“Thankfully, it was a yellow”-Joe Hawkins admits to nerves in a controversial moment in Wales v Scotland match

Saturday, 28 February 2026 at 22:00

byHarry Tovey

Inside centre, Joe Hawkins, was sent off for an off-field review in Wales’ finest performance in Steve Tandy’s era so far. But his hit on blind-side Gregor Brown, when the Scots were on the front foot in the contest, has raised concerns over the call by referee Matthew Carley.

Hawkins received a yellow card for the high tackle, and many pundits, including former Wales captains Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton, argued that the 23-year-old should not have been sent off for 10 minutes.

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On the incident, Hawkins added: “When it’s going through the review, it’s a bit squeaky bum time, a little bit, but there’s nothing you can do, almost when you’re there.

“You're never trying to get a yellow card or red card; it’s just one of those things that happens. Thankfully, it was a yellow.

“It’s split-second decisions, you've got two or three people coming at you at the same time, almost.

“It’s something you practice (tackling lower), trying to adjust as best as you can in the scenario; sometimes you get it wrong. It’s just going to happen sometimes

“I got it a little bit wrong on the weekend, but it’s a rugby thing; it happens sometimes. You’re not trying to do the sort of thing.”

At the time of him getting sin-binned early in the contest, it proved not to be a costly yellow. Rhys Carré powered over and was followed by Josh Adams, crossing for his second of the championship. Standout Sam Costelow converted the extras and a penalty as Wales were on track for their first Six Nations triumph since March 2023.

However, following Jarrod Evans slotting three points, Scotland replied instantly, with replacement Darcy Graham racing over. Then, minutes from time, the visitors scored to hand Wales an agonising loss.

“Self-belief was a big thing. I feel like going into the Scotland game that week, even though we’d come off the back of a couple of disappointing results. It felt like we had that self-belief, that we knew we could go out there and really take the game to Scotland,” continued Hawkins on the tough defeat.

“We had a good start to the game, really showed our intent in what we wanted to do during the game, and that confidence then just fuelled the rest of the performance.

“Things feed into each other, so probably set-piece sometimes, if that doesn’t go well, obviously you can’t run your attacking shape.

“That goes well, and then you manage to get your launches going, it’s always good for the team.

“I think we’ve been pretty good, we feel like in the 22 metre attack from the autumn and the Six Nations. The more we can get of that, the better. Being accurate and clinical in our sort of first three phases allows us to get more of that (success).

Against Scotland, Hawkins’ partnership with Scarlets team-mate, Eddie James, was one of the positives from the defeat. “Hopefully, that partnership can continue.

“We play a fair bit at the Scarlets together, and know him well. Since he’s come back from injury, he’s been in really good form, and he’s a huge man, so the more you can get him on the ball and going forward for us, it makes it easier for the rest of the team.”

Although it was another defeat, it offered the Welsh public a glimmer of hope. A feeling of optimism which has been abandoned for some time amongst the Welsh rugby public.

It’s very likely that Tandy’s side will fall to their third successive wooden spoon, but in doing so will hold on to the tinniest of hopes. It was Wales’ 24th Test defeat since the 2023 Rugby World Cup and added to the growing tally of defeats in the Six Nations.

Hawkins, however, admits that despite the run of harrowing, unacceptable defeats, he is confident about getting a win this Six Nations. “Definitely, you’ve got to have (confidence), especially when you have new coaches, and stuff comes in, you have belief in what they’re trying to do.

“But then, when you have a game like the Scotland game, it really sort of drives that confidence, so what we’re doing is paying off for us. Then, when you come off the back of that, you head into the rest of the tournament, and you know you’re more than capable of competing with these teams.

"As long as we’re on it physically and mentally when we turn up on a matchday, we know we are more capable of getting wins, and we’re not too far away". Wales face Ireland next Friday in Dublin before facing Italy eight days later at Principality Stadium.

“We haven’t really looked at them (Ireland) too much yet. Not everyone is here this week. So we’re not doing too much Ireland prep.

“Just watching rugby, I don’t think they’re aren't too dissimilar, they both like to attack. Ireland want to keep the ball for long phases. They got a lot of good skills and ball movement, with their forwards and stuff like that.

“Defensively, we know we’re going to have to be right on the money; they’re coming off a big win at Twickenham, so they’re going to be full of confidence.”