Your rugby morning headlines for Wednesday, April 13.
Biden's US World Cup pledge could prompt 'seismic' change
Rugby is braced for a "seismic" transformation with US President Joe Biden pledging his support to back the country's World Cup bids.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin believes that, should the sport take its showpiece event Stateside, it will alter the game hugely moving forward. Gilpin cites the likes of 'smart-ball' and NFL Red Zone-style coverage of the sport.
READ MORE : How to save Welsh rugby and the uncomfortable truth facing our game
Biden is backing the States' bids to host the women's World Cup in 2023 and the men's edition in 2031. The American President sent a letter to World Rugby confirming his intention to get behind both bids, Gilpin confirmed in an interview with The Telegraph.
“We got a letter from President Biden confirming federal government support for the tournaments, men’s and women’s, being hosts, which is fantastic,” Gilpin said. “We understand he is a rugby fan with some Irish heritage.”
They add that Australia will be granted the hosting rights for the 2027 men's World Cup and 2029 women's World Cup. Gilpin also added: “It feels like we have been in a really important period, ever since the regulation 8 amendment was passed last November. Bringing in a World Cup hosting plan for 10 years and the way we are resetting sevens is really important to the growth of the game.
“If we can make progress on the men’s calendars and make the right steps towards a more competitive schedule across July and November with pathways for emerging nations that would be seismic. If we get all that gets signed off in May remains to be seen but we will certainly be discussing all of them and landing as many of them as we can.”
Hibbard reveals shoulder surgery
Recently-retired Wales international Richard Hibbard has revealed the gruesome aftermath of a shoulder reconstruction surgery that's enough to make anyone wince.
The former Ospreys, Gloucester, Dragons, Wales and British and Irish Lions star has taken to Twitter to reveal that he has gone under the knife to have a "brand new shoulder".
The ex-hooker suffered terribly with shoulder injuries during his career. Back in 2014 he was ruled out for months when he had to undergo surgery for a shoulder problem, which ruled him out of Wales' tour of South Africa that summer.
And he has had to have another operation to sort out the issue again. The 38-year-old, who in January announced his retirement with immediate effect, posted both the x-ray and the sewn up wound to his followers on social media.
"Rugby such a soft sport," Hibbard wrote on Twitter with two laughing faces. "Nice retirement present, a brand new shoulder. Looking forward to rehabbing this one!"
Warning: Graphic content below
Graham Henry set to join Black Ferns coaching ticket
Sir Graham Henry is reportedly the latest big name set to join the Black Ferns for their Women's World Cup defence on home soil.
Stuff report that Henry, the World Cup-winning All Blacks coach in 2011 who also coached Wales between 1998 and 2002, spent last week at the Black Ferns' training camp in Christchurch.
Henry's former assistant with the All Blacks, Wayne Smith, has already joined their set-up as a technical coach.
And while there's currently nothing concrete on Henry's involvement, Stuff report that the 75-year-old could become more involved with the team, potentially as a selector or mentor, as their preparations for the World Cup intensify.
Premiership boss's vocal backing for radical red card rule
Sale boss Alex Sanderson supports the 20-minute red card rule in the belief it would help police the grey area that has emerged through inconsistent refereeing.
World Rugby is considering extending the law trial currently in place in Super Rugby to other competitions in order to gather more data on its impact in matches, which you can read more about here.
The rule allows for a sent-off player to be tactically replaced by a substitute after 20 minutes, therefore preventing early dismissals from ruining games. It comes amid an increase in red cards as World Rugby looks to stamp out dangerous play, particularly high tackles involving contact with the head.
The experimental law divides opinion, but Sanderson believes it provides a valuable compromise position. "What we've seen is an inconsistency to what conjugates a red card and what the sanction of a red card is," Sanderson said.
"I believe that's a good thing because getting a red card changes the game irrevocably. It has to change because now it's probably a bit too harsh. Referees don't want to be the person who dictates the outcome of the game, but increasingly so they are becoming that.
"I understand why they have shifted away from certain things, mitigating factors, affecting the decision for red cards, but there is still a lot of grey there between a yellow and a red. A 20-minute sanction would affect the game hugely, but not irrevocably, so I think it's probably a good idea. A 20-minute red card gives you an ability to punish grey areas more than the straight black and white of a yellow or red card."
