Here are your rugby morning headlines for Wednesday, April 15.
Wales international ruled out for rest of season
Gloucester have been dealt a blow on the wing with Wales international Josh Hathaway ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury ahead of Friday night’s Gallagher PREM clash with Bristol Bears.
The Welsh flyer’s campaign has been badly disrupted by injuries and the latest setback now ends his season altogether, depriving Gloucester of one of their most dangerous back-three options for the final run-in.
The more encouraging news for Welsh supporters concerns Tomos Williams, who is edging closer to a return after the shoulder injury he suffered in last month’s win over Harlequins.
Gloucester boss George Skivington revealed the scrum-half is back running and “there or thereabouts” ahead of the trip to Ashton Gate, with a late decision to be made on his involvement against Bristol.
Williams, who will join Saracens this summer, has been a hugely influential figure for Gloucester again this term and his recovery will be of particular interest to Steve Tandy and Wales, with the national side’s number-nine depth already a major talking point heading towards next year’s World Cup.
Skivington said the injury itself was not a major one, but suggested the heavy workload Williams has shouldered since the Six Nations has perhaps slowed his recovery.
“Tommy [Williams] is running again,” Skivington said.
“Tomos got a bang to his shoulder. It wasn’t horrendous or anything like that. I think he has probably just played a lot of rugby, to be honest, coming off the back of the Six Nations. And, you know, when lads are fatigued, the bangs take a little bit longer.
“But he’s there or thereabouts. We’ll make a call on him for the weekend. He’s not bad. He’s in a good spot.”
JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more
Major rugby team at risk of being axed
Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika will fold at the end of the current season and be axed from the competition, it has been announced overnight.
The club said it had no other option due to “financial, operational, and strategic realities”, with Super Rugby set to be reduced to 10 teams next season.
“Despite the tireless dedication of players, staff, and supporters, it is no longer viable to continue the franchise at this level of competition,” the team said in a statement.
Moana Pasifika chair Dr Kiki Maoate added: “We are immensely proud of our players, staff, and the community who have supported our team over the years.
“Our commitment now is to ensure a smooth transition for everyone affected and to celebrate our legacy by finishing the season strong.”
Multiple reports in New Zealand and Australia said 60 players and staff were informed of the news on Tuesday that the Super Rugby club’s owners will fund the remainder of the 2026 campaign, but will not continue beyond that. The news was then confirmed on Wednesday.
The Auckland-based franchise, which were formed in 2020, faced annual running costs believed to be in the region of NZ$10m to NZ$12m.
The situation is a major blow not just for the competition, but for Pacific rugby more broadly.
Moana have provided a crucial pathway for players from Samoa, Tonga and the wider Pacific diaspora, and their disappearance would leave a number of stars in limbo – not least All Blacks talisman Ardie Savea.
Savea had been due to re-join the club next season following his sabbatical in Japan with Kobe Steelers, having committed to Moana as part of his New Zealand Rugby deal. If the club folds, the former Hurricanes star would be forced to find an alternative Super Rugby home, with a return to Wellington one possible outcome.
The financial picture has looked increasingly bleak for some time.
Reports suggest previous attempts to sell the licence failed to attract a buyer, despite interest from former All Black Ali Williams and his wife Anna Mowbray. A consortium led by former Moana chief executive Pelenato Sakalia is also said to be exploring a rescue bid, although any new ownership would need approval from New Zealand Rugby.
Head coach Tana Umaga, who is set to join the All Blacks coaching team after the season, had already voiced concerns over the club’s lack of support earlier in the year.
“I reckon we just want to be on a level playing field around the funding that goes out to all the teams,” he said, while also urging World Rugby to do more to support the Pacific pathway.
Moana currently sit bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with just one win from eight matches.
Jones hails impact of Moana Pasifika on his coaching career
Stephen Jones, meanwhile, believes his spell with Moana Pasifika has played a huge role in shaping him for life as Newcastle Red Bulls head coach.
The former Wales fly-half, who stepped up from senior assistant to take charge at Kingston Park until the end of the season in March, has opened up on how his time in Super Rugby Pacific proved a major turning point in his coaching development.
Jones spent a season with the Auckland-based side before returning to the Gallagher PREM with Newcastle in November, and he says the experience gave him a completely new perspective on the game.
Speaking about his time with Moana, Jones said: “I loved it. It was incredible. Great experience. I love the tournament, love the style of play, love the people I worked with. It was completely different to anything I’d experienced before, so I look back at it with fond memories.”
The former Scarlets, Wasps and Wales attack coach admitted it was a “steep learning curve”, but one that has already benefited him during his first month as the man in charge in the North East.
Jones said: “It’s 100 per cent made me a better coach. Learning a different style of play, different challenges and different philosophies just opens your mind and helps you grow as a person.”
That broader understanding has clearly fed into his early work with Newcastle, who have turned to the Welshman as they look to build momentum after a difficult campaign.
He added that the move also taught him there is “more than one way to do things properly”, a line that underlines how influential the Moana experience has been on his coaching outlook.
Jones has now been in the top job for around a month and admits the step up from assistant to head coach has brought a whole new level of responsibility.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve learned a lot, that’s for sure,” he said.
“It’s obviously a bit more to think about and a few more phone-call conversations later on in the day. There’s a bit more going on as opposed to being the assistant, that’s for sure.”
Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.
