The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, September 13.
Clubs and players must be ‘selfish’ – Reddin
Welsh Rugby Union director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin has called on the clubs and players to be “selfish” during the ongoing consultation process as he admitted the pushback against the two-club model has led to the governing body’s thinking “changing in positive ways”.
The WRU are currently consulting stakeholders over proposed changes to Welsh rugby, with the union’s preferred option being to cut the number of men’s professional clubs from four to two. So far, that has received some pushback – with the Dragons calling upon the WRU to change course last week.
This week, the WRU met with the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA) and the Scarlets, as well as starting to work their way around official supporters groups, with the WRPA stating afterwards that the players did not support the two-club model.
WalesOnline also understands that the vast majority of players would consider looking for opportunities outside of Wales were the two-club model introduced. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Those figures were presented to the WRU on Monday evening in a meeting that included Wales internationals Josh Macleod, Sam Costelow, Gareth Thomas, Joe Hawkins, Ryan Elias and Teddy Williams among other player representatives.
Welcoming the pushback from the players’ group – as well as the Scarlets who made a strong case with the history of the club on Tuesday which is understood to have impressed Reddin – the former FA and England rugby man said that stakeholders needed to be selfish throughout this process to determine what was best for them, before the WRU then choose what they felt was the right course.
“Our meeting with the WRPA and players was extremely useful and gave us a clear view of players opinions,” said Reddin in the second of his weekly updates during the consultation.
“I appreciated the level of thought and analysis which they had as well as the clear articulation of ideas. The collective engagement of the group on behalf of their group was outstanding and I’m looking forward to our next meeting this coming week to progress the discussions.
“We have now held consultation meetings with each of our four regional clubs, after meeting the Scarlets this week, and I want to personally thank all of them for engaging in the process so constructively and comprehensively.
“Each team has arrived well briefed and well researched with strong ideas about the best direction of travel for them and for their teams and fans.
“The meetings have been collaborative and engaging and conducted in the spirit of togetherness as we search for the right solution for our game and all those involved with it.
“We are asking all those who contribute in the consultation to be selfish. To look at the future from their own perspectives, we want the Dragons’ perspective from the Dragons and the Ospreys’ from the Ospreys and so on… It will then be our role to reach a recommendation which the WRU Board will consider based on all the perspectives we hear.
“We expect to be challenged and, although we have put forward our optimal system and explained our rationale in detail for doing so, we also fully expect consultation to influence our thinking.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself or take any shortcuts here, but I can confidently say that our thinking is changing in positive ways as we progress.”
Dallaglio quits in shock announcement
England World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio has confirmed he is leaving the Stick To Rugby podcast with immediate effect.
The former Wasps and England star, who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003, revealed the news in a statement posted on social media.
“Sadly, due to scheduling conflicts, I can no longer continue with the STR podcast,” Dallaglio said.
“I was originally contracted to do Season One of the show, which was due to finish at the end of this summer, but due to its popularity, it was extended, which unfortunately I am unable to commit to.
“I shall sorely miss it and all the wonderful crew but will be listening from the sidelines!”
The decision brings an end to his short but popular stint on the rugby podcast, which had proved a hit with listeners in its debut year.
It is the latest twist in what has been a hugely difficult year off the field for the 53-year-old. Earlier in 2025, Dallaglio confirmed he was divorcing wife Alice after almost two decades of marriage.
He has also faced financial pressures, with reports of a £700,000 unpaid tax bill leading to a bankruptcy petition being lodged against him. That threat was dismissed by a judge after Dallaglio proposed a voluntary arrangement to settle his debts.
Dallaglio spent his entire club career at Wasps between 1990 and 2008, winning numerous domestic titles and establishing himself as one of the sport’s finest back-row forwards.
On the international stage he won 85 England caps, toured with the British & Irish Lions in 1997, 2001 and 2005, and of course was a central figure in England’s historic World Cup triumph under Clive Woodward.
Since retirement, Dallaglio has carved out a successful punditry career and been heavily involved in charity work, notably with RugbyWorks, while also serving on Wasps’ board before the club’s collapse.
Argentina survive late Wallabies scare
Argentina held off a late Wallabies fightback to claim a dramatic 28-26 victory in the Rugby Championship in front of a sold-out crowd at Sydney Football Stadium.
The Pumas raced into a commanding 19-7 lead at the break as Australia were punished for early handling errors and indiscipline. Santiago Carreras proved clinical, landing four first-half penalties to go with a converted try from captain Julián Montoya in his 50th Test.
Australia’s only score of the first half came when Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i powered over for a converted try to briefly give the home side a 7-3 lead after just seven minutes.
But Montoya’s charge-down try and Carreras’ unerring boot swung the momentum firmly Argentina’s way. By half-time, the visitors were 12 points clear and firmly in control.
Carreras stretched that advantage further with two more penalties early in the second half, extending the Pumas’ lead to 25-7 after 54 minutes. At that point, the Wallabies looked dead and buried.
However, a stirring late rally saw the hosts cross for three tries in the final quarter to set up a tense finish. The Wallabies piled on the pressure but stout Argentine defence ensured Felipe Contepomi’s side held on for just their second win of this year’s competition.
Shocking referee abuse emerges
Shocking statistics have emerged over the abuse received by referees in Wales amid fears that more officials will quit the sport if behaviour towards them worsens.
A survey carried out by the S4C News website in conjunction with the Welsh Rugby Referee Association saw 88 individuals, including over a quarter of Wales’ community referees, take part and deliver some sobering statistics.
A shocking 93 per cent of respondents to the survey said they had experienced verbal abuse while refereeing, with one in eight saying they had experienced physical abuse.
In addition, 80 per cent of referees said they believe abuse from fans has worsened in recent years, with 60 per cent saying the same about the behaviour of players and coaches.
As a result, 15 per cent of referees surveyed said they intended to give up the sport at the start of this season.
Rowan Musson from Ceredigion is one of those that has given up refereeing due to “aggressive comments”, and he told S4C: “I’ve had enough of the abuse that has come from the people who watch the games.
“Looking at the new season, it feels sad not to be on the field. I’ve lost something special. I’ve enjoyed refereeing over the years, and I feel sad to leave it behind now.
“Almost every game now, you get people coming up to you and saying things like ‘you haven’t seen this’ and it’s happening more and more every game now,” he added.
“When I started, everyone was polite even if they disagreed, but over the last two seasons, people are more aggressive in the way they speak, some just being nasty. The fans I think have gotten worse over the last few years, and the ‘enjoyment factor’ wasn’t there any more.
“I didn’t feel like the abuse and negative comments were worth the effort any more. Sometimes I travel two or three hours for a game, one way, and your Saturday is gone. And you come back feeling like you’ve ruined a lot of people’s day because of the way you’ve ruled.”
However, Geraint John, the Welsh Rugby Union’s Director of Community Rugby, played down talks of a ‘crisis’ in an interview with S4C News, adding that the union’s own statistics in fact suggest that the behaviour of rugby fans is improving, with incidents of abuse reported in only two per cent of matches.
“We have to make sure that people respect the referees in the middle, that the discipline is right on and off the field and we make a code of conduct for the players, coaches, referees and parents,” said John. “But I’m not sure what the crisis is to tell the truth.”
