Ireland international accused of huge bank theft and Wales star returns (original) (raw)

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, October 9.

Wales winger fit again

Wales winger Josh Hathaway is set to make his first appearance of the season after the arm injury he suffered playing against Australia in the summer.

The Gloucester youngster was hurt winning his first cap in Sydney and has missed the opening weeks of the season. He is now fit to play against Bath on the weekend, little more than a week before Warren Gatland names his autumn squad.

His return is timely for his club, who are without the injured Christian Wade, while the 20-year-old is keen to build on his international debut.

"The aspirations are still there to get as many caps as I can," said Hathaway.

"I've had international aspirations since I was four so for them to finally come true is something I've always dreamt of.

"To start the first Test and get my first senior cap was surreal. I was gutted to pick up the injury but have got back to match fitness now. I'm ready to go."

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Ireland international in court

Former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin has gone on trial accused of stealing over €500,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank.

The 60-year-old former British and Irish Lion centre pleaded not guilty to 15 charges against him at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Those charges ranged from theft, deception, and furnishing false information to the bank authorising payment of invoices. They allegedly took place between 2011 and 2013 at a bank branch in Dublin where Mullin formerly worked.

Mullin won 55 caps for Ireland between 1984 and 1995 and also played at three World Cups in 1987, 1991 and 1995.

Young returns

Cardiff flanker Thomas Young is set to return to play his first match since April against the Scarlets on Saturday.

Young's return eases the injury crisis at the Welsh region, which had seen them without 15 players from a senior squad of just 38. The likes of Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau still remain unavailable and could now miss Wales' autumn matches.

Head coach Matt Sherratt said: "Thomas Young is back in contention. Alex Mann is training fully this week. We're getting there with a couple of boys who are close to being selected in a week or two.

“Rory Jennings is back fit. Seb Davies is a week away. Jacob Beetham is rehabbing his ankle, he's probably still a couple of weeks away. James Botham is back in contention.”

New England defence coach aims for stability

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

New defence coach Joe El-Abd believes the success of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United shows why England could benefit from the recent upheaval in Steve Borthwick’s backroom staff.

El-Abd has taken over from Felix Jones after the Irishman who helped South Africa win the 2019 and 2023 World Cups unexpectedly handed in his resignation in August.

A long-term friend of Borthwick’s, former Bristol and Toulon flanker El-Abd will take charge of England’s defence while continuing his role as director of rugby at Oyonnax until the end of the season.

Jones’ desire to leave after just nine months in the job, as well as Aled Walters’ equally-sudden exit as head of strength and conditioning the previous month, sent shockwaves through the camp.

But El-Abd insists that with Borthwick’s ongoing presence providing the foundation, England can still thrive.

“Coaching stability is important and it helps,” he said.

“But I think coaching cohesion is even more important because then if we’re all on the same page, we can question each other hard. What do we do well? What do we not do well?

“I’m looking forward to creating that stability. You see it in football, you see it in rugby – having cohesive coaching teams is important. But does that mean that there’s never any changes? No.

“I’m going to use Alex Ferguson as an example. Alex Ferguson stayed for a long time and was pretty successful. He didn’t always have the same coaches. It’s quite rare that they lasted for more than three or four years.

“But he stayed and he knew he had the identity of Manchester United and that’s the most important thing. If we can create that cohesion together as a coaching group, I think that’s only positive to help the players get better.”

El-Abd revealed that England will persist with Jones’ ‘blitz’ defence, although he was keen not to use his predecessor’s terminology for the aggressive system that was bearing fruit on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.

The Rugby Football Union insists Jones is contributing to England remotely while he works his 12-month notice period with negotiations over his departure taking place in the background.

“I had a real good chat with Felix, we did it on a video call. He was really, really helpful,” said El-Abd, who was keen to emphasise Kevin Sinfield’s influence on the defence before Jones took over.

“The DNA of England rugby is being tough, getting off the line and being a tough forward unit, etc.

“We’re going to take what’s been really good – and there’s been lots that’s really good over the last couple of years, not just in the last eight games – and we’re going to reinforce that.”

El-Abd lived with Borthwick during their university days and they attended each other’s weddings as part of a friendship spanning 26 years. After the shock of Jones and Walters walking out, his arrival is seen as well timed.

“In any coaching environment, you need people who are going to be loyal and committed. And in agreement,” he said.