**Evening Rugby Round-up: Anscombe Poised for France Move, Welsh Prop Signs New Contract, and Proposals for Radical RFU Reform**
The world of rugby never slows down, and Wednesday has brought a fresh wave of significant developments for fans in Wales and across the UK. From high-profile transfer speculation to contract renewals and potential governance changes at the top of the English game, tonight’s headlines may shape the future direction of both domestic and international rugby.
One of the most talked-about stories involves Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe, who is being strongly linked to a move across the Channel. The 33-year-old, who has just completed a strong season with Gloucester, is reported to be the target of Top 14 club Bayonne as they look to bolster their squad for the coming campaign. While Anscombe has been a key presence at Gloucester, the club’s recent signing of Leinster’s Ross Byrne has intensified speculation that the former Cardiff and Ospreys man will soon be on the move.
Reports from French sporting publication Midi Olympique indicate that Anscombe is now very much on Bayonne’s radar. The Basque team, preparing for the imminent retirement of their veteran fly-half Camille Lopez, are said to be prioritising Anscombe over other available players, such as Clermont’s Anthony Belleau. Belleau, according to the same sources, appears more likely to join Premiership side Northampton Saints, leaving the path clear for Anscombe to secure the French move he has reportedly been hoping for.
The proposition of a Top 14 contract represents a major opportunity for Anscombe, who in 2023 passed up the option to play for Toulon in order to remain eligible for international duty with Wales at the Rugby World Cup. This next chapter would see him continuing his career at the highest level in one of the most competitive leagues in world rugby.
Back home, another Welsh talent has reaffirmed his commitment to the domestic game. Kemsley Mathias, the promising Scarlets prop, has signed a new contract extension with the Llanelli-based side. At 25, Mathias has not only become a fixture in the Scarlets squad since his debut in 2020, but he has also made a breakthrough at the international level for Wales, earning seven caps to date.
Expressing his delight at remaining with the region, Mathias referred to the club as his “boyhood team” and spoke with enthusiasm about the positive environment and future prospects. Having notched up 63 appearances already, his contract renewal follows new deals for a number of fellow young home-grown players, signalling the Scarlets’ intent to build a squad capable of competing for major honours in the coming seasons.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel praised Mathias as “a quality young loose-head” with a reputation for taking on some of the toughest front rows in the sport. Despite a recent calf injury, hopes remain high that the promising forward will return to action before the campaign’s end, as the Scarlets continue their push for a play-off berth.
Meanwhile, in Premiership rugby, twin brothers Tom and Ben Curry have extended their long-standing association with Sale Sharks by signing new long-term contracts. The 26-year-olds, both England internationals with ambitions of making this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour, are considered crucial to the Sharks’ ambitions. Sale’s director of rugby Alex Sanderson hailed them as “almost superhuman” and commended their selflessness, resilience and leadership.
Elsewhere, significant change could be afoot within the governance of English rugby. A review group, commissioned by the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) own council, has recommended the disbandment of the 63-member body, proposing that it be replaced with a more streamlined system involving either direct game representatives or a national advisory group. Described as “outdated, complex and inefficient,” the council—famously labelled “57 old farts” by former England captain Will Carling—has come under increasing scrutiny amidst calls for modernisation.
Ed Warner, an independent member of the review and chair of GB Wheelchair Rugby, was candid in his assessment, branding the current framework as a relic of 19th-century sport. A public consultation is now underway, seeking feedback from across the game before final recommendations are due for consideration this autumn. The ambition, according to RFU chiefs, is for any reforms to be implemented before the 2026-27 season.
With major changes on the horizon, both on and off the pitch, rugby in Britain and beyond appears poised for an intriguing period of transition. Fans and stakeholders alike will be keeping a keen eye on developments as these significant stories continue to unfold.