Today's rugby news as Wales star diagnosed with stage four arthritis and audio reveals what sparked row

Wales Online

07-06-2025

Today's rugby news as Wales star diagnosed with stage four arthritis and audio reveals what sparked row
The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond
Wales international Rhys Webb
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Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, June 7.
Wales scrum-half told he needs knee replacement
Wales international Rhys Webb has revealed he's been diagnosed with Stage four arthritis and told he needs a knee replacement at the age of just 36.
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Webb suffered with numerous knee problems throughout is career, including undergoing three ACL reconstructions. His rugby career appears over after he was banned for four years in July, 2024 after testing positive for a growth hormone while playing in France. He now lives and works in Dubai and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
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Stage four arthritis is often referred to as severe or advanced stag and is characterized by extensive joint damage and significant limitations in daily activities. This stage involves severe pain, stiffness, and a notable loss of mobility.
Posting pictures of him in hospital in Dubai, Webb wrote on social media: "After 3 ACL reconstructions, no meniscus, no cartilage, and battling osteoarthritis for the last 10 years my knee has finally waved the white flag. Over the last few months, it's really gone downhill. Some days I can barely walk properly. "Got it scanned… outcome: Stage 4 arthritis. The knee's had it. A full replacement is needed—but at 36, I'm not ready for that just yet. "So I've gone for one last clean-out. The joint's basically like my dad's old toolbox bolts, screws and all sorts floating around causing pain. Hopefully this gives me another 10 years. That's the target. Then I'll deal with the replacement. "But as you know this won't slow me down. I'm going to smash these next few weeks and get my knee back to the best it can be. This is going to be good "Massive thanks for all your messages it really does mean a lot. I'm all good. Just want to stay fit and healthy so I can keep chasing after my kids."
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A statement through is lawyer at the time of the ban last year said: "The sanction imposed on Rhys Webb is not final, and we have immediately instructed a lawyer at the Conseil d'Etat to lodge an appeal to overturn the AFLD's decision.
"In the meantime, Rhys wishes to reaffirm his innocence, pointing out that he has never undergone any other disciplinary procedure, of any kind, during his long career as a professional athlete and has never used any doping product, growth hormone in particular."
The statement went on to identify what Webb and his legal team believe are "incompetencies" in the AFDL's testing process.
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Ref mic audio reveals unheard comment that led to row
Irish pundit and former Dragons head coach Bernard Jackman has revealed new information about the enraged reaction of Munster's Jack Crowley in last weekend's controversial penalty shootout loss to the Sharks.
The young fly-half exploded with rage when Sharks and Springboks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse went down with apparent cramp as Crowley prepared to take a crucial shot at goal during the shootout. Hendrikse winked at Crowley amid the furore as the Irish man complained to the referee and swore at a Sharks member of staff helping to treat the South African player.
Now, Jackman has revealed ref mic audio sheds light on a comment made to Crowley ahead of the shootout that appears to have sparked the tense situation.
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Speaking on the RTÉ Rugby podcast, Jackman revealed he has now been sent audio of the remarks directed at Crowley before his kick.
'I've actually been sent the ref mic audio from earlier on for the first kick and someone says to Jack that he's a 40% kicker,' said Jackman.
'That's obviously why Jack was so fired up. But to be fair, it didn't impact the result — Jack nailed both his kicks, Conor [Murray] got his, and unfortunately Rory [Scannell] didn't.'
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Jackman wasn't overly impressed with referee Mike Adamson's handling of the whole situation.
'To be honest, the officials are struggling to control things they see every week, so in a shootout that happens once every few years, it was never going to be properly marshalled," he said.
'Scannell was kicking right beside the Sharks' bench — unless they're incredibly disciplined, there's always going to be something said.'
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Whiffin finds positives in England collapse
Wales U20s coach Richard Whiffin said he learned a lot about his young side after their late collapse against England in their first World Championship warm-up match.
Just five of the side that beat England in the Six Nations started at Pontypool Park, but Wales still found themselves leading 14-7 at the break. However, five tries in the final 13 minutes saw England win 47-14.
"We were decent for the first 50," said Whiffin afterwards. "I thought we managed the game well.
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"Our kicking game was strong. We won some aerial battles and our set-piece was good. It gave us the opportunity to be right in the hunt.
"Then that last 25 minutes, we lacked a bit of energy. The boys looked tired and we coughed up some soft tries, some intercepts, that blew the scoreboard out.
"Disappointed with our energy in that back 20 minutes but pleased with what we put on the field in the first 50 minutes.
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"We controlled the game and probably left a few tries out there. But I was pleased with our half-backs. They put us in the right areas of the field.
"Our set-piece dominated really well. It gave us those opportunities to get scores. There's always the other side of the half and we didn't bring the energy we needed in that second-half.
"We've seen the first-half group execute the plan really and we've seen guys put their hand up in that space. We've also seen guys struggle at the level. It gives you a good picture of where guys are at and helps with selection."
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Finn Russell only dealing with cramp as Bath reached final – Johan van Graan
By PA Sport Staff
Bath head of rugby Johan van Graan reassured Bath supporters that it was 'only cramp' that forced him to replace Finn Russell before the end of their 34-20 Gallagher Premiership play-off victory against Bristol.
The British & Lions fly-half kicked four conversions and two penalties in Bath's comeback win that sent them into next weekend's final at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.
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'Multiple parts of his body are cramping,' he said. 'He put in some effort, I thought. His goalkicking was phenomenal, the chases that he put in too. He was still cramping in the changing room but there's no reason to suppose he won't be fine.
'It was amazing how many guys on both sides went down with cramp. It just showed the effort that both teams put in. We worked incredibly hard to get into this position, to get back to Twickenham.'
He added: 'That's a Premiership semi-final for you. We knew this was going to be a tough game and we picked a 23 that we believe will get the job done.
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'I thought at 34-13, we got some momentum but Bristol is a good team. They kept on attacking and it's never dead on 34-20.
'It was some game of rugby. We knew that we were going to be stretched but we actually defended pretty well.
'At half-time we spoke about our game and composure. It shows that we are a team that is fluid and adaptable. We made one or two tactical changes and then our fitness came through, our hunger, our will to win.
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'At 13-6 we had a penalty. Many teams would have kicked for the posts but we went straight for the kill and made it 13-0.
'How good was the crowd! They gave us so much energy so we dominated them in the second half.
'I'm incredibly proud of this win and that we did this not only for ourselves but for the city. The people of Bath were amazing tonight.'
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Bristol were 13-6 in front at the break and it could have been more. The try of the match was scored by their lock James Dun after Fiji wing Kalaveti Ravouvou set off from his own line, leaving four Bath defenders in his wake.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: 'Firstly well done to Bath. They've had a phenomenal season and they thoroughly deserve to be there in the final, if you take what they've done throughout the year.
'We got on the wrong foot with the referee at the very beginning when (Ellis Genge) Gengey got pushed and said a few things. We got turned over and the boys were phenomenal in holding them out.'
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Lam conceded that the third quarter was decisive: 'At 13-6 we missed the kick-off receipt and off the back of that they got down there and scored.
'We missed some high balls and the penalty count was 5-1, 10 minutes after half-time so we were down there again and they scored. The second yellow card on Kieran Marmion was not ideal in terms of our attack shape.'
But he added: 'Man, I'm so proud of the boys coming back at the end there.
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'It was a great game and, as I said, Bath thoroughly deserved their place in the final. Theirs is a really complete game and we wanted to disrupt that.
'Don't get me wrong – we are disappointed but we gave it a really good go and we missed out to a quality team.'