Today's rugby news as Shanklin says it's time for change and accountability and Springbok stunned by Welsh star's omission

Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Tuesday, November 19.

Springbok stunned by Welsh star's omission

Harlequins lock Stephan Lewies has questioned why teammate Jarrod Evans wasn't called up for Wales this autumn

Fly-half Evans has started the new campaign in impressive form for the Premiership side, featuring in all six of their league games so far and providing some moments of magic. After also putting in some strong performances last season, his club recently shared that nobody in world rugby has made more break assists per game for club and country than the Welshman.

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His average of 3.3 per 80 minutes puts him above All Blacks star Damian McKenzie (2.5) and France talisman Antoine Dupont (2.1) and has led former Quins skipper Lewies to why Evans was again overlooked by Warren Gatland this autumn.

Taking to X, the one-cap South Africa international wrote: "Can someone please explain how Jarrod Evans doesn’t make the Wales team??"

Evans has not played for Wales since 2021 and moved to London last year with no intention of representing them, as the assumption was the eight-cap international had been captured by the 25-cap rule. However, it later emerged that Evans was in fact currently eligible for selection - but no recall has come.

The ex-Cardiff man remains relaxed about playing for Wales, however, as he previously explained: "I came up here with the intention of not playing (for Wales), so it didn't affect me that much. But it was always that question in the background about what's going on.

"As far as I know, I'm eligible. I just try to control what I can control here. Whatever happens with national things is probably just a by-product of how you're playing here. As long as I can get a few more minutes here next season, and I'm enjoying my rugby, everything else will take care of itself."

Former Wales duo call time on Gatland

Meanwhile, former Wales captain Gwyn Jones believes Warren Gatland has already "checked out", and says it's time for a chance in leadership.

Gatland is under increasing pressure heading into this weekend's clash with South Africa, with Sunday's crushing defeat to Australia condemning Wales to their worst ever run of Test defeats.

"I believe Gatland when he says how disappointed they are but his record as a coach since 2019, with Waikato, the [British & Irish] Lions and Wales, it's dreadful," Jones told the BBC.

"The game is changing and you need to bring ideas and be pioneering. Wales are playing the same way now as when he came in 2008. We're too conservative.

"We don't have the big strong players anymore so we have to be more inventive and I don't think it's within him to coach any other way."

Fellow pundit and ex-Wales and British & Irish Lion Tom Shanklin said Gatland "transformed" the team during his first spell in charge, but said Wales now lack an identity.

"I've never seen him like the way he was after the Australia game. I feel sorry for him after all he did for Welsh rugby," Shanklin said.

"But there has to be accountability for this run and not just from the head coach, but the WRU as well.

"Warning signs have been ignored about too much focus on the national side and not enough on the regions and academies to develop players.

"Gatland offered a short-term fix when he returned, but now it's time for a new coach with a fresh voice bringing fresh ideas.

"We can't play physical rugby any more because we lack size or power, but we're not seeing a plan B and there hasn't been any progress."

Australia planning indigenous team to take on Lions

By Rob Freeman, PA

The British and Irish Lions could face a team with indigenous and pacific heritage during their 2025 tour, according to the chief executive of Rugby Australia.

Phil Waugh said discussions were underway with the Lions for the match to fill the gap in the tour schedule due to the Melbourne Rebels going into administration.

"We have some great talent with First Nations heritage," he told the Sydney Morning Herald, saying the team would be made up of players from the remaining Super Rugby teams.

"It was a matter of how do we will pull those ideas together to make a very special game in a massive tour?

"The preference will be to have Australian-eligible players of pacific and First Nations backgrounds and high-profile players to drive a high level of interest."

The match against the Rebels was scheduled for July 22, between the first and second Tests.

Waugh said discussions were underway about New Zealand players from overseas teams forming part of an Anzac XV which is due to play the Lions in Adelaide on July 12, a week before the opening Test.

All Blacks squad players are unlikely to be available with France touring New Zealand at the same time.

Maro Itoje responds to breakaway league talk

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

Maro Itoje believes that England's players would reject the opportunity to play in the global breakaway league that is threatening to upend the rugby landscape.

Itoje describes representing his country as the "Mecca" in response to plans to launch a new competition featuring over 200 of the game's top stars in 2026.

The league, which is at an early stage of development, would see franchises travel the world in a similar vein to Formula One.

"Playing for England is the Mecca," said Itoje, who revealed he did not know of the plan until it became public for the first time on Thursday.

"I don't really know any of the details of it as yet, but wearing this rose is extremely important to me and my team-mates."

Itoje is one of 17 players to have signed enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts with the Rugby Football Union worth £160,000 a year.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has the option to offer up to eight more contracts, which tie the nation's biggest names to the RFU.

Although the new competition would take place outside international windows, the RFU only allows players competing in the Gallagher Premiership to be considered for England selection.