These are your rugby headlines on Tuesday, July 16.
Former All Blacks hooker dies aged 55
Former All Blacks hooker Norm Hewitt has died, aged 55.
The hugely popular and well-known player had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, his family said in a statement.
”Although rugby dominated his early life, he established a thriving human relations consultancy after retirement, and his services were much in demand both nationally and internationally,” they said.
”He walked confidently in both Māori and Pākehā worlds and was a particular role model for troubled youths, citing his own background, and offering inspirational teachings that one’s present life need not be one’s future.”
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Hewitt’s rugby career spanned 13 seasons with Hawke’s Bay, Southland and Wellington, while he was also a key player for the Hurricanes in the early days of Super Rugby – missing just one match in the first five years.
He also earned 23 caps for the All Blacks.
In 1997 Hewitt had a famous face-off with England player Richard Cockerill during the haka before a test in Manchester.
After retiring from rugby, Hewitt became a public speaker and was also the first ‘Dancing with the Stars’ winner in New Zealand.
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Biggar: Gatland faces big decision
Former Wales star Dan Biggar says Warren Gatland faces “a tough few months” after losing the summer Test series to Australia, but has “every faith” that they can bounce back in the autumn.
A 2-0 series defeat to the Wallabies means Wales have now lost their last eight matches at any level, a streak they will aim to finally end against Super Rugby side Queensland Reds on Friday. However, they will remain winless at Test level in 2024 until November at the earliest, when they face Fiji in Cardiff.
But while he admitted it is a “tough time” to be a Wales supporter, Biggar is confident that a full-strength Wales side – aided by the return of the likes of Will Rowlands, Adam Beard and Tomas Francis – could get straight back to winning ways in the autumn. Appearing on the Rugby Pod, he added that Gatland faced a big decision on whether to stick with his current crop of players or change tact after returning from Australia.
“It’s going to be a tough few months for Gats,” he said. “He’ll have some decisions to make in terms of does he stick with the personnel on this tour or does he bring boys back. But then you look at the autumn, Fiji up first in Cardiff followed by Australia and South Africa and all of a sudden, Fiji are going to fancy that as well.
“But I have every faith that a few more bodies back from the physio bed and people who have taken the summer off to recuperate and I’ve got no doubt they’ll be back in it. But it’s a tough time to be a Wales supporter at the moment, there’s no doubt about it.”
Sinfield in England U-turn?
By PA Sport Staff
England boss Steve Borthwick says he is “hopeful” of finding an agreement that would see Kevin Sinfield remain part of his coaching staff.
Sinfield had announced earlier this year that he intended to leave his role after the summer tour of Japan and New Zealand. England suffered a 2-0 Test series defeat against the All Blacks, but the 43-year-old could now remain in some capacity.
The former rugby league star previously worked as England defence coach after joining the national set-up in late 2022, and currently oversees skills and kicking.
“Kevin is with us until the start of November, and I am hopeful that we will be able to find an agreement,” Borthwick told the Telegraph. “I think Kevin wants to continue his involvement with the team, and I want him to continue to be involved with the team and I am sure the players do.
“Hopefully, when we get back to England we will be able to put something in place to keep that going. It won’t necessarily be in a full-time capacity, but I am hoping to have him whenever we are in camp and have him involved as much as we can when we are in camp.”
Speaking in June, England captain Jamie George told reporters that Sinfield had an “absolutely invaluable” role within the set-up.
“I couldn’t be keener for him to stay,” George said. “The role he is playing is absolutely invaluable, and he’s an incredible man.”
Scottish quintet fly home
By PA Sport Staff
The injured Glen Young is one of five players to fly home midway through Scotland’s summer tour of the Americas.
The Edinburgh lock made his first international start in the opening victory over Canada in Ottawa and has pulled out with a pectoral injury. Northampton forwards Robbie Smith and Elliot Millar-Mills have also left the group along with Edinburgh backs Ross Thompson and Ross McCann.
Millar-Mills started against Canada and came off the bench in the weekend win over United States, while Smith featured as a replacement in both matches. Thompson started against Canada and played 22 minutes in Washington, while McCann featured off the bench in the opening game.
Scotland have announced that new Glasgow prop Fin Richardson, Warriors scrum-half Ben Afshar and Edinburgh lock Rob Carmichael have joined the squad as “development players” and will train with their compatriots for the rest of the tour. Gregor Townsend’s side face Chile in Santiago on Saturday night before rounding off their tour against Uruguay, seven days later.
