Welsh club sign international star and Jones wades into Borthwick argument

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These are your headlines on the morning of Tuesday, March 17

Dragons sign international winger

The Dragons have confirmed the signing of Tongan international wing Anzelo Tuitavuki.

As exclusively revealed by WalesOnline recently Tuitavuki will join the Welsh club next season from French PRO D2 outfit Colomiers.

The 27-year-old previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific and Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship.

Renowned for his impressive footwork and acceleration, Tuitavuki has also won nine caps for Tonga, featuring in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

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“Anzelo is a physical player on both sides of the ball who possesses good footwork and quick turn of speed,” said Dragons defence coach Dale MacLeod.

“He also possesses a big left boot and is a good aerial option in attack and defence, so we are looking forward to him linking up with us.”

Tuitavuki will compete with Rio Dyer, Jared Rosser and Fine Inisi, and others for a place in the back-three.

“I’m incredibly proud and grateful for the opportunity to join Dragons, a club with a proud history and passionate supporters,” he said.

“After speaking with Filo (Tiatia), Dale (MacLeod), and Jonathan (Westwood), it was clear there is a strong vision and real ambition for the future.

“The opportunity to test myself alongside and against some of the best players in the game is exactly what drives me.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the fans, pulling on the Dragons jersey for the first time and giving everything to support my teammates every time I take to the field.

“The URC is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, so I’m excited for the challenge ahead.”

Jones wades into Borthwick debate

Eddie Jones says it would be “foolhardy” to replace Steve Borthwick ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup campaign next year.

England headed into the Six Nations on the back of 11 straight wins but could only muster up a victory over Wales on the opening weekend of the tournament.

They then suffered defeats to Ireland, Scotland, Italy and France on their way to a fifth-place finish.

Despite that, Jones, who was England head coach between 2015 and 2022, says removing Borthwick is the wrong thing to do and still believes he’s the right man for the job.

“Steve’s done a good job with England, they’ve just come off a string of 12 wins,” Jones said on the Rugby Unity podcast.

“They’ve had a bad tournament.

“There’s no doubt that they had a bad tournament, so he’ll need to show to the RFU that he knows why he’s had a bad tournament, he knows how he’s going to turn it around and I’m sure he can do that.”

He added: “I’ll say it again — I think (Borthwick is) the right man to coach England and I think they should support him through this.

“Maybe he’s got a few things wrong and they’ll need to help him rectify those errors, but they’d be foolhardy to change.”

Farrell addresses his future

By Edward Elliot, Press Association

Andy Farrell says a conversation about his future as Ireland head coach “won’t be too far away”.

The Englishman guided Ireland to a fourth Triple Crown in five years thanks to Saturday’s 43-21 win over Scotland before being denied the third Six Nations title of his reign by France.

Farrell, 50, was appointed to his current role in 2019 and has a contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to lead the team to next year’s World Cup in Australia. He was last month linked with a move to Gallagher Prem club Saracens at the end of his existing deal, reports he suggested were a case of “people putting two and two together and making five”.

“I will have a conversation (with the IRFU), we’ve already spoken about having a conversation,” said Farrell. “That won’t be too far away, so we’ll see how that goes.”

Asked if he would like to stay on beyond his current contract, the Ireland head coach replied: “You know that I love this. There’s all sorts of stuff that needs to be talked about, I’ve no doubt.”

Ireland return to action in July with fixtures against Australia, Japan and New Zealand in the inaugural Nations Championship. Having used 35 players during the Six Nations, Farrell wants individuals “fighting for a seat on the plane” for the summer series.

“We’ll see what the momentum is with the lads going back to their provinces now,” he said. “We’ve talked about it in the changing rooms. People have had to grow for this competition.

“The lads who’ve had a sniff of it, who’ve not necessarily played (on Saturday against Scotland), it’s up to them to keep on competing as well, to show us that they’ve learned some lessons and everyone is fighting for a seat on the plane.”

The bonus-point success over Scotland rivalled a record 42-21 win away to England in round three as Ireland’s best performance of the championship.

“They’re both special,” said Farrell. “That’s having to do with when a trophy’s on the line, and that’s the type of experience that you want for the group. “They (Scotland) were never going to go away because they’re a top side and they played really well.

“How we kept going after the game, rather than just going into our shells and trying to hold on to a lead (was impressive). We kept playing to the death, and that was the pleasing part.”