return. Get the latest Welsh rugby breaking news by signing up to our free daily newsletter here.
A move back to Wales would make him eligible for selection for Warren Gatland, having been captured by the 25-cap rule after moving to England last year. The Wales coach has previously spoken about his desire to have Hawkins available, saying: “I’d love to have him involved.
“Despite what everyone says when it was the 60-cap rule, that it was ‘Gatland’s Law’, I was never in favour of it. It was something that was pushed hard by the regions in terms of having that implemented. Now it’s down to 25 caps.”
However, the centre is enjoying his time at the Gallagher Premiership club, who he joined at the start of last season after leaving the Ospreys, with director of rugby Rob Baxter recently singing his praises.
“I think he worked very hard in the off-season and pre-season, but I’ve actually been a little disappointed with him in the pre-season games to date; I wasn’t today,” Baxter said after a pre-season win over Ulster last month.
“I thought he looked a big, strong and physical guy today, and that’s the bar I’m expecting him to set every week; I’m actually going to wander down to the changing rooms and say ‘Right, you’ve just set yourself a standard and I’m expecting to see that every week.’
“I’m finally seeing something that I really wanted to see, and I’m pleased he’s done it today a week before we get into the Premiership. That’s the Joe Hawkins I wanted to sign, and now we’ve got to see if we can make him better than he was today.”
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Lions announce ground-breaking agreement
Players selected for the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia next summer will share in the money generated by the event following a ground-breaking profit-sharing agreement, which Jac Morgan was part of putting in place.
The agreement marks the creation of a new partnership model in which a portion of post-Tour profits will be made available for sharing between players.
In addition to the new financial model, the agreement will also result in increased collaboration between the Lions and the players around scheduling and preparation – including a debrief session between management and players after the tour.
Jamie George, Peter O’Mahony, Finn Russell and Morgan – all of whom have captained England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – were involved in discussions that have brought about the new deal.
“Being part of these discussions on behalf of players across the four countries has been a privilege,” said Wales back-row Morgan. “As a proud team player and international, I understand the importance of bringing people together. I think this agreement is therefore a great reflection of what the Lions really stands for.”
“This agreement recognises the role players play across the Lions tour, both on and off the field,” added O’Mahony. “It’s great to see a commitment to ensuring everyone benefits from the success of each tour.”
England to keep hold of Kevin Sinfield
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Kevin Sinfield is to remain part of Steve Borthwick’s England coaching team after agreeing revised terms for his role.
In a lift for the national set-up following the sudden departures of Aled Walters and Felix Jones, who served as head of strength and conditioning and as defence coach respectively, Sinfield will continue working with England on an ongoing basis.
The rugby league great, who joined the England backroom staff ahead of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, was due to step down after the recent tour to Japan and New Zealand but has chosen to stay on in his post as skills and kicking coach, as well as a providing mentorship to the squad.
“Working with Steve and the team has been an immensely rewarding experience and I am excited to continue my involvement with the team,” Sinfield said.
“This new arrangement allows me to keep doing the thing that I’m passionate about, coaching and mentoring players, while also balancing other commitments which are important to me.”
Sinfield will be in place for a busy autumn schedule that opens against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on November 2, but he will spend less time with England outside of Test windows and during match weeks.
A statement issued by the Rugby Football Union reveals that this is to provide the 44-year-old with “greater flexibility to balance other personal and professional commitments”.
Sinfield has raised over £10million for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research and charities by running marathons and later this year he is to run over 50km every day for a week.
His charity work began when former Leeds team-mate and close friend Rob Burrow was diagnosed with MND in 2019.
Sinfield left England’s tour of New Zealand in July to attend Burrow’s funeral, before re-joining the squad in time for the second Test.
“Kevin is a talented coach and an inspirational figure in our set-up”, Borthwick said. “The work he does on and off the field is invaluable to our players, so I am pleased he’ll remain part of the management team and continue to contribute towards England’s success.”
Sinfield operated as defence coach after joining England from Leicester, where he also worked under Borthwick. Reports that he would step down after the 2023 World Cup surfaced during the tournament in France, but instead he became skills and kicking coach
once Jones was recruited from South Africa in time for this year’s Six Nations.
Speculation over Sinfield’s future continued but having decided he would depart upon returning from New Zealand, Borthwick determined that his former number two was too influential a figure to lose and has persuaded him to stay on.
While his presence is on an ongoing basis only – there is no fixed term for his contract – it still provides continuity at a time of upheaval for England.
Borthwick was stung by the unexpected exit of Walters and Jones’ decision to hand in his notice after the summer tour. Both are highly-regarded coaches and were seen as important to hopes of lifting the World Cup in 2027.
Joe El-Abd has replaced Jones as defence coach while continuing his role as director of rugby at Oyonnax with Phil Morrow being lined up as Walters’ replacement.
All Black star tipped to change allegiances
Akira Ioane has tipped Auckland Blues team-mate and fellow All Black Hoskins Sotutu for a sensational international switch.
Sotutu won the last of his 14 caps for New Zealand in November 2022 against England at Twickenham, having since fallen out of favour.
Despite being a pivotal member of the Blues team that won this year’s Super Rugby Pacific title – finishing as joint-top try-scorer – a Test recall hasn’t been forthcoming.
The 26-year-old was left out of Scott Robertson’s squad for the upcoming autumn internationals. Sotutu qualifies for England and Fiji through his mother and father respectively, with the No. 8 able to switch allegiances if not capped again by the All Blacks in the next 13 months.
In an Instagram Story posted after the New Zealand squad was announced, former All Black Ioane shared a mocked-up image of Sotutu standing in front of London’s Houses of Parliament in an England kit next to head coach Steve Borthwick.
A comment accompanying the image, and tagging Sotutu, stated: “Wasn’t meant to be but all things happen for a reason”.
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