Tonight's rugby news as Welsh club star 'agrees exit' and legend breaks silence after tragedy

The latest headlines from Wales and around the world

These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, October 10.

'Broken-hearted' legend breaks silence

Scotland legend Scott Hastings has paid tribute to his late wife Jenny after she took her own life last month.

The 60-year-old mother-of-two vanished on September 3 while swimming at Wardie Bay in Edinburgh, with her body discovered four days later on the couple's wedding anniversary. In a statement, her family said that she had struggled with mental health issues for many years.

A month on, Hastings has opened up on the tragedy to mark World Mental Health Day and encouraged people to "listen a little more" to help others. Appearing on BBC Radio Scotland, the former international said his wife suffered from post-natal depression after the birth of their second child, while she also struggled with anorexia, bulimia and body image.

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“She suffered for well over 20 years," he said. "She just got herself into a headspace and decided that was the best option, despite having had visits from doctors within 40 hours, and a mental health practitioner had visited literally hours before, but the trickery of the mind is so difficult. I’m utterly broken-hearted, she was such a beautiful, loving mother, wife, sister and we miss her dearly.”

“She was found a few days later on our wedding anniversary,” he added. “I was kind of resigned to her not returning. When I got the call it was the most unbelievable thing, as though someone put a warm blanket around me – from the top of my head this unbelievable feeling of warmth cascaded through my body.

"I was totally at peace. On my wedding anniversary, I knew she was safe, and we returned her ashes to the water where she loved swimming.”

“Suicide is preventable," Hastings continued. "And for many, many years Jenny prevented suicide. Unfortunately, she worked out that she felt that she was doing the right thing.”

Craig 'agrees' Scarlets exit

Scarlets lock Alex Craig is set to leave the region after reportedly agreeing a move to Glasgow Warriors.

The 27-year-old enjoyed an outstanding first campaign for Dwayne Peel's side last season after moving from Gloucester, winning the players' vote at the end-of-season awards. While he signed a new one-year contract to remain in Llanelli, however, the Scotland international admitted that a move to either Edinburgh or Glasgow could be an option for the 2025/26 season.

Now, it appears that such a move is on the cards much sooner than expected, with RugbyPass reporting that the Warriors have lined up an immediate deal for Craig, following the news that club legend Richie Gray is leaving for Japan next month.

Craig lit up the URC with his powerful ball-carrying last season, with his impressive form earning him a Scotland recall after three years away. With appearances for Gregor Townsend's side against the USA and Chile this summer, he took his cap tally to four.

RugbyPass also report that the lock has agreed to the move and is just waiting for the Scarlets and Glasgow to reach an agreement over the terms of the deal.

Speaking last month about a potential switch to Scotland, Craig told the same publication: "If there’s potentially an opportunity up in Scotland then we’ll look into it. We’ll look at the best pathway to represent Scotland as often as I can but at the minute, I’m really enjoying Scarlets."

URC record smashed

History will be made in the United Rugby Championship this weekend with the clash between Leinster and Munster set to be played out in front of a huge new record league attendance.

The derby clash in Dublin is heading for a sell out, with potentially more than 80,000 fans set to be in attendance at Croke Park.

That number will smash the previous league record of 68,262, which was set back in 2016 for that year's Judgement Day double header at the Principality Stadium. The highest figure for an individual match in the league, meanwhile, is currently 56,344 for the 2023 final between Munster and the Stormers in Cape Town.

As for a regular season fixture, the previous best was the 50,026 who attended the meeting between Vodacom Bulls and the Stormers at Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld in March of this year.

Looking ahead to the occasion, Leinster forwards coach Robyn McBryde said: “The nature of this one focuses the mind straight away, with more than 75,000 tickets sold already. The internationals are now back. It’s a big one on Saturday. Croke Park is a great stage.”

“My experience is the form book goes out of the window in derbies. It’s all about winning on the day. You are not there to play pretty stuff. There is possibly a little bit more blood and thunder around the approach and we know there is plenty of blood of thunder about Munster," the former Wales hooker added.

"You can turn your season around just by having a great win over your local rivals. The nature of Munster and the threats they pose, that focuses the mind. It’s one we look forward to, but you’ve got 15 proud Munstermen in opposition, so we are going to have to be at our best.”

Giving his thoughts, Munster head coach Graham Rowntree added: “You don't get the rivalry between Munster and Leinster until you are stuck in the middle of it. For over 75,000 people to want to attend a club game that isn't even a play-off just shows how incredible that competition is between us and Leinster.

"There is an intense, but respectful rivalry there and they are a great team. Our recent history against Leinster would have shown how class these games have been and certainly, from what I am seeing and hearing from the group, I am expecting a huge performance on Saturday."

Wasps, London Irish and Worcester apply for Championship spots

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

Wasps, London Irish and Worcester have now each applied for a place in next season's expanded Championship ahead of Sunday's deadline for expressions of interest.

It raises the prospect of the trio of 'phoenix clubs' eventually returning to the Gallagher Premiership, which has reintroduced promotion and relegation, after entering administration in the 2022-23 campaign.

Wasps are looking to re-establish themselves in Kent or Greater London having left High Wycombe for Coventry in 2014.

"It has been a challenging two years for Wasps, during which time we have worked tirelessly to rebuild a great club," said Wasps owner Christopher Holland in a statement released on Thursday.

"From securing key assets to laying the groundwork for a sustainable future, our efforts have always been focused on returning Wasps to a league that shares our values and to be able to compete at the highest level.

"Submitting our expression of interest for Tier 2 is a key milestone in our recovery."

London Irish remain in administration but their preferred bidder, Hokulani Ltd, confirmed on Wednesday that entry into the revamped Championship is being sought.

"We have officially submitted an expression of interest to the Rugby Football Union to join London Irish in the Tier 2 league," said Daniel Thomas Loitz, the director and principle director of Hokulani Ltd.

"This is a major step in our journey to restore the club to the top level after 12 months of painful suspension."

Worcester, who are also owned by Holland, confirmed on October 1 that they had begun the application process.

All teams hoping to play in the 2024-25 Championship, which is being enlarged by two to a 14-side league, must prove their financial viability, including the funds to pay off rugby creditors, as well as meet minimum operating standards.