The latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, December 7.
Ospreys defence coach missing from training
Darren Edwards' future as Ospreys defence coach is in doubt with the 38-year-old having been absent from training for the past few weeks.
Edwards, who has previously had stints at both the Dragons and Bath, has only been at the region for 11 months after he was brought in by Toby Booth to shore up their defence. But Edwards did not tour South Africa with the Ospreys where the Welsh region lost to the Bulls and the Lions, respectively.
WalesOnline understands the Ospreys players have been told he was absent for personal reasons, but there is every chance the Swansea-based region will soon be looking for a new defence coach.
The Ospreys are currently 14th in the United Rugby Championship table and cannot afford to be without a defence guru if they are to salvage their season.
Sign up: Get the latest rugby news sent straight to your inbox for free with our daily newsletter
No sympathy for Pivac
Former Wales attack coach Mark Jones says he feels no pity for Wayne Pivac following his Wales axe, insisting it's just how the brutal world of professional sport works.
Pivac was replaced by Warren Gatland on Monday as his three-year stint in charge of the national team was brought to an abrupt end. Jones, who played under Gatland and was part of the Wales coaching set-up on a temporary basis in 2012 and 2013, believes Pivac just couldn't get his message across to the players.
Asked if he had pity for Pivac on the Scrum V podcast, the ex-Wales winger said: "No, no. It's professional sport isn't it, whether you are a player, coach or administrator your job is on the line on a daily basis.
"If you start to stumble or stutter and performances drop then you come under the microscope. Unfortunately it comes with the territory and we're used to it now. I'm sure he will just move on."
Jones said Pivac failed deliver on the more attacking game plan he promised in 2019, with signs of progress hard to see.
"If you're seeing elements of what you said you were going to do coming through, but maybe results aren't quite there, you still believe you are the right person. What I saw with Wales was we were very good after losing, good at bouncing back emotionally but I didn't think that technically and tactically we were playing the game Wayne said we were going to play when he took over.
"Our discipline got poorer and he probably did believe he was struggling to get what he wanted over to the group."
Springbok reveals why he went missing
South Africa winger Sbu Nkosi has bravely revealed the mental health issues he is battling after he was reported missing by his club.
Nkosi was officially reported missing on the weekend after the Bulls were unable to contact him for three weeks. He was located at his father's house in Pretoria on Monday and has now spoken out the issues that led to deep concern.
"I'm a lot better. There's obviously a lot that I can't say out loud but my condition is improving," Nkosi told South Africa's News24.
"It's just been a whole lot of mental pressure. I was just trying to keep myself calm. That's been a battle.
"I'm at a point where I need to prioritise the person before the rugby player.
"I just needed time. I've basically been curled up in a ball with my dad, and he's been managing my mental state daily," Nkosi said.
"I'm not special or different or unique in any way. I think it's something that needs to be focused on a bit more, whether you're on top or at the bottom. It's always a rollercoaster.
"Maybe a little effort needs to be put into how the guys manage the wave of emotions that come with the good and bad times."
Wasps and Worcester appeals rejected
Wasps and Worcester have failed with 'no fault insolvency' applications that would have seen them avoid automatic relegation from the Gallagher Premiership if successful.
Administrators made the applications for Wasps Holdings Limited and WRFC Trading Limited, the main operating entities of each club.
The Rugby Football Union said that both applications cited impact of the Covid-19 pandemic as the primary reason for entering administration in October.
But the RFU board has now ratified a recommendation from the governing body's club financial viability group that both applications should be rejected, although Wasps and Worcester can now appeal to an independent panel.
The timeline to agree sales of both clubs is next week. Should that be met and rugby creditors paid, then Wasps and Worcester will begin next season in the Championship
In Wasps' case, the RFU's view was that the club provided "insufficient evidence" to conclude there was no fault on the club's part.
Wasps' business plan was described as lacking resilience and one that could not transform a "loss-making and debt-funded business".
In terms of Worcester, the RFU identified "a business model which did appear to be perpetually funded by debt", adding that "the directors of the club had allowed the club to be in such a precarious position that a shock such as Covid, the challenging debt markets or another external event would have created a real and increased likelihood of an insolvency event happening".
Read more:
Warren Gatland reveals the Wales players who impressed him the most while he was away
What's become of the battered Wales team Warren Gatland last picked
