**Rugby Roundup: Heartbreak for Sam Davies, Controversy for Dan Cole, and New Faces in Lions and Springboks Camps**
Rugby provided plenty of drama on and off the pitch this weekend, with Welsh fly-half Sam Davies expressing his devastation after missing out on promotion, England’s Dan Cole facing an emotional farewell marred by controversy, and updates emerging on both the British & Irish Lions and South African squads as preparations intensify for a packed summer.
Welsh international Sam Davies was left deeply disappointed after his French club Grenoble suffered yet another blow in their quest for promotion. Grenoble, who had topped the regular Pro D2 season, faced Perpignan in the decisive ‘Access Match’ on Saturday. Despite a determined effort, they narrowly lost 13-11, condemning them to another season in the second division. Davies, who joined the French side in 2023 and has consistently impressed with his performances, admitted to being lost for words. Posting on social media, Davies wrote, “No words for right now. We will be back!”—a message reflecting both his anguish and his commitment to eventually lead his side to the Top 14.
This defeat marks the third consecutive season that Grenoble have endured double heartbreak in promotion battles, with the pain evident among players and fans alike. Their campaign had promised so much, especially after finishing top in the regular season, but play-off struggles have become an unfortunate pattern. Davies, capped eight times by Wales, has been central to Grenoble’s hopes, and his perseverance remains undiminished despite these setbacks.
Meanwhile, in England, seasoned prop Dan Cole endured an emotionally charged ending to his distinguished rugby career. The Leicester stalwart’s final appearance came in the Premiership final against Bath, but it concluded in challenging circumstances. Cole was shown a yellow card for a chargedown late in the match, a decision that stirred debate and proved influential as Bath edged out Leicester 23-21. Bath’s victory secured their first Premiership crown in nearly three decades, whilst denying Leicester and Cole a fairytale send-off.
Leicester’s head coach Michael Cheika was openly critical of the refereeing, suggesting that contentious decisions, particularly in the scrum and Cole’s binning, had an outsized impact. “A couple of head knocks, a couple of balls where we could have got penalties – the second sin bin was for nothing, really. It’s embarrassing for the game that a player goes off for that,” Cheika commented. Despite the controversy, Cole himself remained philosophical, reflecting on the team’s progress and unity over the past year rather than his own disappointment. “You don’t get the fairytale ending, but you can be proud of your efforts together,” he said.
Elsewhere, the British & Irish Lions are preparing for a busy summer tour to Australia, and squad reinforcements are finally arriving in camp. The first week of training took place with 16 members of the 38-strong squad absent, many fulfilling club commitments in the United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership. Today, players including Scotland’s Finn Russell—fresh from Bath’s Premiership triumph—are expected to land in Dublin and link up with the group. Speaking after the final, Russell said he was savouring his club triumph, but was ready to shift focus, stating, “The Lions is about the best of the best, and you have to be on it every single day.”
In the southern hemisphere, Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe is edging closer to realising a lifelong ambition by featuring in Rassie Erasmus’ plans for the Springboks. Although South Africa trimmed their squad over the weekend, van der Merwe survived the cut after a standout season in the United Rugby Championship. Erasmus, speaking about recent player selections and injury cover, emphasised the need for depth as South Africa gear up for their upcoming fixtures. For van der Merwe, representing the Springboks has been a long-held dream. “Everyone wants to play for their nation. It’s definitely something I am going for,” he said, pledging to keep producing his best performances at regional level and hoping to catch the eye of the selectors.
As domestic seasons conclude and the international calendar unfolds, rugby’s twists and turns continue to deliver emotional highs and lows. For players like Davies and Cole, the weekend brought painful farewells and missed opportunities. For others, such as the Lions’ new arrivals and van der Merwe in South Africa, the journey is just beginning.
With fresh faces joining squads and veterans bidding their farewells, the rugby world remains as compelling and unpredictable as ever. Supporters on both sides of the equator will be watching closely, eager to see who rises to the occasion as summer rugby takes centre stage.