Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, November 19.
Shaun Edwards decides future
Shaun Edwards has decided to stay with France until the 2027 World Cup after England failed to deliver an offer despite an initial meeting.
Edwards revealed the news in his Daily Mail column, also saying he would consider a return to Wales in the future and declaring his intention to become a head coach at international level.
He wrote: "Fabien Galthie asked in September if I'd be interested in staying on for a few more years and the FFR followed up by putting a long-term contract in front of me. It's all done and dusted, so now I can just focus on my job.
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"In modern sport, experienced coaches always plan a year or two ahead. You need to provide security for your family and France acknowledged that by getting the deal done quickly.
"People have asked if I wanted to join England but there was no offer on the table. I went for a walk down the River Thames with Bill Sweeney, the RFU CEO, last year but there's not been much conversation since. It's not for me to push that.
"I will always keep an open mind about coaching England, or maybe returning to Wales, but now my sole focus is on France. My French language skills aren't good enough to be a head coach, so for now I'll be continuing as defence coach.
"At some point in future I'd like to make that step up to head coach at international level. I'm 56 years old and I'd like to coach into my 70s
"There's still plenty I want to achieve, like winning the World Cup and winning a Lions series."
Wales confident on Tipuric and Lewis
Wales are confident that captain Justin Tipuric and prop Dillon Lewis will be fit to face Georgia in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon (1pm kick-off).
Both were absent from Friday's captain's run amid reports the measure was a precautionary one to manage the duo's workloads.
Tipuric is set to pack down alongside Jac Morgan and debutant No. 8 Josh Macleod in the back row, with Taulupe Faletau on the bench.
Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins will make his Wales debut from the replacements bench if called upon.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has made six changes, two of those enforced by injuries to Will Rowlands and Dan Lydiate, for this clash, resisting any temptation to opt for wholesale changes given the lower-ranked opposition. Follow live Wales v Georgia updates here.
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Competition for places in Wales squad driving Josh Adams on
Josh Adams returns to Test rugby on Saturday admitting that competition for places in Wales' back-three is "as strong as it has ever been".
Cardiff wing Adams, who was top try-scorer at the Japan-hosted 2019 World Cup, has been sidelined due to a broken bone in his hand. With Adams out, Dragons prospect Rio Dyer took his chance impressively in opening Autumn Nations Series games against New Zealand and Argentina.
Leigh Halfpenny returns from injury among the replacements when Wales tackle Georgia this weekend, with Louis Rees-Zammit filling the full-back berth and Alex Cuthbert selected as Adams' wing partner. Current outside centre George North, meanwhile, has played the vast majority of his international career as a wing, with Dyer rested against Georgia and Liam Williams currently recovering from a collarbone injury.
"Competition for places in the back-three is as strong as it has ever been, and it does drive your standards," Adams said. "With players coming in and going well, you know when you get your opportunity that you have got to take it. Rio came in and played exceptionally well, Cuthy (Alex Cuthbert) has come back in and been terrific, George (North) can slide on to the wing. Louis is having a run at full-back with Leigh and Liam to come back. The list goes on, so you have got to take every chance you get.
"The wing and full-back positions now are inter-changeable. There are a lot of similarities in the two positions - back-field coverage, aerially, defensively. It can help playing wing and 15 at Test level and will count in your favour, but as a back-three unit there are a lot of similarities. It has been like that for a while, but previously you might have more of an out and out winger, somebody who would be a bit more up and down with pace and power. Now, being good aerially, kicking, positional play are important and transferrable to being a full-back."
Georgia bid to join URC
A key meeting regarding Georgia's hopes to parachute a team into the United Rugby Championship will take place in December. It follows positive talks about a Georgian club side called the Black Lions joining the competition, according to reports, along with Europe's Challenge Cup in the future.
Georgia are Wales' next autumn opponents, and their status as a dominant force in Europe's second tier was solidified with a 28-19 summer home win against Italy, who just a few months earlier had beat Wales in a shock Six Nations win.
"It is a big honour for us to play in Wales," said Georgia Rugby president Soso Tkemaladze. "The Italy game was one step higher with the Georgian team saying, we won, we are ready and want to play seriously. That's why we are asking the whole world that we need more competitive games. This is our main goal. We are ready to fight and show people what we can do."
Portugal reach Rugby World Cup and will face Wales
Portugal secured a World Cup place for only the second time in their history with the last kick of a 16-16 draw with the United States in the final qualification tournament. The Europeans, whose only other appearance was in 2007, needed only a draw to secure the last tournament spot due to their superior points difference and Samuel Marques' penalty clinched it in dramatic fashion.
It means Portugal go into a group with Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia for the men's World Cup in France next year. It is only the second time Portugal have qualified in 10 World Cups, while the USA missing out for a second time is a major blow for the Eagles given they will be hosting the 2031 men's and 2033 women's events.
"For the rugby community this is amazing, we've been missing [from the World Cup] for quite some time and we need a new generation to inspire the kids," Portugal captain Tomas Appleton said in his post-match interview.
Wales and Portugal have only met once before, in a World Cup qualifier in 1994, when Wales recorded a 102-11 victory as wing Nigel Walker ran in four of their 16 tries.
Read more:
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