Bath secured a place in the Gallagher Premiership final after a tense victory over Sale Sharks, a match that saw controversy with Jonny Hill allegedly clashing with a fan, leaving the fan with a cut above the eye post-game. The game also marked the return of Tom Curry to the field after a 31-week absence, with mixed reviews on his performance and future prospects for the England tour. Sale Sharks' head coach Alex Sanderson expressed concerns about Curry's inclusion in the England squad, warning it could shorten his career. Bath's Finn Russell was instrumental in the win and is expected to play a key role in the final against Northampton Saints.
https://t.co/7dogSEL7df Tom Curry has been brought straight back into the England squad despite warnings from his club, Sale, that taking him on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand would shorten his career
Elliot Daly misses England tour but Tom Curry named in training squad https://t.co/J9kFg7lg4n https://t.co/4Yc5IEbCqV
Warren Gatland Q&A: My targets this summer and the player definitely not done with Wales https://t.co/JZ9Ecro5oW https://t.co/wuyYz8rVs6
"We want to make sure we qualify him for Wales!" 🏴 Warren Gatland makes no secret about his reasoning for picking wing Josh Hathaway in his summer squad 😅 Hathaway has been capped by Wales U20s and more recently England U20s #BBCRugby https://t.co/F8ttVNFAVK
🥀 BREAKING: Guy Pepper is the only player to drop out from the initial squad. Pepper was the only representative from Newcastle in the squad. A pair of Currys, Ben Earl and Tom Willis all come in.
🥀 BREAKING: There is no room for Elliot Daly. He is the major omission from this England squad. Also no sign of James Harper who has shown promise for Sale.
Both Ben and Tom Curry are named in the England Squad to face the All Blacks and Japan https://t.co/FZI7Cj5wAD
🌹 England’s updates Summer Tour squad which now includes Sale and Saracens players ⬇️ Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins) Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins) Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) Theo Dan (Saracens) Alex Dombrandt…
🌹 BREAKING: England call ups for 🐯 Cole 🦈 B. Curry 🦈 T. Curry 🦈 Rodd 🦈 Carpenter 🦈 Ford 🦈 Quirke 🦈 Roebuck 💫 Dan 💫 Earl 💫 George 💫 Isiekwe 💫 Itoje 💫 T. Willis 🃏 Marler
🌹 BREAKING: England call ups for 🐯 Cole 🦈 B. Curry 🦈 T. Curry 🦈 Rodd 🦈 Carpenter 🦈 Ford 🦈 Quirke 🦈 Roebuck 💫 Dan 💫 Earl 💫 George 💫 Isieke 💫 Itoje 💫 T. Willis 🃏 Marler
BREAKING: Seven Sale players (including Tom Curry and two rookies) and six from Saracens named in England squad of 33, writes Liam Heagney 👨💻 #EnglandRugby #JPNvENG #NZRvENG #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/COKFmQOxgu
🌹 Updated England squad coming in the next hour. Potential names to look out for: 🦈 T. Curry 🦈 B. Curry 🦈 Quirke 🦈 Ford 🦈 Roebuck 🦈 Carpenter 🦈 Harper 🦈 Cowan-Dickie 🦈 Rodd 🦈 Bamber 💫 Dan 💫 George 💫 Isiekwe 💫 Itoje 💫 Tizard 💫 Earl 💫 Willis 💫 Daly 💫 Segun
Warren Gatland insisted Wales were "building" towards the 2027 World Cup after unveiling a training squad for upcoming Tests against South Africa and Australia. https://t.co/HKtp5USSpi
Warren Gatland reveals why he doesn't pick Morgan Morris for Wales https://t.co/ulSN9pbBU3
Warren Gatland on the inclusion of uncapped Gloucester wing Josh Hathaway in his summer series squad: "We want to make sure we qualify him for Wales. He’s got lots of potential. He’s done some impressive things for Gloucester in attack."
Warren Gatland on Tomas Francis: "We didn’t consider him at this stage. He hasn’t finished with Wales, he hasn’t retired. We’ll stay in contact with him. Tight-head is a real concern for us, in terms of experience and players starting regularly."
Wales coach Warren Gatland on the resting of Josh Adams: "He has a few niggles. It’s about him getting himself right. We know we can manage him through the week and he’d do a job for us. But the best thing was getting his body right."
The verdict on Wales' new-look squad as new faces and raft of omissions explained https://t.co/AK0ly3zaf7
Wales coach Warren Gatland on the recall for Liam Williams: "He’s very keen to be part of the Wales set-up. He’ll be disappointed in his injuries in the last few years and we’ll manage him. But we think we can get him through to the next World Cup."
Wales coach Warren Gatland on the omission of Nicky Smith: "He has done alright. It’s about continuity in selection. We know what Nicky can do and with some of those players we want to keep them in the squad and develop them."
On the squad as a whole the balance is odd; just five out-and-out back rowers, one out-and-out 10, and three wingers, but four hookers, five tightheads and three 15s. Don’t understand Morgan Morris or James Botham not being involved, Ioan Lloyd and James Ratti unlucky too. https://t.co/Stt1Sa3ogO
Expecting a couple of Currys and a couple more potential bolters from Sale in this evening's England squad. (Sort of bolters, one will have people going "fiiiiiinally"). https://t.co/ibWc4Wl9oB
Make-up of 36-man Wales squad: Cardiff - 9 Scarlets - 6 Ospreys - 6 Dragons - 5 Exeter - 2 Gloucester - 1 Bath - 1 Harlequins - 1 Leicester - 1 Saracens - 1 Kubota Spears - 1 Secom Rugguts - 1 Castres - 1
LIVE: Warren Gatland is now explaining his selections and omissions at a press conference https://t.co/Cc0cfgGkcZ
It's time to hear from Warren Gatland! Follow live updates here👇 https://t.co/Cc0cfgGkcZ
Revised likely Wales team v South Africa on June 22: Winnett; L Williams, Grady, Watkin, Dyer; Costelow, G Davies; Thomas, Lake, Assiratti, Hill, Carter, Plumtree, Wainwright, J Morgan.
Gatland "A decision has been taken to give Josh Adams, Ryan Elias and Will Rowlands a break this summer, so they have not been selected in the squad".
There are five tighthead props in the Wales squad, but only three looseheads, with the omission of Nicky Smith just mind-boggling given his form this season.
No place in the Wales squad for the likes of Morgan Morris, Nicky Smith, Alex Mann, Johnny Williams, Ioan Lloyd, Max Llewellyn or James Ratti. Tomos Williams also not included following the ankle ligament damage he suffered in March.
No place in the Wales squad for the likes of Morgan Morris, Nicky Smith, Alex Mann, Johnny Williams, Max Llewellyn or James Ratti. Tomos Williams also not included following the ankle ligament damage he suffered in March.
Warren Gatland @WelshRugbyUnion "We’ve selected a bigger squad because we don’t have the English club-based players available for the South Africa match. So we will be reducing the squad from 36 to 34 players for Australia.
What a deeply weird squad. Five well-earned new caps and Morgan Morris somehow, inexplicably, missing out again feel like the headlines, but there's so much puzzling stuff here. https://t.co/oaT15zPpU7
🗣️ “Saints don’t really have a chink in their armour, do they? We’re going to have to find one, to find a way” Charlie Ewels has experienced one of Bath's lowest ebbs, but the Premiership final may give him and his team the best moment yet Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/C5IIh5Cgub
LIVE: Could Wales decide to rest some senior players when the squad is announced? https://t.co/Cc0cfgFMnr
🗣️ "Just straight back into it and he probably could have started today but it’s not really fair starting him when he has had seven months out." 🦈 Alex Sanderson delighted with Tom Curry's comeback. #BATvSAL https://t.co/jZtnXMioM0
Two new faces among 32 players awarded #RedRoses contracts for next season. #EnglandRugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/UJ2r56wAaZ
🔥 Premiership finalists, Munster and Tom Curry's return. ❄️ Crusaders' woes, Jonny Hill fan fracas and Edinburgh. ✍️ Check out what made this week's Who's hot and who's not. 👇 https://t.co/SSgpbJGMdy
News24 Sport's Herman Mostert recaps Round 18 of the United Rugby Championship - the final round of regular season action. | @Herman_Mostert https://t.co/hnbialieg7
Northampton Saints must cope with burden of being England’s best side The public expects Saints to prevail in Saturday’s Premiership final but that should free my old club Bath to be inspired rather than intimidated | ✍️@SBarnesRugby Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/cjqphlodKN
On Russell’s miracle recovery - thanks to a secret trip to the Bahamas…! + did just making the final mean too much to long-suffering Bath? Contrast the outpouring of emotion with business-like Saints. Finn a vital calming influence this week @TimesSport https://t.co/pWLxQ0zpXJ
Gatland ponders Wales lock options after Davies red https://t.co/RgYtxckyeq
Bath fan goes early with the 'Come On You Bath 2024 Champions' tattoo! "There's no such thing as gambling when Finn Russell is wearing the blue, black and white," said super-fan Tom Craven. Bath still have to face Northampton in the Premiership Final this weekend. #PremRugby https://t.co/Xp6G6LjZUi
🗣️ "The level of rugby witnessed at Franklin's Gardens and the Rec was nigh on international standard, setting the scene for a thrilling final." ⬆️⬇️ The winners and losers from the Premiership semi-finals. ✍️ @jaredwright17 #GallagherPrem https://t.co/noJ3cbmlgd
🏴 @jameswhile picks out 11 stars who did their England hopes no harm. #GallagherPrem https://t.co/ZGdOxulX5e
Finn Russell to conduct Bath’s final quest in showdown with Saints’ Smith https://t.co/uOE7B2L0Cm
Tom Curry is the flanker England need after superb return from ‘car crash’ injury ✍️ @CRichardsonTel #TelegraphRugby
🗣️ "After four minutes on the pitch after seven months out of the game, he hit Josh Bayliss so hard that the Bath backrower was almost vapourised on the pitch!" 🏴 @jameswhile picks out 11 stars who did their England hopes no harm in the ... https://t.co/ChAxiiZ5Qn
What a weekend it was, with the @ospreys defying the odds to reach the @URCOfficial play-offs. Here’s my round-up of everything that happened as the regular season built to a dramatic conclusion - and also what comes next. @PlanetRugby https://t.co/NAEiL1JcfS
REFLECTIONS: Jonny Hill and three other Bath vs Sale Prem semi-final talking points, from Liam Heagney 👨💻 #GallagherPrem #BATvSAL #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/e1wlXZAKSF
REFLECTION: Jonny Hill and three other Bath vs Sale Prem semi-final talking points, from Liam Heagney 👨💻 #GallagherPrem #BATvSAL #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/e1wlXZAKSF
The "no easy feat" tribute Bath have paid to Finn Russell, from Liam Heagney 👨💻 #GallagherPrem #BATvSAL #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/OPLlnEFVgc
Finn Russell celebrating Bath making the #GallagherPrem final in style 🔥 #rugby https://t.co/cbExZDt2K0
The Tom Curry comeback at Bath was lit on Saturday 🔥 #GallagherPrem #Sale #EnglandRugby #rugby https://t.co/DjqPzoxulY
Possible Wales team v South Africa on June 22: Winnett; Grady, Watkin, J Williams, Dyer; Costelow, G Davies; Thomas, Lake, Assiratti, Ratti, Carter, Plumtree, Wainwright, J Morgan. Unclear if Josh Adams will be fit/rested. Thoughts?
🏴 Selecting Tom Curry for this summer’s England tour comes with a warning from Sale Sharks boss Alex Sanderson – pick him now and risk shortening his Test career... ✍️ @RugbyTimes https://t.co/tUPyFVE5r4 https://t.co/1S73bv0X9O
Really scratching my head over who plays in the second row for Wales against South Africa on June 22, with English-based players unavailable. Ben Carter odds on for one spot, but who will be alongside him, with Seb Davies now facing suspension.
"Victims of our own demise but all credit to Bath..." - How Alex Sanderson viewed Sale's Gallagher Premiership semi-final loss, writes Liam Heagney 👨💻 #BATvSAL #GallagherPrem #EnglandRugby #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/y1dXbL7Msk
Jonny Hill ‘left Bath fan with cut above eye’ after semi-final defeat @SaleSharksRugby @BathRugby https://t.co/3SQrUNMvR3
Today's rugby news as Wales hopeful faces crucial 24 hours after worrying exit and Gatland problems deepen https://t.co/uwGZIwdxZW
The Sale verdict on the Tom Curry comeback at Bath 31 weeks since he last played, and his England tour prospects, reports Liam Heagney 👨💻 #BATvSAL #GallagherPrem #EnglandRugby #JPNvENG #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/zROAdZ1NoI
The Sale verdict on the Tom Curry comeback at Bath 31 weeks since he last played, and his England tour prospects. #BATvSAL #GallagherPrem #EnglandRugby #JPNvENG #rugby Tap below for more ⤵️ https://t.co/zROAdZ1NoI
Bath reached the Premiership final with a tense win against Sale Sharks that was marred by Jonny Hill’s alleged clash with a fan after the final whistle on Saturday. https://t.co/DHc7y3VPch