Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Friday, January 6.
Hayman speaks of dementia diagnosis
New Zealand legend Carl Hayman has spoken of the devastating effect dementia is having on him
The 45-times capped prop, the best tighthead in the world in his heyday, is one of the players involved in the legal action against World Rugby and who are calling for change.
Hayman was part of the star-studded Toulon side who conquered Europe just a few years ago and also played in the English Premiership.
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He has also been affected by other off field issues.
In an interview with the Mail, Hayman says: "It's sleep deprivation, sleep disorder. I was starting to have dizzy spells, I get short-term memory loss. I will go into the kitchen and not know why I was going in there. Sometimes I drive places, go straight past the turn off, and then have to retrace my steps.
"Anxiety and depression have been other problems. There's quite a big list. Sometimes I get to the end of the day and I'm absolutely shattered and have to go to bed at seven. Our success is measured by how many episodes of Suits we can watch in an evening. It affects my self-esteem and confidence."
Hayman took one big knock to the head in an Eden Park clash with Australia in 2006, but it was the smaller, more repetitive blows which have taken their toll.
"When I was young I thought I was bulletproof and to some extent I was. I hardly got injured and didn't miss many games, but the one thing that was getting damaged on a weekly basis was my brain. If I'd known more and been more educated about what the potential risks were, I don't think I'd have left New Zealand in 2007," he says.
Former Wales stars Ryan Jones, Alix Popham and England World Cup winner Steve Thompson are also struggling and World Rugby are looking into the whole matter.
But Hayman says: "It makes me angry, to be honest. What would I say to World Rugby? I'd say stop kicking the can down the road and do something about this so the game can move on. Otherwise, this is going to keep rearing its head.
"This is an opportunity for rugby to come up with a solution and a really good product. Look at the NFL - they have a 17-game season and the product is incredible."
Wales new Six Nations worries
Warren Gatland has been handed further Six Nations worries with Owen Watkin, Dillon Lewis and Josh Navidi battling to be fir for the opener with Ireland next month.
Gatland is already without lock Will Rowlands and fly-half Gareth Anscombe for the entire tournament, with wing flier Louis Rees-Zammit another doubt.
Prop Lewis is in a brace as he recovers from a knee problem and won't play any rugby for Cardiff before the Ireland game, while Navidi has not featured since Wales' summer tour of South Africa because of a neck injury and will return in the next four weeks.
Centre Watkin is another major doubt, with the Ospreys saying it's touch and go whether he plays for the region before the Six Nations commences.
Wallabies bring back the big guns
Wales' World Cup opponents Australia have brought back the big guns as they begin preparations for the global showpiece in the autumn.
Boss Dave Rennie has named a 44-man squad for a four-day training camp on the Gold Coast and has included Kurtley Beale in it.
Two more Wallaby greats, Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi, are also named.
Veteran fly-half Bernard Foley, who played recently in the autumn Tests, makes way for the returning stars.
“We’ll use the four days to make sure players head back to their franchises with a clear understanding on what will give them the best chance of representing their country in a World Cup year," said Rennie.
Wales and Australia have been drawn in the same pool for the tournament in France, which starts in September.
Walder hits out at Premiership after 16-man fiasco
Newcastle Falcons boss Dave Walder has called on the Premiership to take action after Bath appeared to field 16 players during the final minutes of their clash at the Recreation Ground.
The Falcons lost the game 24-16, with Walder raising the issue with Paul Hull, the new RFU head of professional game match officials. He believes the situation cannot be permitted to happen again.
He said: ”There were 16 Bath players on the pitch for 34 seconds and the reality as I said to Paul Hull is it had no bearing on us winning the game – there was 1min 14 seconds left and we were eight points down. I just think that at professional level with a team of five – and I include the television match official – I don’t think it is acceptable you have 16 men on the pitch for any reason.
“The explanation I got back was that the assistant referees were aware of the situation and a Bath player was meant to be leaving on the other side of the pitch and then when the ball came towards him he didn’t. The officials acted immediately and while they held their hands up and said it was a mistake I don’t believe it should happen at professional level.
“It just added to my frustrations around the game and the communications between referee, assistant referees and TMO. The referee has ultimate control around the playing environment and the buck stops with him. The team managers give the fourth official a card about who is coming on and I would expect the official to watch who is coming off and going on. For some reason it was missed.”
Lee-Lo keen to pay back Cardiff fans
Rey Lee-Lo insists he's determined to reward the backing of the fans at the Cardiff Arms Park as the Blue and Blacks host the Scarlets on Saturday.
Cardiff take on the Llanelli-club just six days after slipping to a narrow defeat at the hands of the Ospreys in front of a bumper 12,000-strong crowd.
Another big crowd is expected this weekend, and Lee-Lo is determined to give them something to shout about after their last defeat.
He said: “It’s always special to play at the Arms Park. It’s probably one of the best stadiums out there because you are so close to the pitch and you can hear everything - we owe that crowd and ourselves one this week against Scarlets.”
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