Today's rugby news as four emerging Welsh talents singled out and major day arrives for WRU
The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
These are your latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, April 15.
Four new Welsh talents stand out in rout
Wales U20s coach Richard Whiffin was left impressed by the talent at his disposal after a Welsh U19s side outclassed Italy in an emphatic 60-7 win in Merthyr. The teenage side ran in 10 tries, with flanker Caio James scoring a hattrick, as they rounded off a double header of games with a huge victory after losing to Ireland in Aberavon the previous weekend.
Prop Jac Pritchard, wings Dylan Scott (2) and Evan Morris, centre Osian Darwin-Lewis, back-row Ryan Jones and replacement hooker James Talami also all crossed for the Welsh side. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
After such an impressive win, Whiffin admitted his side had "gone up a gear" as he singled out four players that particularly impressed him in Darwin-Lewis, full-back Lewis Edwards and locks Luke Evans and Tom Cottle. The coach now has some difficult decisions to make ahead of this summer's World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, where Wales will face France, Argentina and Spain in Pool B.
"We challenged the boys to go up a gear individually and as a group after last week’s defeat to Ireland,” he said. “I think we certainly saw that. We challenged them around their training standards and how they prepare for international matches.
“We put a team to the sword today with lots of good individual performances but the pleasing thing from a team perspective was we saw what we had been working hard on in training, being put out on the field. Our lineouts and scrums gave us a good set-piece to work off and from that the backs exploited that space.”
Whiffin added: “The midfield was impressive, Osian Darwin-Lewis and Lewis Edwards were solid in midfield – I was really impressed with them, and they will challenge the boys in the 20s going forward.
"It is about opportunity – we got to see 28-29 different players over the two weeks. Some guys had a little involvement around the U20s and some are brand new in to the pathway so for us to build a bit more depth looking ahead to next year is invaluable.
“Players are at different parts in their journey – some are here trying to put their hands up for the world cup and others are trying to put them up to be here next year. We saw some really good performances, especially the second row where Luke Evans and Tom Cottle were brilliant both weeks to put their hands up.”
Deadline day arrives for WRU and four professional sides
The Welsh Rugby Union has given the Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets a deadline of 5pm today to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement.
WRU CEO Abi Tierney has been in negotiations with Wales' four professional clubs over a new PRA for months and was hoping everything would be signing before Judgement Day. But the WRU's recent takeover of Cardiff, following the club entering administration after majority shareholders Helford Capital failed to meet their contractual obligations, has complicated matters.
According to the BBC, WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood sent an email to the Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets demanding they sign the new PRA before "close of play" on Tuesday, April 15.
"Given your boards had previously agreed to sign the new PRA prior to the events of this week, I hope with the information above, they are assured the new PRA continues to represent a fair and better deal for Welsh Rugby," wrote Collier-Keywood.
"On this basis, we would ask to receive confirmation by close of play on Tuesday, 15 April, that the agreement remains secured, and we will circulate executable copies for signature. This is now urgent as we want to move forward into the 2025-26 season with certainty.
"In order to complete the re-financing, we will need to terminate the current agreement within this timescale."
The new PRA will see playing budgets rise to £6.9m by financial year 2029, while the WRU are planning to transfer the debt acquired from the Covid loans onto their own balance sheet.
The WRU's acquisition of the business and assets of Cardiff cost £780,000, with costs made up of about £480,000 in cash and £300,000 of debt. On top of this the WRU are committed to putting in around £1.2m into Cardiff until June 2026, meaning a total of £2m going towards the Arms Park region.
Before the takeover Cardiff had owed the WRU £9.1m with the governing body now turning £3m of that into an investment and leaving a £6m debt. The WRU will act as Cardiff's benefactor but even though Collier-Keywood has promised to provide the other three clubs with similar debt relief there is no indication at this present time they will match the £2m they are giving Cardiff.
Collier-Keywood and the WRU want to terminate the current PRA which has a year left to run to immediately move onto the new version. A clause in that contract says "the WRU may terminate this agreement by giving the company no less than two years' notice in writing to expire at the end of the relevant agreement year".
Such a move would not align with the WRU's stated aim of retaining four professional clubs with the governing body claiming they would be penalised financially by the United Rugby Championship and EPCR if they went down to three clubs.
Dragons secure international star approaching his 'prime'
The Dragons have tied down Argentine international prop Rodrigo Martinez to a new contract.
Martinez, who hails from Los Tordos Rugby Club in Mendoza, made the move to Dragons in July 2023 and has since become a regular in the team's pack, racking up 27 appearances across two campaigns.
The 26-year-old front-rower boasts an impressive rugby CV, having previously turned out for Wasps in the English Premiership, Super Rugby's Jaguares, as well as stints with Argentine outfit Los Ceibos and Paraguay's Olimpia Lions.
After representing Argentina at Under-20s and Argentina XV levels, Martinez earned his first senior cap for the Pumas in a 2021 Rugby Championship match against Australia. He was also selected for Argentina's training squad ahead of the 2024 autumn internationals, adding to his tally of three international caps.
Head coach Filo Tiatia said: "We're pleased that Rodrigo will continue his journey with us as he has become a key component in our front row.
"Rodrigo is a player who produces consistently high performances, including playing for his country at Test level, and he has best years ahead of him now with Dragons RFC."
Forwards coach Sam Hobbs added: "Rodrigo has had a very positive impact over the last two seasons and is very reliable front row.
"He has had to manage a high workload this season, with his game time and minutes, but his displays have always been to a high standard.
"Rodrigo brings a real physical edge in the way he plays, especially in defence, and a real aggressive attitude towards set piece. At 26 he is approaching the prime of his career and we look forward to his continued improvement and impact over the years ahead."
Wales defeat Georgia in U18s Six Nations festival
Wales U18s made it two wins from two in the Six Nations festival as they emerged 17-10 victors over Georgia last night.
Wales defeated Ireland last time out and are set to conclude their Six Nations U18 Festival campaign with a rematch against Italy on Friday.
The formidable Georgians were the first to score with a driving line-out try, but Wales quickly equalised with a try from Brogan Leary, which Lloyd Lucas converted. The score remained at 7-7 at half-time, with only a close call for a forward pass preventing Noah Morgan from scoring a try just before the break.
Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities, Wales faced several setbacks. Leary was denied another try due to a forward pass, the Welsh forwards were stopped on the line before a knock-on, and hooker Tiaan Hall was penalised for a dummy throw at a five-metre line-out.
Smith's team continued to press, but the Georgian defence proved resilient, repeatedly thwarting the Welsh attacks. Wales were then penalised for jumping across a line-out on the 10-metre line, and the Georgian full-back successfully converted his kick to put his team in the lead.
With 19 minutes left on the clock, it was a moment for calm and composure. A powerful surge by substitute back-rower Noah Williams propelled Wales into the 22. Georgian hands were all over him, leading to a penalty from which Lucas levelled the score at 10-10.
A determined run from Tom Howe, following a line-out manoeuvre, brought Wales back into the Georgian 22. However, they lost possession just metres away from the try line.
Then, from a scrum on the left edge of the 22, Jack Harrison and Williams made significant inroads. From a ruck on the line, scrum-half Luca Woodyatt scooped up the ball and plunged over the line. Lucas converted to give Wales their first lead in the 61st minute, which they held on to until full-time.
Wales U18: Ben Coomer (Cardiff); Brogan Leary (Dragons), Jack Harrison (Bath), Jack Hoskins (Ospreys), Rhys Cummings (Cardiff); Lloyd Lucas (Cardiff), Luca Woodyatt (Gloucester); George Leyland (Bristol Bears), Tiaan Hall (Dragons), Jayden Maybank (Ospreys), Kai Jones (Scarlets),Gabe Williams (Cardiff), Morgan Crew (Yorkshire Academy), Tiehi Chatham (Dragons), Cerrig Smith (Dragons, captain)
Replacements: Dylan Barrett (Cardiff), Tom Howe (Cardiff), Nathan Davies (Scarlets), Osian Williams (Bristol Bears), Alfie Prygodzicz (Cardiff), Carter Pritchard (Dragons), Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Cole (Dragons). Noah Morgan (Dragons), Bailey Cutts (Cardiff), Noah Williams (Bristol Bears) Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free