TONIGHT'S RUGBY NEWS AS SOUTH AFRICA V WALES INJURY LIST MOUNTS AND TRAGIC PLAYER'S FAMILY BLOWN AWAY

These are your evening headlines on Friday, June 14

Erasmus confirms injury list

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed nine players will miss the Test match with Wales through injury.

The Springboks' walking wounded list has grown, although the world champions' strength in depth is, in contrast, in rude health.

At a press briefing Erasmus reeled off the names who would be absent from the clash with Warren Gatland's men.

“Steven Kitshoff will be out, Jean Kleyn will be out, Lood de Jager will be out, JL du Preez will be out, Jaden (Hendrikse), Henco (van Wyk), who we had in camp, Canan (Moodie), Damian (Willemse) and Kurt-Lee (Arendse). Those will be the guys who are not available,” said Erasmus as he went through his casualty list ahead of the Saturday, June 22 clash with Wales at Twickenham.

Erasmus added that all of the above will also miss the first Test against Ireland too. The head coach is also hamstrung by the possible unavailability of players due to domestic commitments, with the Bulls still in contention for the United Rugby Championship title.

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Should they progress to the final, they would play on the same day as the Twickenham clash; lose and they would be available.

“In certain positions, yes, definitely,” he said. “We are hopefully going to announce our team internally on Sunday so guys can get settled before we fly out on Wednesday.

“In certain positions we could well have a few young guys next to each other so then some of the Bulls guys, who knows how we want to play, (might be fast-tracked in).

“We’ve got a few injuries on the wings. Cheslin (Kolbe) is touch and go to be ready there but (Makazole) Mapimpi is fine. We might be thin there (in the back three) but we have got (Quan) Horn and (Aphelele) Fassi, but a guy like Willie le Roux might be someone who could just help settle down combinations.”

Wales, meanwhile, will be without a number of English-based player, such as Six Nations captain Dafydd Jenkins, while the likes of Josh Adams, Ryan Elias and Will Rowlands have not been selected due to being rested.

Rugby community rallies for tragic player

The organiser of a fundraiser for the family of a rugby player who died on the pitch has thanked people for their generosity.

Hollybush RFC near Blackwood was left devastated earlier this week after Lee Southall, 36, collapsed and died during a game of tag rugby.

On Wednesday evening more than 100 members of the club gathered to remember Lee, fondly known as the “people’s captain”.

A fundraiser to support his family was subsequently set up and the target of £10,000 has almost been surpassed already.

Organiser Marcus Hobbs wrote on the GoFundMe page: "Wow!! We can’t thank everyone enough! The generosity has been unbelievable! Tash and the kids will be able to have a nice break as well as not have to worry about the loss of Lee’s earnings for a while.

"On behalf of all the rugby club and Lee’s family thank you all so much!!! X"

If you'd like to donate to the fundraiser set up for Lee's family, you can do so on GoFundMe here.

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Williams makes switch

Welsh hooker Rhys Williams has joined National League side Plymouth Albion. The Bangor-born man links up with the Devon outfit from neighbouring Cornish Pirates.

He scored three tries in 17 appearance for the Penzance-based side and came through the ranks at RGC.

Speaking after joining his new employers, Williams said: “I’m really excited to play for Plymouth Albion. I’ve always heard good things about the club and their future goals.

“I’ve been around playing at the Brickfields a couple pf times as part of the Royal Navy Rugby squad, and I’m looking forward to meeting the lads and the supporters.”

Forwards coach Aaron Jarvis added: “Rhys comes with bags of experience playing in the Championship and being involved in the Navy team for a long time. We’re really looking forward to working with him.

“He’s got a great set piece, he’ll definitely help to drive the standard forward amongst the forward pack with the experience he has.”

No second chance - Smith

PA Staff

Franco Smith readily acknowledges the task that awaits his Glasgow team in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship semi-final clash against Munster.

Glasgow face the reigning URC champions in Limerick, tackling a Munster side unbeaten for 10 league games and just two wins away from completing a successful title defence.

“Munster are one of the top teams, and I can’t remember when they haven’t made the top eight or played in the top four,” Glasgow head coach Smith said.

“If you look at the way they came back after the (38-26) defeat against us last year, they just kept rolling it out and won the competition away from home, which says a lot.

“They are unbeaten in the last 10 games, including two of those being in South Africa.”

Glasgow underlined strong title credentials with an impressive victory over quarter-final opponents the Stormers last time out, and Smith has named an unchanged team under Kyle Steyn’s captaincy.

It is the Warriors’ first URC semi-final appearance since 2019, with a solitary switch among the replacements seeing Murphy Walker taking over from Nathan McBeth.

Smith added: “I hope the boys show the same collective and calm approach that they did last week. Continuity so late in the season is most important.

“What has happened doesn’t count, it is the next action that is going to be the most important. There is not a second chance in knockout rugby.

“Your approach changes a little bit, but you must find the balance so that you have enough continuity of what took you into the semi-finals, but still have the ability to be more precise and clinical in your execution.”

Munster progressed to the last four by defeating Ospreys, and head coach Graham Rowntree has made four changes from that game.

Full-back Mike Haley and fit-again centre Alex Nankivell start, with Simon Zebo moving to the wing after a leg knock ruled out Calvin Nash.

In the pack, lock Fineen Wycherley and number eight Jack O’Donoghue are called up, replacing RG Snyman and Gavin Coombes, who are among the replacements.

The winners at Thomond Park will face South African heavyweights the Bulls or Leinster in the final on June 22.

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