These are your morning headlines on Wednesday, January 17
Lewis ‘completely gutted’
Axed Wales prop Dillon Lewis says he is ‘completely gutted’ after being ignored of the Six Nations squad by Warren Gatland. Lewis was a shock omission on Tuesday, with the likes of young Bath prop Archie Griffin most popular forward of him.
Gatland confirmed Lewis’ absence was “a range challenge”, including: “It’s an opportunity for us to take a look at creating just a few of these kids that we now have a little bit of time for.” Get the latest rugby information despatched straight to your inbox free of charge with our every day e-newsletter.
Lewis psoted on X: “Absolutely gutted to not be named on this 12 months’s 6N squad. Congrats to all these named for the primary time, delighted to see some young Cardiff faces in there. Look ahead to watching the boys go properly over the approaching weeks!”
You can learn the complete story on the Wales squad right here.
Thomas makes French membership swap
Wales’ Henry Thomas has signed for French membership Castres as a medical joker.
The 33-year-old, who was yesterday ignored of Warren Gatland’s Six Nations squad after being included within the Kiwi’s World Cup celebration, has made the swap from French membership Montpellier and has penned a deal till the tip of the season. He will be part of his new membership on the finish of this week.
He indicators as damage cowl for Canadian Matt Tierney, who’s unavailable in the long run for the French outfit.
READ MORE: Warren Gatland Q&A: Why I selected new Wales captain and my message to Rees-Zammit
READ MORE: Louis Rees-Zammit reveals why he is leaving rugby for NFL in first interview
In an announcement, Castres stated: “Since the operation of Canadian Matt Tierney and his lengthy unavailability, the CO has been inspecting the potential of strengthening itself on the entrance line. After learning a number of avenues, the CO recruited Welsh worldwide Henry Thomas till the tip of the season. After the Rugby World Cup, he signed up as a medical joker for Montpellier Hérault rugby. He will be part of Castres on the finish of this week as an extra participant.
“Aged 33, Henry Thomas is an skilled proper pillar who notably performed at Sale then at Bath from 2014 to 2021 earlier than becoming a member of MHR from 2021 to 2023, the membership with which he performed within the Top 14 last in opposition to CO.
“An English worldwide on 7 events, Henry Thomas grew to become a Welsh worldwide in 2023 given the brand new eligibility guidelines and his Welsh ancestry. Called into the squad by Warren Gatland, he performed two matches throughout the World Cup.”
Get your sensible 48-page Six Nations information right here now
Rees-Zammit ‘very emotional’
Gloucester chief George Skivington says the Louis Rees-Zammit bombshell on Tuesday caught the membership off guard, as team-mates revealed the Wales wing was emotional as he advised them.
Skivington and the Cherry & Whites weren’t the one ones, with Warren Gatland himself solely knowledgeable an hour earlier than he was attributable to title his Wales squad for the Six Nations.
“It caught us a little bit off-guard,” director of rugby Skivington advised BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
“Obviously Zam is a world-class participant so it isn’t one thing I’ve deliberate for, not one thing I’ve acquired an on the spot reply as to the place we go together with it.
“But what I do know is Zam has been offered with a chance like that and it is such a singular alternative you would not wish to block somebody doing that, as a result of I do not suppose you’d get one of the best model of that person in case you tried to do this anyway.”
Rees-Zammit’s now former clubmate Zach Mercer stated it was tough for the Wales wing to impart the information to his friends.
“[He was] very emotional, Gloucester means loads to him,” the No 8 stated. “It’s a giant resolution and I respect it massively. Rugby is a brief profession, life’s quick, and you have to do what’s greatest for you. I’m gutted to not have performed that many video games with him. He’ll be a hell of an athlete wherever he goes, and he is a high bloke.
“As a membership he’ll be massively missed from the enjoying group, employees and the supporters, as a result of he is a pure expertise.”
Lloyd: Call-up a ‘huge shock’
New Wales call-up Evan Lloyd says the e-mail from Warren Gatland got here as a “huge shock”, including he was “over the moon” together with his Six Nations choice.
Cardiff Rugby man Lloyd was yesterday included in Wales’ 35-man roster for the event, considered one of 5 new faces chosen by the Kiwi for the upcoming competitors, which heralds a brand new period for Welsh rugby.
“If I’m sincere, huge shock actually,” the teen stated in a social media video posted on Cardiff’s X feed.
“I’m over the moon, it is nonetheless sinking in actually. Think I’m going to get used to it for some time! (I used to be) emailed simply earlier than, Coops (rugby operations supervisor Gafyn Cooper) got here as much as me and Mason (Grady) simply earlier than and advised us to examine our emails.
“I did not actually know what he was on about at first! It was only a huge shock. They have been actually supportive, and appeared fairly glad, so I’m actually pleased with it.”
Lloyd had little time to disclose the shock information to his household. “Not but, I left my telephone, turned it off, tried to concentrate on coaching however I’m going to go communicate to them now,” he added. “I’m simply actually eager to soak up the expertise, and attempt to enhance myself as a lot as I can when I’m in there.”
Ospreys launch stadium assertion
New Ospreys chief govt Lance Bradley has up to date supporters on the scenario surrounding their doable transfer from the Swansea.com Stadium, stressing that no resolution has but been made and followers can be absolutely consulted.
WalesOn-line solely revealed final week that the Swansea-based area have been exploring transferring from their enjoying base in SA1, with Bradley declaring the difficulty his “number-one precedence”.
The Ospreys have twice performed “home” video games away from the Swansea.com Stadium to this point this season, dealing with Cardiff at Bridgend’s Brewery Field on New Year’s Day and the Sharks at Twickenham Stoop again in November.
Bradley has now up to date followers, stating they’ve a giant function to play within the course of.
“The Swansea.com stadium is unbelievable, but it surely’s just too large for us,” he stated. “The followers who attended Friday’s entertaining win over Perpignan created pretty much as good an environment as they may, however 4,000 followers in a 20,000-seat stadium is at all times going to be a problem.
“We must get again to the times of enjoying in entrance of a packed home, with an unbelievable ambiance that our gamers and followers love, and that the opposition don’t fancy in any respect. You’ve proven in recent video games, for instance the win over Cardiff, that that is fully doable.
“We’re very eager to listen to your ideas on the place our new home must be. For that purpose we’ll be internet hosting an occasion earlier than our sport in opposition to Ulster on Sunday February 18th the place I’ll speak to you concerning the choices as we see them, and take heed to your ideas and concepts.”
Bradley then outlined the factors upon which the choice can be primarily based, which included followers’ views, transportation provision and costings, amongst different elements.
He assured supporters: “You’ve all seen press hypothesis about the place we is perhaps going, and I’ve seen quite a lot of individuals suggesting {that a} resolution has already been made. I can guarantee you that that’s not the case.
“There are quite a lot of choices, and we can be exploring all of them completely, in addition to listening to your ideas, earlier than we decide.”
