Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, February 23.
Wales team announcement
Warren Gatland will finally name his Wales team to play England today, two days later than planned.
The announcement was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but was postponed at the last minute as Wales players threatened to strike over an ongoing contract dispute.
READ MORE: How Wales' Six Nations players voted in crucial last meeting on strike action
With that resolved and the game on, Gatland will announce his matchday 23 at 12.15pm on Thursday. It's understood players were told the side late on Wednesday evening as they returned to the team base following a dramatic day off that saw strike action averted.
Young centre Mason Grady is tipped to be involved and win his first cap.
Fans pick their Wales team to face England
Wales fans have had their say and want Owen Williams and Rhys Webb to start at half-backs in the Six Nations clash against England on Saturday.
Fans voted in our poll to select Mason Grady to make his Wales debut, with Dafydd Jenkins and Rhys Davies selected at second row and Christ Tshiunza, Tommy Reffell and Taulupe Faletau getting the nod in the back-row, with Jac Morgan named on the bench.
Fans' Wales team to face England: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Mason Grady, 12. Joe Hawkins, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Owen Williams, 9. Rhys Webb, 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Dafydd Jenkins, 5. Rhys Davies, 6. Christ Tshiunza, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16. Bradley Roberts, 17. Rhys Carre, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Alun Wyn Jones, 20. Jac Morgan, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Rhys Patchell, 23. Alex Cuthbert.
POLL: Who will win Wales v England in the Six Nations? Have your say below or right here
Davies thankful and saddened
Wales centre and Scarlets captain Jonathan Davies says he's grateful to the Six Nations squad for sticking up for players around Wales but saddened it came to this.
A deal to avert strike action for the Wales v England match was finally struck late on Wednesday, with a pledge coming that the contract freeze that has left players in limbo will be lifted from next week.
A six-year financial deal for Welsh rugby still hasn't been rubberstamped though, so Welsh regions haven't known their budgets for next season and have been unable to officially sign or retain any player, meaning 70-plus players in Wales don't know where they will be playing their rugby in a few months' time.
"The fact that some boys are coming up to March and they don't know whether they have a job in a few months' time, it's alarming and it's scary," Davies told The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast.
"You do have a short career and you have to make as much money as you can, but fundamentally it's not about money, it's about player welfare and job security. A few of the boys might have picked up bumps on the weekend and are out of contract, that's not fair, not knowing what the plan is for them and their futures.
"It's great to see that the boys in the national squad are sticking up for the whole playing population in Wales, but it's extremely sad that they have to do that in a Wales v England week."
As for bosses' plans to push down salaries in Wales, Davies said: "Covid has hit rugby for six, this is the union and the regions trying to almost push a reset button and find a way to make it through the next few years to hopefully then build back up again."
As for operations at the Scarlets, he said: "The club have been really transparent with us, giving us any updates possible. They might say 'we want to keep you' which is a good heads-up, but the electricity doesn't get paid by 'we want to keep you'.
"The club's hands are tied as well until the agreement's passed. It's almost like a vicious circle."
England welcome back Lawes as Curry out
Tom Curry will play no part in the 2023 Six Nations after being ruled out for at least four weeks with a torn hamstring.
Curry had only just returned from an injury to the hamstring on his right leg sustained on club duty for Sale against Harlequins on January 8.
The 24-year-old flanker had been due to make his comeback for England against Wales on Saturday only to damage the same muscle on his left leg in training.
Curry missed the first two rounds of the Six Nations and having impressed over 80 minutes at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday, he encountered a setback on his first full day of training with Steve Borthwick's men.
However, Courtney Lawes is in the mix for selection after returning from injury.
Ryan takes over from Sexton
James Ryan admits he has "big shoes to fill" as he prepares to captain Grand Slam-chasing Ireland against Italy in place of the injured Johnny Sexton.
Sexton's absence for Saturday's Six Nations clash in Rome was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon when Ryan was named skipper.
The 26-year-old will lead his country for the first time since last year's championship defeat to France in Paris and on a seventh occasion overall.
Sexton will travel with the squad to Stadio Olimpico after sustaining a groin problem in the round-two win over Les Bleus and lock Ryan plans to lean on his influential Leinster team-mate for guidance.
"It's obviously a huge honour," Ryan said of taking on the captaincy. "We've got a core leadership group that has been there for the last couple of years that work well together.
"But obviously he (Sexton) is big shoes to fill. He will be travelling over with us this weekend so it will be great to have him around. I spoke to him earlier this week and got his advice on a couple of things. It's great that he's travelling, I'm sure we'll catch up over there."
Read more:
Wales v England match is on as players agree to take the field amid dispute
Giant returns for young Wales team as they head into England Six Nations showdown
