Welsh star chases Japan tour hope after Scarlets departure and French revival

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Carwyn Tuipulotu has expressed a strong desire to represent Wales and hopes to be part of their upcoming tour to Japan this summer. The 23-year-old, who recently left the Scarlets to join Pau as a medical joker in search of more playing time, made the move after limited opportunities at Parc y Scarlets. Following an honest conversation with Scarlets’ forwards coach Albert van den Berg, Tuipulotu decided it was best for his career to seek new challenges.

Since joining Pau, Tuipulotu has appeared in six matches and, despite being out of contract this summer, he remains focused on achieving international honours with Wales. “Obviously I have aspirations for Wales,” he told The Times. “That’s every boy’s dream who comes from Wales. I’d love to have that as a goal to hopefully go on that summer tour [to Japan]. I’m just quietly doing my business here in France. Hopefully someone notices and wants to see me.”

Tuipulotu revealed that he faced an early choice between England and Wales when he was 15, a decision influenced by heartfelt advice from his parents. “It was almost a decision from the heart because my mum gave me advice, my dad gave me advice. I just thought I wanted to pick Wales because Wales always felt like home to me. Wales has given so much to my family that I always want to give back.”

The Welsh Rugby Union is set to transform the women’s game by replacing Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightening with two new teams connected to established men’s sides in Wales. Bids have been invited from the Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons, and Cardiff, with the two most suitable clubs to be awarded teams for the Celtic Challenge next season. These teams will collaborate with major universities known for their women’s rugby programs and will compete alongside Irish and Scottish sides to help bridge the gap between club and international rugby.

The WRU announced that professional clubs will bid for a ‘Celtic Challenge Licence’ and share funding for the two teams through to 2028, with operating costs expected to be around £200,000 per season, match-funded by the Union. “This exciting and key development for Welsh rugby recognises that women’s rugby is the fastest growth area of the game, with the 2025 Rugby World Cup set to be a ‘generational’ moment for the sport,” the WRU stated. Coaches for the new teams will be appointed by the WRU, with a deadline of May 2 for clubs to declare interest.

Belinda Moore, WRU head of women’s and girls’ rugby, described the initiative as a pivotal moment for the sport in Wales. “This is a hugely significant and exciting moment for women’s rugby in Wales. It underlines the WRU’s commitment to grow the game at home, and we look forward to having discussions with the professional clubs in Wales and our educational establishments.” Moore also highlighted the commercial potential of women’s rugby, noting the example set by English clubs and the importance of detailed discussions on support and club commitments to developing the next generation.

Edinburgh have strengthened their front-row options for next season by signing Scottish-qualified props James Whitcombe and Rhys Litterick. Whitcombe, 24, joins on a three-year deal from Leicester, while 26-year-old Litterick moves to Edinburgh on a two-year contract from Cardiff. Both players have been regular starters for their respective clubs this season, with Whitcombe praised for his scrummaging and all-around play, and Litterick seen as a key loss for Cardiff as they seek a replacement tighthead.

Whitcombe, who has a Falkirk-born grandmother, expressed enthusiasm for the new chapter: “I’m really looking forward to the move up north. It’s a fresh opportunity for me, a chance to challenge myself in a new environment, both on and off the pitch.” He also noted the appeal of testing himself in the United Rugby Championship against diverse styles and international opponents. Litterick, whose grandfather is from Glasgow, said, “I’m really looking forward to making the move to Edinburgh this summer. It’s a huge club full of quality players who pride themselves on their set piece and physicality, which is something I want to be a part of and learn from.”

Edinburgh face a crucial match against Zebre in Italy, rescheduled due to Pope Francis’s funeral, as they aim to revive their push for a URC play-off spot. After a narrow home defeat to the Sharks, the team sits 11th and must improve over the final three games. Head coach Sean Everitt emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum: “This is a really important fixture for us as we look to bounce back from the Sharks game. We know Zebre are a talented side, and they’ve shown they can be very strong at home. It’s vital that we go to Parma, put in another strong performance and maintain momentum as we enter the business end of the campaign.”

Wales head coach Sean Lynn has issued a clear warning that World Cup selection is at stake in the team’s upcoming fixtures. With Wales yet to win in the Six Nations and sitting at the bottom of the table ahead of their final match against Italy, Lynn stressed the need for a strong response in Parma. “These are pressure moments, this is where I’m going and I want to see if these individuals can handle it because I’ve got a World Cup coming up,” he said.
Lynn made it clear that the next three games, including the tour to Australia, will determine who secures a place in the World Cup squad. “There are World Cup places on the line over the next three games – away to Italy and the tour to Australia – and World Cup selection is not at all done. Sunday is like cup rugby.

I’m looking for a response because the World Cup is all about pressure moments and you have to enjoy that and embrace it.” Reflecting on the recent 40-14 loss to Ireland, Lynn said, “I was disappointed, full-stop. The performance against Ireland was not good enough and the players and staff are aware of that.”

He added that conceding 18 penalties was a major issue, mostly due to individuals trying to fix problems that weren’t theirs to fix, which ultimately put the team under pressure. “When we talk about learning from games, that was a massive area for us.”