Here are today's rugby headlines on thursday, April 28.
Holmes set for Ealing
Wales winger Jonah Holmes will leave the Dragons and move to the second tier of English rugby, according to reports.
RugbyPass report Holmes is on the verge of agreeing to joining Ealing Trailfinders after turning down a reduced contract in Wales. The move will end his international career as he is well be short of the 60 caps required to play outside of Wales and still be eligible.
Holmes would have been hoping to make a return to the Gallagher Premiership, where he previously starred for Leicester, but he appears to have struggled to get a deal with the league's new £5m salary cap now in place. Ealing have big ambitions to join the elite and were only denied promotion to the Premiership this year on a technicality.
Seven-times capped Holmes was unhappy with the figure he was offered by the WRU, who decide the salaries of the elite 38 home-based players under their wage banding system.
He lodged an appeal, which was supported by his region, who he joined in 2020, but that was rejected. Players in the elite 38 effectively have 80 per cent of their salaries paid by the Union out of the first tranche of the Professional Rugby Board distribution pot.
READ MORE: Dragons announce signing of 'outstanding' Super Rugby star from New Zealand
With the out-of-contract Holmes not in that group, the Dragons would have to pay all of his wages out of their own playing budget and they were not able to offer him a deal that would keep him on board.
Welshman Reffell among England's best
Uncapped Welsh flanker Tommy Reffell has been named among the best players in England this season by his peers.
The abrasive openside from Pencoed has enjoyed a standout campaign with Leicester Tigers, who are bidding for Gallagher Premiership glory over the coming weeks. And, during a podcast featuring Saracens star Alex Goode, London Irish flanker Sean O'Brien and Harlequins and England centre Joe Marchant, Reffell was named among those who has impressed.
Goode described the youngster as "a really good player", with O'Brien adding: "He's been brilliant" and Marchant in agreement.
Despite his standout form, Reffell has been continually overlooked by Wales coach Wayne Pivac, who explained why after leaving him out of this year's Six Nations.
“Tommy Reffell was in the discussions along with Jac, while an injury has kept James Botham out of the early part of the competition," Pivac told the BBC’s Scrum V podcast.
"You look at a guy, where is he going to sit in the squad, is he there for learning and developing and possibly some game-time? The guys who are coming and going from England, they don't get the same opportunity.
"Our statistics would say 25 percent of the training is what the guys from England get to perform if they are going back each week. That can count against a guy in a close call and that's certainly what's happened on this occasion."
Harlequins' Danny Care, plus Leicester's George Ford, Freddie Steward and Ellis Genge were among the others mentioned as potential Player of the Year contenders on the house of Rugby podcast.
Lions star to make big move
Leicester Tigers have reportedly won the race to sign England international and British Lion Anthony Watson from Bath.
The superstar winger has signed a 'short-term' deal that is expected to be officially announced next week, according to the Telegraph.
Rumours have been circulating about the 28-year-old's future with his contract at The Rec set to end this summer. Sale Sharks, London Irish and Wasps have all been linked with making a move but it now seems increasingly likely that his next destination will be Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
