Today's rugby news as Gatland prepared to 'go through pain' and Welsh regions announce raft of new deals

Here are your rugby headlines for Friday, June 14.

Gatland prepared to 'go through pain'

Wales coach Warren Gatland says he's prepared to 'go through pain' with his young side ahead of their summer clashes with South Africa and Australia.

Having lost an enormous amount of experience from his squad last year following the retirements of Alun Wyn Jones, Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar amongst others, Gatland named a youthful squad for this year's Six Nations with one eye on the 2027 World Cup. Of course, that campaign ended in a first Wooden Spoon since 2003, with more experience departing in the form of the retiring George North, but the coach says he remains "excitement" about the potential of his squad.

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"We picked a young squad for the Six Nations after the World Cup and we’re trying to build this team for the future," he told Lawrence Dallaglio on the Evening Standard Rugby podcast. "It’s about having some continuity and consistency, particularly with some young guys who you need to go through a little bit of pain with.

"One of the things I always talk about is that you can’t coach experience. But we’re excited about this group. We look back on the Six Nations and yeah it was a disappointing Six Nations but there were some green shoots, there were probably two or three games where we put ourselves in the position where we should have won."

Gatland added: "I’m trying to get as many games for this young group of players as I possibly can to keep working hard with them and keep developing them and giving them that Test experience. You can’t coach experience and that step up to international rugby is absolutely massive

"Particularly for youngsters who haven’t experienced much of it, it does take a little bit of time for them to fully to appreciate, to understand, to know what it feels like to play in front of a full stadium, when things are happening so much quicker, games are more physical and you have to make decisions under pressure and also under fatigue.

"I’m excited by the potential. We’ll work hard as a coaching group and playing group and continue to work on developing this group."

Wales boss fired up by Erasmus rivalry

Ahead of the meeting with South Africa on June 22, Gatland also admitted that the "buzz" of facing long-term adversary Rassie Erasmus has got the juices flowing.

Erasmus and Gatland endured a tense stand-off when the former was in charge of the Lions in 2021. Gatland took umbrage with Erasmus's role as a water carrier and The Lions believed that Erasmus, the Springboks' director of rugby, took up the role to intimidate referees. After the Lions had beaten South Africa 'A', a game in which Erasmus had also been the water boy, Gatland had some pretty pointed words to say.

And Gatland, speaking to Rugby365, admitted he is looking forward to pitting his wits against his old sparring partner once again.

“There were a lot of issues that happened that were disappointing with South Africa and the Lions,” he siad. “But both of us have got to be big enough to put those things behind you and look forward to a massive challenge.

“There is no doubt what Rassie has achieved in the game has been exceptional and what he’s done with South Africa has been outstanding.

“We’ve had a great rivalry because previous to losing to them in 2019 and the World Cup semi-final which was a close game, we’d had some success against South Africa, so it is a great rivalry.

“For us, it is a massive challenge against a physical South Africa team and I get a buzz about the bigger the challenge. It really does drive me and excite me, so I am looking forward to the game and then catching up with Rassie afterwards.”

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Welsh regions tie up deals for players

The Dragons and Cardiff Rugby have tied players down to new contracts.

The Men of Gwent have sealed the signatures of young quarter Owen Conquer, Oli Woodman, Harri Ford and Owain James.

U20s international back-row Owen Conquer joins after impressing with Ebbw Vale in the Indigo Premiership, while prop James is a Wales U18s international and has previously turned out for Cardiff Rugby in their junior pathway.

Full-back Woodman - younger brother of Wales U20s captain Ryan - steps up from the academy and is also a Wales U18 international, while Ford re-joins the Dragons from RGC and is a Wales U20s cap.

As for Cardiff, they have seen hooker Dafydd Hughes and prop Will Davies-King sign deals to remain at the Arms Park. Twenty-eight-year-old ex-Scarlets front-rower Hughes said: “I am so grateful for the opportunity to remain at Cardiff," Hughes said.

"Since the sad collapse of Jersey, I have had a great welcome at the Arms Park and have enjoyed being part of a really competitive squad, which is full of potential and striving to improve.

“There is a lot of competition at hooker, but we all get along well and are driving each other to become better players."

Georgia chief calls for U20s Six Nations inclusion

Soso Tkemaladze, the president of Georgia Rugby, has called for his country to be included in the Six Nations at Under-20 level after a significant victory over England.

England suffered a 45-17 defeat on Wednesday, which follows a historic loss to Georgia around this time last year. The Lelos believe they have a strong case for joining the ranks of European rugby's international elite. Georgia is already part of the Six Nations in the Under-18 competition.

The Georgian team now aims to join at Under-20 level and eventually, the men's and women's Championships proper.

"This impressive result and highly professional performance shows how strong Georgian rugby's next generation is," Tkemaladze told the Daily Mail after the win in Tbilisi.

"England are the Under-20 Six Nations champions and we've beaten them for the second year running, so I think our case for inclusion in the competition is now stronger than ever."

"I am very proud of our boys, not just for today's performance, but for the progress they have made on and off the pitch. This fantastic generation of players deserves more opportunities,' he expressed.

"I can't wait to see this side run out in the World Championship next month. I know they will do themselves and the whole country proud."