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The latest rugby stories making headlines on Friday, December 12.
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, December 12.
Dragons set to make another emergency signing
Dragons coach Filo Tiatia has branded the performance against Perpignan as “unacceptable” as the Welsh team look set to be forced into another emergency signing.
Tiatia’s men were blown away by a French side that had lost 11 consecutive matches before last weekend in a deeply disappointing result. It also saw their injury issues at hooker deepen, with Sam Scarfe, who was making his first professional start, going off with a head injury.
He is unlikely to be available as he is still going through return-to-play protocols, while Elliot Dee and James Benjamin remain out until the new year and Oli Burrows and Brodie Coghlan are are also struggling.
It means on loan Will Austin, the former Wales Under-20s international who has now played twice off the bench after joining from Sale Sharks, is the only definite option. A new short-term recruit could be announced on Friday when the Dragons name their side to play Lyon.
The Welsh side do though welcome back Aaron Wainwright for the second round of European competition on home soil.
“The result wasn’t great and our performance wasn’t great,” said Tiatia. “As a group we know that it was unacceptable around some of the things we said we were going to do, but didn’t do.
“This is another exciting opportunity and we can’t have a day off when we perform in this jersey. Lyon is an opportunity to put some wrongs right.
“We are in the third week of a 10-week block and it’s an opportunity for us to make a turn.
“I am pretty positive around our preparation. It’s time to put a line in the sand, they have been sharp this week and we are looking forward to the game.”
Davies saddened by Welsh exodus
Former Wales international Jonathan ‘Fox’ Davies admits he is saddened by reports that some of Welsh rugby’s biggest talents are set to leave for England.
Amid the current uncertainty in Welsh rugby, a raft of Wales internationals are expected to cross the border to join English sides at the end of the season, with international captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake chief amongst the anticipated departures.
The Ospreys duo are both expected to join Gallagher PREM side Gloucester, with their club team-mate Dan Edwards also being heavily linked with a move to Leicester Tigers.
Meanwhile, prop Gareth Thomas and scrum-half Kieran Hardy have also attracted interest from England, with the latter tipped to move to Kingsholm alongside Morgan and Lake as a replacement for Tomos Williams, who is expected to join Saracens.
Speaking on Scrum V, ex-Scarlets star Davies said that while Morgan and Lake “have to do what’s right for them”, seeing so many top talents edge towards exits from Welsh rugby is sad to see.
“[It’s] the opportunity for these boys to have security and the opportunity to play at the highest level,” he said. “These boys are world- class operators and it’s the same old story, English clubs in for the best Welsh talent, not just at the top of the game, but probably at schoolboy levels.
“We hear so much about the amount of talent that is being poached as well,” he added. “For Dewi and Jac, I’m sure it would be a tough decision, but essentially they have to do what’s right for them. I think it’s sad to see the best players leaving Wales.”
O’Gara banned
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara has been hit with a two-match suspension after being shown a red card in his side’s Top 14 defeat to Pau.
The Ireland legend was sent off after repeatedly arguing with referee Jérémy Rozier, having seen his fly-half Antoine Hastoy sent off in the opening minute of the clash for a dangerous aerial challenge.
A disciplinary panel found O’Gara guilty of “disrespecting the authority of a match official”, and confirmed that the coach will serve a two-week ban. He will also have to pay a €3,000 fine.
The suspension means that he will miss his side’s Champions Cup clash with the Stormers this weekend, while Hastoy has been banned for three matches for dangerous play.
