These are your rugby headlines on Saturday, April 123.
Ospreys coach ‘annoyed’ as semi-final place goes begging
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth described their Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Gloucester ‘actually irritating’ after his aspect weren’t ‘nearly as good as we might have been’.
The Ospreys fell to a 23-13 defeat at Kingsholm on Friday night time, with the Welsh aspect struggling to make a lot of an impression within the recreation as their set-piece struggled towards the English outift.
Afterwards, Booth admitted that it was the truth that the Ospreys did not give an honest account of themselves on the again of final week’s first-ever European knockout win was robust to take.
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“Bitterly disenchanted,” he mentioned afterwards. “Frustrated. Not simply mine, however the crew’s (reflections).
“I do not wish to be disrespectful as I assumed Gloucester have been superb and deserved to win. I’m simply annoyed round a few of the components of our recreation which did not get up as we’d have favored them to. That made for a irritating night.
“When you are in cup rugby, you should be sure to management your controllables higher and take care of stress. I’m not going to take a seat right here and say it is an excellent studying curve. It is a good studying curve however I do not wish to give attention to that as a result of we have been right here, we had an opportunity to maneuver ahead and we have not taken that.
“So it is actually irritating. The plus aspect is we have gone one step additional than final time in a knockout competitors. When the mud settles, we’ll most likely mirror on progress. The overriding emotion is disappointment as I do not assume we have been nearly as good as we might have been.”
Gloucester boss praises centre after audition in entrance of Wales coach
Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington has praised Max Llewellyn for a way he is settled into life on the Gallagher Premiership membership.
Llewellyn, who made his Wales debut final 12 months, performed 47 minutes of the Cherry and Whites’ Challenge Cup win over the Ospreys, carrying effectively at occasions earlier than being changed by British and Irish Lions centre Chris Harris.
Afterwards, Skivington performed down any damage issues as he sang the praises of Llewellyn.
“Thankfully I believe he’s alright really,” he mentioned. “I used to be going to make use of Chris sooner or later anyway and that simply appeared like a set off to try this.
“But he’s been good. I believe Max has actually grown in stature. He’s actually put seven kilos on this 12 months so he has actually bought greater.
“But I believe by way of the bloke he’s, he’s come out (right here) and the boys love him. We’ve bought an excellent few lads his age, they’ve bought a pleasant group. I believe he’s a star for the long run.
“Still bought bits and items to do however the strive he scored final week off the again of the lineout was completely excellent. I noticed Alex King was right here as we speak and presumably that’s what he was right here for.
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Welsh hooker indicators for Pirates
Welsh hooker Iestyn Harris has signed for Cornish Pirates on a brief foundation.
The 25-year-old, who represented Wales at under-20 degree, has joined the Championship outfit on mortgage.
He goes straight into the fray for the weekend, being names among the many replacements for the Pirates’ conflict with Ampthill tomorrow.
“With the accidents that we’ve got had from the final recreation it has been necessary that we deliver somebody in to fill that house and, because of the assist of Exeter Chiefs, Iestyn is that man,” joint head coach Alan Paver mentioned.
“He has been earmarked as a proficient participant who has simply come again from damage, so we’re trying ahead to seeing him down on the Mennaye and integrating him in accordingly.”
New warmth tips to be launched
World Rugby have revealed they are going to look to introduce prolonged half-times and extra frequent water breaks throughout video games performed in excessive temperatures and humidity.
The sport’s governing physique will publish new tips this summer season on the matter.
World Rugby’s chief medical officer Eanna Falvey says alterations may very well be made to start out occasions of video games as a way to keep away from peak temperatures of the day.
“We suggest to build this into the brand new tips,” Falvey instructed BBC Sport. “Measures would come with longer breaks and intervals, but in addition delaying kick-off for a cooler time.”
Other measures might embrace encouraging gamers to maintain on damp shirts, moderately than placing a contemporary dry shirt on.
World Rugby may even suggest an acclimatisation interval of two weeks when transferring from area to area.
Legend indicators one-year deal
Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony has put retirement rumours to mattress by signing a one-year extension with Munster.
There had been hypothesis over the 34-year-old;s future, with the veteran confirming after the Six Nations that he would take a while out to think about what to do subsequent.
He had stepped down as Munster skipper every this 12 months however his determination to increase his enjoying days means he’ll be round till the tip of the 2024/25 season.
It additionally means he might be available for worldwide choice forward of Ireland’s two-Test sequence towards back-to-back world champions South Africa.
