Tonight’s rugby news as Rugby World Cup organisers defend ‘ridiculous’ situation

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, April 14.

Rugby World Cup bosses defend uneven pool draw

The organisers of this autumn’s Rugby World Cup have defended what many critics have described as an uneven pool draw.

The draw for the pool stages was made three years ago, when many sides who are currently in the bottom half of the world rankings were in a far healthier position. This has led to the top five sides in the world finding themselves on one side of the draw, which inevitably means some of the tournament favourites will exit at an early stage.

But Michel Poussau, the executive director of France 2023, has defended the decision to do the draw early, of which former England star Stuart Barnes has previously said: “Unfortunately, the ridiculously early pool draw in December 2020 has distorted the next World Cup.”

“The reality is rugby has never been as competitive,” he told the BBC. “Yes, at the moment you have number one to number five [on one side], but it was completely different a couple of years ago, and it might be different [come the tournament]. That is a consequence of rugby being so tight in terms of rankings and the levels of the various teams. The narrative will be we will have an explosive start and an amazing end. It will be amazing from start to the end.”

Tournament chairman Jacques Rivoal is confident it will be a roaring success.

“We have sold all the tickets and have 37 sponsors; the event is very, very attractive,” he told the BBC. “We have never had such a competitive tournament; it is very difficult to imagine now who will lift the Webb Ellis Cup on 28 October.”

Wales star bemused by England coach’s idea

Wales scrum-half star Keira Bevan was left bemused by suggestions from England head coach Simon Middleton that women players should be allowed to take their kicks at goal closer to the posts.

Both sides face off at the Arms Park on Saturday afternoon in what promises to be a rip-roaring occasion in front of a sell-out crowd.

“To be honest I thought it was a quite bizarre suggestion as he has got some of the best kickers in the world in his team,” Bevan told The Guardian. “[England full-back] Emma Sing slotted one from the touchline against Italy and that had another five or 10 metres in it.

“I saw former England coach Gary Street saying that players like Emily Scarratt and Katy Daley-Mclean, who are both fantastic kickers, are not freaks of nature, they just put the hours in and worked hard at it. I think it’s about that – how willing you are to work to get better at a skill and how much time you have. We have more time than ever now so it’s going to get better.”

Cardiff target Champions Cup qualification

Cardiff captain Josh Turnbull insists the Welsh club are desperate to finish a turbulent season by sealing their place in next season’s Champions Cup. To do so, they will have to end the season as the URC’s highest-ranking Welsh team and claim the Welsh…