Today's rugby news as cult hero lands Welsh coaching job and North goes controversial with Lions call

Wales Online

4 hours ago

Today's rugby news as cult hero lands Welsh coaching job and North goes controversial with Lions call
These are the rugby stories making headlines on the morning of Saturday, June 28
Cardiff Rugby hero Rey Lee-Lo
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
These are your headlines on the morning of Saturday, June 28
‌
North predicts Lions series
George North has predicted a Lions series win in Australia this summer but has "controversially" gone for the hosts to win the first of the three-Test series.
‌
Andy Farrell's men get their tour under way on Saturday, with a game against Western Force in Perth the curtain-raiser to a fascinating summer Down Under.
A year ago this series was widely predicted to be a whitewash in favour of the tourists but a revival of sorts from the Wallabies during the autumn has seen those predictions revised somewhat.
Most are still in the Lions camp but plenty are, like North, feeling that the hosts could be a lot hotter to handle than some may think.
Article continues below
"I was thinking about this," North told the BBC when asked for his prediction for 2025. "Controversially I'm going to go Australia win the first one, Lions win the second, and it goes down to the third and Lions win 2-1."
North's own Lions story in Australia 12 years arguably made him a household name. From picking up and marching Israel Folau back to his brilliant second Test try, North will go down in Lions folklore. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
"It's probably the Izzy Folau carry," he said when asked what Lions fans want to talk about when they meet him. "And then it gets on to the try and the excitement and drama the Test series brought. Going to the decider [in 2013] was incredibly special as a player, but as a fan it was also as incredible.
‌
"I never thought I'd be able to play for the Lions, playing for your country for me is the biggest honour anyone can award you and I never thought I'd be in the conversation to be a Lion, let alone tour two times.
"But to then say you've had an impact that people remember, an iconic moment, it doesn't half put a smile on my face."
Cardiff legend lands coaching role with Welsh club
Cardiff legend Rey Lee-Lo has landed a coaching role at the Arms Park club following his retirement at the end of the season.
‌
Lee-Lo has been appointed as a transition coach and will also mentor some of the young centres at the club like rising Wales U20s stars Steffan Emanuel and Elijah Evans.
The Samoa international hung up his boots at the end of the 2024/25 season after a decade in the Welsh capital having previously represented New Zealand Super Rugby outfit the Hurricanes.
Lee-Lo is a cult hero at the Arms Park and is undoubtedly among the finest overseas players to have graced the Welsh game.
‌
The 38-year-old will coach Cardiff's next generation of players and Matt Sherratt will be hoping his influence will rub off on the likes of Emanuel, Evans, Osian Darwin-Lewis and even Mason Grady who is back in training after recovering from an ankle injury.
Lee-Lo joins Sherratt, Corniel van Zyl (forwards), Gethin Jenkins (defence), Jonny Goodridge (attack) and Scott Andrews (assistant forwards coach) in the senior Cardiff coach team for the 2025/26 season.
Darge: Gut punch to miss out on Lions
Scotland star Rory Darge admits it felt like it was a "gut punch" to miss out on Lions selection this summer.
‌
Back-rower Darge will instead be preparing for a summer in the South Pacific, with games against the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa.
The 25-year-old insists, however, that he would be ready to answer Andy Farrell's call should it come via an injury SOS.
"Before the squad announcement, I wasn't particularly expecting to be there," admitted Darge.
‌
"Part of that might be you're protecting yourself a little bit for when you don't get announced. But I also just think my position is so competitive.
"Even still, when the names are getting read out and you're watching it on TV, they are going in alphabetical order and it gets past your name, it does feel like a gut punch.
"I was obviously delighted for the other boys who did get picked. But it's a weird mix of emotions. I've got a lot on my plate with Scotland at the moment and we're focusing on trying to get three wins from three.
Article continues below
"The Lions obviously aren't my main focus. But, yeah, if the call was to come, I would certainly be ready for it."