Today's rugby news as Wales to head to Japan and Gatland gets huge selection boost

Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, May 27.

Wales heading to Japan next year

Wales will tour Japan next year, while the Lions are in Australia.

Wales last toured Japan in 2013, although they were set to play a Test there in 2020 - only for the Covid-19 pandemic to deny them that opportunity.

During the 2019 World Cup, Warren Gatland's side made Kitakyushu a home from home - spending the three years before the tournament raising support in the area with a number of camps and events.

Speaking about the Lions on the Rugby Pod, Gatland confirmed that Wales would be touring Japan next summer while Andy Farrell's side are in Australia.

"It’s an unbelievable concept, and we should do everything we can to protect the Lions going forward," said Gatland. "I really hope that Australia next year will be [good], we are touring Japan with Wales so I hope to get down there for the third Test.

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"I look forward to getting to watch it as a fan again, and I am really privileged to have had that experience. I am humbled by my involvement with the Lions and really proud of that. It means a huge amount to me and I will back the Lions as a team, and we should do everything to protect that and make sure it flourishes.”

Gatland also spoke about the facilities in Japan on the podcast, where his son Bryn is currently plying his trade.

"Oh it’s absolutely fantastic," he added. "When you go there, you see the facilities and you see what they provide for the players in terms of where they're living, in terms of the apartment set-ups.

"I think Bryn’s been given a car and he’s five minutes from training, so he's really happy there. I really enjoyed it when I went, it was a good training session but also with the facilities and the investment that the companies put into the game in Japan, I think the game is definitely going to grow there going forward."

Sprinboks handed boost ahead of summer tour

Two-time Rugby World Cup-winning back-row Kwagga Smith is set to be fit for South Africa Test series against Ireland in July.

Smith hasn’t played since January after suffering an adductor tendon rupture while playing for the Shizuoka Blue Revs in the Japan Rugby League One season.

The injury ended his domestic season but Smith has said he will be ready to go this summer - although it's unclear if he will be ready for the match with Wales at Twickenham on June 22.

“I’m back in South Africa and definitely ready for the [Irish] tests,” Smith told Rapport.

“I trained 100% comfortably with my team in Japan a month ago.”

Springboks and All Blacks set to bring back traditional tours

Traditional tours between South Africa and New Zealand will reportedly return in 2026.

Reports in South Africa suggest that the two unions have agreed terms for the revival of traditional tours - that will include midweek matches - to take place every four years.

Rapport say that the All Blacks are set to tour South Africa for a three-Test series in 2026, with five midweek matches against the four South African United Rugby Championship franchises and South Africa A.

A fourth Test match between the two sides is also set to be hosted at a neutral venue, with the Springboks then touring New Zealand in 2030.

According to the report, the tours will replace the Rugby Championship in 2026, with Argentina and Australia making alternative plans for that international window.

England name training squad ahead of New Zealand tour

Steve Borthwick has named a 19-player training squad to begin preparations for upcoming matches against Japan and New Zealand.

The squad will meet up today for a four-day training camp. It does not include players involved in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.

In a significant boost to Warren Gatland, Gloucester's Josh Hathaway has not been included by Borthwick, with a tug-of-war set to play out between the two countries for his services.

He revealed last week that he has yet to hear from either Wales or England over his availability but WalesOnline understands he's firmly on Gatland's radar.

"International rugby has been a dream of mine since I was three or four years old," he said. "As soon as I could speak, I said I wanted to play Test rugby. My dad was throwing a foam rugby ball at me when I was just a few months old.

"He’s always been very keen. He did well with his rugby and played for Wales Under-19’s but unfortunately picked up two knee injuries which stopped him from carrying on any further.

"If I do [play Test rugby], it would be a dream come true not just for me, but for my dad as well," he added. "I’ll do as much as I can to get there."

Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears), Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs), Rusi Tuima (Exeter Chiefs).

Backs: Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), Max Malins (Bristol Bears), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).