Tonight’s rugby news as radical English Premiership plan emerges and Lions star makes shock code switch

The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond.

Your rugby evening headlines on Friday, April 18.

Revolutionary Premiership plan

English rugby is planning to revolutionise the Premiership by abolishing relegation but including promotion, reports The Telegraph.

Senior figures at Premiership Rugby, the Rugby Football Union and shareholders CVC Capital Partners have reportedly worked together to create the idea. The plan aims to expand the Premiership and could come into effect as early as 2026, and definitely before 2028.

It would turn the competition into a franchise league, which means commercial operations and kit deals would become centralised and revenue then distributed equally between the clubs.

There would also be plans to revise the promotion criteria to include factors like fan base, financial stability and regional value.

Relegation would be abolished and promotion allowed to support the league’s expansion. It would also involve rebranding the Premiership. The franchise model in question would be similar to the Indian Premier League cricket, NFL and The Hundred. As part of that rebranding, a change in the name of the league has also been spoken about.

At the moment, the league agrees TV and title sponsors as one, but the new model would see more league-wide agreements. In the new plan, commercial deals could be centralised and all clubs could have the same kit manufacturer.

A Premiership of at least 12 clubs is reportedly desired, with 14 or even more up for consideration.

Wales name team for Six Nations clash

Wales have named their team to face Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations.

Sean Lynn has made two changes to the side that lost 42-12 to France in round three. One change is positional, with Georgia Evans moving from back row to second row, partnering Abbie Fleming. Kelsey Jones comes in for Carys Phillips at hooker in the other change.

Packing down alongside Jones in the front row is Gwenllian Pyrs and Jenni Scoble, with Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis and Alex Callendar in the back row.

In the half-backs, Keira Bevan and Kayleigh Powell link up once more, with Hannah Jones and Courtney Keight in the midfield. In the back three, Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Lisa Neumann and Carys Cox retain their places.

Speaking on the challenge ahead of Wales, Lynn said: “This is our final game at home in the Guinness Six Nations and we need to keep building our performances and to focus on expanding our style of play and what we want to achieve as a squad.

“The players have bought into the attacking game we are implementing but we need to work harder for each other and to turn the pressure moments we are creating into points. We know what Ireland will bring, and they have proved their quality throughout the tournament. The players have been told to be brave and to express themselves and they have a licence to inspire on the field. We know Ireland will pose a real challenge, but it’s challenge we are looking forward to and one that we are relishing.”

Wales host Ireland at Rodney Parade on Sunday, April 20, at 3pm.

Wales wing embracing fight for play-offs

Wales and Cardiff star Josh Adams is embracing the fight for the United Rugby Championship play-offs.

Cardiff are currently in ninth place in the URC table and are tied on 36 points with Benetton and Edinburgh, who are seventh and eighth, respectively.

Cardiff are facing Ospreys at the Principality Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the first match of Judgement Day, and Adams is in line to earn his 50th appearance for the Blue and Blacks after being named to start.

“It’s very nice to be in this position at this time of year actually fighting for something,” he said. “In seasons gone by, we’ve pretty much been looking up the table with no realistic chance of getting in the top eight.

“Now we are right in the meat of it with a really good shot. I asked the question in a meeting the other day – when was the last time Cardiff got in the league play-offs and they said they’ve never been in there.

“That came as a shock to me, a club of this magnitude, so this is an opportunity for this group to be the first team to do that.” Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

Welsh rugby bosses back Judgement Day

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel and Ospreys head coach Mark Jones have backed the concept of Judgement Day ahead of the 10th annual edition.

The event is not as popular as it once was. In the past few years, attendances have sat at around 40,000, but in it’s prime between 2016 and 2019, it wasn’t unusual to see 60,000 filling up the home of Welsh rugby.

Last year, the event was held at Cardiff City Stadium. It has a capacity of over 33,000 but was nowhere near sold out, so Welsh rugby’s elite will be hoping the Principality can bring the crowds back this year.

Despite this, Peel and Jones have backed the idea of Judgement Day. Peel said: “It’s a great occasion in a great stadium and a good day out for the fans. It definitely makes sense. If it’s a five per cent different audience then it’s five per cent more than we normally have. We need to generate as much interest in the game as we can, so I think it’s a great concept.

“The fact they are important fixtures for league positions adds a bit of added spice to it. It will be a good day, I’m sure. It has a sense of occasion to it. For our younger players who haven’t played at the stadium before, it will be a special day for them and a great experience.”

“I like it. I think it’s a good concept,” added Jones. “It’s a privilege to go out at your national stadium and play on the hallowed turf where so many awesome memories have been created over the years.

“It’s a special piece of grass to run around on. You are not doing it in the red of Wales, but you are doing it in the equally passionate shirt of your region and to do that with your tight friends that you work with every day is quite powerful.

“Watching these guys run out in front of their friends and families at the national stadium, it’s a big thing. For a few of our players, it will be the first time to get a run out there. It’s an honour and you’ve got to grasp it and enjoy it while it’s here and make sure you put in your best performance.

“We need to have that desperation, that energy, that quality because if we don’t get the right amount of energy, clarity and drive, it won’t come to life.”

Lions star makes rugby league switch

British and Irish Lions tourist Christian Wade has agreed a deal to sign for Wigan Warriors in rugby league.

The England international went on tour with the Lions in 2013 and is one of the most prolific try-scorers in Premiership history. He had a spell in America playing NFL for Buffalo Bills but returned in 2022.

Wade is currently playing for Gloucester in the Premiership, and once the season is over, he will be linking up with Warriors for the remainder of the Betfred Super League season.

“The new Talent Pool Exemption was created precisely for this type of recruitment,” said Wigan chief executive Kris Radlinski.

“Christian is an exceptional athlete with highly transferable skills suited to rugby league. His impressive track record speaks for itself, and we are genuinely excited about the impact he can make throughout the remainder of the 2025 season.”

“I’m excited to join Wigan Warriors, a club with a tremendous legacy,” said Wade. “I’m honoured to be joining a list of legendary players who have played for this club. I’m looking forward to this next chapter in my career, and I can’t wait to get started.”