These are the rugby stories making headlines on Wednesday, April 23
These are your rugby headlines on Wednesday, April 23
Star’s public apology
Nolann Le Garrec has issued a public apology after his actions in the weekend’s game between Racing 92 and Perpignan were called out.
France Scrum-half Le Garrec was seen to take a dive in an act of simulation deep into the second half of the clash between the two sides. With 10 minutes left on the clock, Le Garrec made a meal of a collision off the ball with prop Bruce Devaux. He went down clutching his face and remained on the turf for some time, with medics coming onto the field of play to treat him.
Replays, however, clearly showed very little contact was made and Le Garrec was rounded on by social media users, including former international referee Nigel Owens, who said he would have sent the number nine straight off for his actions.
Le Garrec has now issued an apology through French newspaper Midi Olympique. “I wanted to come back to the situation of my contact to the head and my inadequate reaction,” he said. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
“At the time, I received a shoulder blow to the face from the Perpignan prop and I did not perceive at all if it was intentional or not. At the time, I do not know if it was nervousness on his part or not.
“At that moment of the match, the tension was high and we had just received a yellow card ourselves for contact to the head. In any case, I did not know how to react to this shoulder blow.
“After reviewing the images, I see that this gesture was completely involuntary on the part of the prop. I apologise to the match referees! I did not want to disrespect anyone. It is not in my habits.”
Craig leaves Scarlets for Glasgow
Alex Craig is leaving the Scarlets at the end of the season to return to Scotland.
Dumfries-born Craig will join Glasgow for the start of the new campaign. In news that had been circulating for some time, the Scarlets’ players’ player of the season leaves west Wales after making 40 appearances for the Parc y Scarlets club.
“For me, coming back home is a massive opportunity and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in,” Craig said.
“I’m from Castle Douglas, and I’ve always kept a close eye on how Glasgow were doing as I supported the club when growing up. To see the club go from strength to strength in recent seasons has been so impressive, and they just keep getting better and better as a team.
“I know quite a lot of the boys from U20s and from Scotland duty; I grew up playing minis with Stafford [McDowall] too, his dad was my first rugby coach and we played together from when we were seven until about 14 or 15. Stafford’s probably the one I spoke to the most when making the decision to move up here, but everyone I’ve spoken to has had nothing but good things to say about the club.
“I like to get myself involved in the game as much as I can, whether that’s with ball in hand or being physical in defence. I just want to put my best foot forward, work hard and earn the respect of my teammates and coaches first and foremost – it’s going to be exciting and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel added: “Alex has been a hugely popular figure and I know that returning home means a great deal to him. I would like to thank him for all that he’s given in the past two seasons.
“It has been great to see Alex return to the international stage whilst being with us and we know he will be putting everything into the final games of the season as we push for a place in the URC play-offs.”
Wales Women clash pushed back 24 hours
PA Staff
Wales’ final Women’s Six Nations fixture against Italy in Parma has been put back 24 hours because of Pope Francis’ funeral.
The game was due to have kicked off just three hours after the Pope’s funeral begins on Saturday, but Six Nations organisers have confirmed it has now been rescheduled for Sunday, at 1130 UK time.
Wales have lost all four of their games in this season’s tournament and will be consigned to the wooden spoon if they are beaten by Italy.
Edinburgh’s United Rugby Championship away fixture against Zebre Parma, meanwhile, has been brought forward from Saturday to Friday night.
“The league expresses its condolences to all who mourn the loss of Pope Francis, and thanks all stakeholders for helping to support this change of schedule in such a speedy manner,” a URC spokesperson said.