-Credit:Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd
Your rugby evening headlines on Thursday, January 16.
George North hails ‘immense’ Sam Davies
Wales legend George North has hailed ex-Dragons RFC fly-half Sam Davies as “immense” ahead of their clash.
The 31-year-old Wales international has been instrumental for Pro D2 club Grenoble since making the switch from south Wales in 2023.
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Davies’ rave reviews and starring performances in France’s second tier earned him interest from clubs in the Gallagher Premiership and Scarlets. However, he recently signed a new deal that will keep him at the French club until 2028.
Fellow Wales international North was quick to praise Davies in a recent chat with AFP. The two players will go head-to-head for the first time in the league when Grenoble travel to Provence tomorrow.
“I’m sure we’ll come across each other, hopefully more than once. Sam is doing incredible stuff for Grenoble,” North said.
“He’s an immense talent for them.
“Hopefully we can we can mitigate how much speed and fast ball they have and really go toe-to-toe with them.”
‘Disappointed’ star gets Wales feedback
Dragons coach Filo Tiatia says wing Rio Dyer was “disappointed” to be left out of Warren Gatland’s Six Nations squad – but has praised him for getting “back in the saddle straight away”.
The 25-year-old has been a regular in Wales squads since making his debut in 2022, but was overlooked earlier this week with Gatland selecting the likes of Josh Adams, Josh Hathaway, Tom Rogers and Scarlets’ Ellis Mee ahead of him.
Dyer received feedback from Wales’ coaches in the wake of his omission and while he was disappointed by the setback, Tiatia has been impressed by how the application and motivation he has shown this week.
“He was disappointed that he missed out,” said the Dragons boss. “I connected with him that morning, went and had a cup of tea with him and his family.
“He’s motivated to action some of the feedback from the Welsh coaches on the areas he needs to get better at and get himself back in the frame. He can really accelerate some of the superpowers when he does play. He needs to travel light and just play free. He’s been impressive this week.
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“I think he’s just getting on with a couple of things that he’s been told in feedback that he needs to work on in his game. He’s back in the saddle straight away and he’s pretty motivated.”
Dyer will now be available for the Dragons’ URC clashes against Munster, Glasgow and Zebre during the Six Nations, but while Tiatia is pleased to have the 23-cap international at his disposal, he also does not take any joy in seeing his player left out of the Wales squad.
“We’re happy that he’s with us but also not happy that he’s not been picked,” he added. “The more players that get an opportunity to play for their country, the merrier. That’s the aspiration for a lot of our young players.
“We want to see more being pushed up to that level, to accelerate the way they play but also so that when they come back to the Dragons, they share what they have learnt and accelerate our programme.”
Young fly-half back to handle Wales pressure
Dan Edwards has been backed to cope with the pressure of playing outside-half for Wales.
The 21-year-old was one of only two outside-halves in Warren Gatland’s Six Nations squad and is likely to get significant game-time throughout the course of the Championship. Historically, the Wales number 10 position has been one of the most heavily scrutinised in world rugby but Ospreys assistant coach Richard Kelly is confident Edwards will take it all in his stride.
“He’s quite a relaxed guy and good fun,” said Kelly. “He looks at everything quite positively.
“When those pressure moments come he’s dealt with them. I mentioned Ulster at home when he kicked the drop goal to win the game.
“As a young man working with him it probably does strike you how well he deals with those situations and pressure. The next stage in his development is being pushed into that international stage now.”
Edwards will compete with Cardiff’s Ben Thomas for the number 10 jersey and looks set to make his Test debut against France in Paris. And Kelly is adamant the Ospreys playmaker has the skill set to deliver on the big occasion.
“His threat with ball in hand, his speed, his kicking game and his composure under pressure,” he said. “I think back to Ulster last year when he got a match-winning drop goal on the last play of the game.
“For me he’s shown time and time again he’s capable of delivering on the big occasion. We are excited he’s going to get an opportunity to show that by being in the Wales squad.
“Fingers crossed for him he’s going to get selected in the matchday squads and be able to show what he can do on the international stage.”
Springbok retires due to injury
South Africa international Raymond Rhule has retired from rugby due to medical reasons, according to L’Equipe.
The La Rochelle flyer is just 32, but has been forced to hang up his boots after failing to recover from an Achilles injury. He had previously played for the Cheetahs and DHL Stormers before signing for Grenoble, and then La Rochelle in 2020.
Rhule played for South Africa seven times in 2017 and enjoyed 13 years in professional rugby. He is actually from Ghana, but qualified to play for the ‘Boks through citizenship.
He won two Champions Cups in the final years of his career, in a team that also features fellow Springbok Dillyn Leyds. He has been nursing the Achilles injury since August last year, but it’s unfortunately the end of the road for him.