Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, May 13.
Hawkins' Ospreys salary emerges
Five-cap Wales international Joe Hawkins was earning £20,000 a year on an academy contract while representing Wales in the Six Nations, it has been claimed.
The five-cap centre made his Wales debut against Australia last autumn and was a Six Nations regular under Warren Gatland, but the 20-year-old has been ruled ineligible to represent Wales for the foreseeable future having signed for Exeter Chiefs next season from the Ospreys. It was confirmed last week that he would be ineligible for World Cup and Test selection moving forward.
The Daily Mail report he was earning £20,000 a year on an academy contract while representing Wales in the Six Nations, and despite ticking the right boxes for his salary to increase significantly under Welsh rugby’s previous pay banding system, the Ospreys did not hike up Hawkins’ pay packet and neither did the WRU step in.
They also say Hawkins signed a heads of terms contract with Exeter prior to his first Wales squad call-up but this did not meet the requirements of the Welsh Rugby Union and the Professional Rugby Board. Had he officially signed before his Test debut, things could have been different.
Hawkins alluded to the financial situation when explaining his move to Exeter on social media.
"While I have spent the last three years playing professional rugby, and later international rugby, I have been held to an academy contract being significantly underpaid," Hawkins said in a public statement. "I want to acknowledge that by signing for Exeter Chiefs, my first professional contract, I have fully prioritised my rugby career. I have done so with my professional development, personal development and financial security in mind."
Wales players bid for silverware
A number of Wales internationals will continue their bids to lift club silverware this weekend.
Wales centre Nick Tompkins starts for Saracens in their Gallagher Premiership semi-final against Northampton Saints on Saturday, May 13 (3.30pm kick-off). Five-time champions Sarries are featuring in their 14th Premiership semi-final and are aiming to win their first title since the 2018-19 campaign, having dramatically lost to Leicester in last year's final.
On Sunday, Sale Sharks host Leicester Tigers in the other last-four fixture (3pm kick-off), with Wales flanker Tommy Reffell starting at No. 7 for the Tigers.
In Japan, Cory Hill's Yokohama Canon Eagles will test themselves against defending Japan Rugby League One champions Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights in the semi-finals, however the Wales lock is absent from the matchday squad.
Next weekend, Dan Biggar will bid to take Toulon to Challenge Cup glory when they face Glasgow Warriors in the final on Friday, May 19.
As for Wales Women internationals, England's top-flight Premier 15s - which all of Wales' starters play their club rugby in - resumes on Saturday following the Women's Six Nations, with four rounds of fixtures left to solidify the top four for the semi-finals on June 10 and the final on June 24.
URC finalists to be confirmed
A place in the United Rugby Championship final is at stake on Saturday, May 13, as DHL Stormers, Connacht, Leinster and Munster look to go one step closer to being crowned 2022/23 champions.
Holders the DHL Stormers face Connacht in Cape Town (3pm UK kick-off time) after they overcame South African rivals the Vodacom Bulls while the Irish province came out on top in their derby at Ulster.
There is also a huge all-Irish encounter in the other semi-final as Leinster take on Munster (5.30pm kick-off) after beating the Cell C Sharks and Glasgow Warriors respectively.
DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse, Angelo Davids, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff (captain), Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Ben-Jason Dixon, Ruben van Heerden, Willie Engelbrecht, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos.
Replacements: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Connor Evans, Marcel Theunissen, Paul de Wet, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Jack Carty (captain), Caolin Blade, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Niall Murray, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Byron Ralston.
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Charlie Ngatai, Dave Kearney, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath (captain), Michael Milne, Rónan Kelleher, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ryan Baird, Jason Jenkins, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan.
Replacements: John McKee, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Nick McCarthy, Ciarán Frawley, Liam Turner.
Munster: Mike Haley, Keith Earls, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Ben Healy, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony (captain), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
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