Wales V Italy Hospitality

Iestynharris and Gareth Thomas are celebrating one of the biggest achievements of their star-studded careers as Wales’ rugby league team gets ready to join the elite.

The 12-11 victory over France at the Stade Municipal in Albi earns Harris’ men a place next to Australia, England and New Zealand in next year’s tournament.

Former Wales skipper Thomas played his part in the historic win by captaining the side and scoring a decisive try.

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And he played through the pain barrier, having failed to fully recover from the groin strain that curtailed his debut Super League season with the Crusaders.

“But the chance of playing for Wales was too good to miss. It’s massive for Wales to qualify for the Four Nations.

“The odds were stacked against us, but to be playing against England, New Zealand and Australia is mouth-watering and it will do wonders for rugby league in Wales.”

Welsh Rugby League executive chairman Mark Rowley even went as far as saying the result was bigger than Warren Gatland’s rugby union side winning the Six Nations.

But there was no denying the sheer joy in the Welsh camp at a result which pitches them in against the big guns and guarantees two home fixtures for Harris’ side in 12 months’ time.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Rowley believes it is the boost the sport needs in the union hotbed of Wales, saying: “This is massive for Wales rugby league.

“This is a massive boost for rugby league in the principality and we look forward to welcoming England, Australia and New Zealand next year.

Harris, whose impressive spell in charge of the side looks set to earn him the head job with the Crusaders, was pleased with the result, but was already looking ahead to next year.

“It’s up to the powers that be now to decide whether we get a mid-season Test against one of the big three and there’s the prospect of the Four Nations after that.

Italy V Wales Hospitality

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Scotland rugby coach Andy Robinson has spoken for the first time about drafting Tim Visser into his squads when the Dutchman becomes eligible through residency in 2012.

Speaking at the announcement of a pool of 34 players for the forthcoming Autumn Tests against New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa, Robinson also reflected on Edinburgh's start to the season - and highlighted the form of Visser in particular.

"Tim Visser's try-scoring feats have been pretty exciting," said Robinson of a winger who notched five touchdowns in the opening four games.

Altogether there are 12 Edinburgh players in the latest squad including Jim Thompson and Greig Laidlaw who are part of an uncapped quartet.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Making it clear both David Blair and McKenzie just needed to maintain current form to merit consideration for the Six Nations Championship it was the latter who particularly pre-occupied the coach.

"I can't pick players on one great performance though and there has to be consistency. They have to be playing at that level every time for the full 80 minutes."

Alas, for each of the 15 tries Edinburgh have scored one has been conceded, and Robinson added: "While Edinburgh attacked brilliantly in Cardiff at the beginning of the season they let in a couple of sloppy tries."

Robinson will wait until the opening Test against New Zealand on November 13 when Scotland aim to make it five successive matches unbeaten before deciding whether to rotate his squad for the subsequent fixtures against South Africa and Samoa.

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Jonny Wilkinson has backed Danny Cipriani for an international recall for matches enjoyed by fans with England rugby union tickets.

Former Wasps fly-half Cipriani has not played for England in two years and has turned his back on the domestic game, having agreed a move to new Super 15 outfit Melbourne Rebels at the end of last season.

While some pundits have said the switch to the southern hemisphere is likely to harm the 22-year-old's chances of being given the nod again by Martin Johnson, Wilkinson - who plays in France with Toulon - said the move could be good for Cipriani's career.

Wales V Italy Hospitality

Speaking to the Telegraph, Wilko insisted the young stand-off has a "huge, huge future" in matches watched by England rugby union tickets customers.

"I have no doubt he will go over there and take it by storm," the ex-Newcastle Falcons star remarked. "He will do a hell of a job."

Earlier this week, Cipriani told BBC Sport his move to the Rebels is the most effective way to help him become "the best player I can be".

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Wales Gavin Henson has been talking about the decision of Gareth Thomas, his former Welsh rugby captain, to come out as gay – and says that he has had to put up with ridicule for his “male-grooming” habits.

“Alfie is a legend. He’s got a great sense of humour and, fair play to him, it must be a tough thing to do, especially in the rugby circle, being such a masculine game and all that carry-on. I’m just happy for him and hope things are easy for him now.”

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Henson, 28, also acknowledged that he himself has received abuse from some quarters for taking care of his appearance. As Attitdude Active puts it, “[he is] the man who rolled out fake bake, shaved legs and spectacularly coiffed hair into the old-boy world of the oval-shaped ball”.

He said: “I’ve always been like that since school, and when the proper old rugby players saw me coming into the changing room at 18, my hair spikey, fake tan on, shaved legs, they were like: ‘Who the hell is this guy?’”

He implies that he’d been naïve but points out that he was just being honest

“It is the way rugby’s gone, it’s the way soccer’s gone as well. It was maybe my mistake, I was just a bit honest about it from minute one and have been ridiculed for it ever since, but everyone does it!”

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Italian Rugby really came to prominence in 2000 when it was added to the Five Nations, creating the Six Nations.

Originally on the end of some heavy defeats, the side has grown in competitiveness, recorded a fourth place finish in 2007, and even in defeat, lop-sided losses are becoming far less frequent. Italy is ranked eleventh in the world by the IRB as of 21 June 2010.

Italy has also competed at every Rugby World Cup since the first tournament in 1987, but has to progress beyond the first round. Their best showing thus far has been in 2003 and 2007 where they managed two wins during the pool stages.

Wales national rugby union team represents Wales in international rugby union tournaments.Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with 25 wins. Wales most recent championship win came in 2008. The International Rugby Board (IRB) regards Wales as a Tier One rugby nation, and ranks them eighth in the world as of 1 February 2010.

Wales play in red jerseys embroidered with the Prince of Wales's feathers. Their current home ground is the Millennium Stadium, completed in 1999 to replace the National Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park. Ten former Welsh players have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame, and two of the ten have been inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame.

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Wales V Italy Hospitailty