Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, February 18.
'It's important we back Rio Dyer'
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan says it’s important to back Wales youngster Rio Dyer. The wing missed a try chance against Scotland last time out and was upbraided by Dan Biggar after throwing a loose pass in his 22.
But the 23-year-old hasn’t hidden at any point in this Six Nations and was hailed in some quarters as Wales’ most dangerous player against Ireland.
Asked to assess his efforts, Flanagan said: “I’ve just seen Rio, a young kid who’s fully committed to the cause.
“I thought he was one of the standout players in week one against Ireland when it was tough, but Rio stood up. I thought he did well with everything he did. There were a couple of errors against Scotland, but that’s life. He’s a young kid, he’s going to make errors.
“It’s important we back him. And I’m sure next time he’ll play better.”
Louis Rees-Zammit is set to be fit to face England, leaving Warren Gatland with a call over who to leave out in his back three. In Dyer’s favour, he has made the most metres and the most clean breaks of Wales players in the opening two Six Nations rounds, with only Liam Williams beating more defenders.
Moriarty: 'It's really sad it's got to this stage'
Wales back-rower Ross Moriarty is one of the 70-plus players in Welsh rugby who are out of contract in just a few months' time.
The Wales international admitted he is in limbo, telling Scrum V of the uncertainty: "It's very stressful, especially for players like myself who are out of contract this season. I think the way it's been handled and how long it's taken to get to this stage of when you can start speaking to people about contracts and how much money is going to be there, it's the middle of February. In the past, you would have had something done before Christmas.
"People don't see the effect it can have on people's personal lives. Willis [Halaholo] has put out a pretty big statement about how it's affecting him and the situation he's in. It's not nice to see. It is really sad that it's got to this stage in Welsh rugby because it's such an established brand. How has it got to this situation?"
Would you support Welsh rugby players taking strike action amid contracts turmoil? Have your say here
'It's not about money'
Former Wales scrum-half and Cardiff Rugby assistant coach Richie Rees insists Welsh players' contract worries are about job security, not money.
Wales players are set to consider whether to go on strike ahead of Wales v England next weekend amid ongoing uncertainty in Welsh rugby, with players currently unable to put pen to paper on contracts for next season due to the Welsh Rugby Union and four regions being unable to formally agree a long-term funding deal.
It leaves players who are out of contract in just a few months in limbo, not knowing definitively if they have a job for next season. One such player is Dragons centre Jack Dixon, who this week said: “My contract runs out in three or four months’ time. I have a two-year-old son in the house, my wife is pregnant with another baby towards the end of this year and I don’t know if I’ve got income coming in June, July and next year yet. Nothing’s been said. The uncertainty to us as human beings is appalling." Read the full interview here.
Appearing as a pundit on Scrum V's coverage of Munster v Ospreys on Friday night, Cardiff's attack coach Rees was asked whether off-field matters were now affecting players' on-field performances.
"From a Cardiff angle, the players have been training outstandingly well over the last few months but ultimately it's in the back of their mind, they're talking about it in the changing rooms," he said. "Jack Dixon was probably right in what he said, that there's probably a misconception around 'it's about money'. It's not about money. It's about people knowing when they're going to be paid and who's going to pay them in three or four months' time. Ultimately, it's about job security."
Welsh side bid to end Celtic Challenge on a high
Wales' Celtic Challenge team is boosted by the experience of fly-half Robyn Wilkins as they look to end their tournament on a high in Belfast on Saturday, where they face a Combined Provinces XV who are unbeaten in their first two outings.
In the reverse fixture in Cardiff last month, the Irish edged it 27-26.
Wilkins is one of several senior internationals named in the machday 23, with both sides building towards the 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations which kicks off in late March. Wales kick their campaign off against Ireland on March 25 in Cardiff.
Swansea-born New Zealand naval officer Kate Williams, who was a late call-up to the World Cup squad last autumn, gets a runout in the back row having impressed in the 21-7 defeat at home to the Scottish Thistles last weekend.
"Last weekend’s game highlighted a few errors that we have got to get right. Our set piece had been working really well for us, but it faltered for the first time,” said Welsh coach Mike Hill. “Without a solid set piece it is hard to get into the game. Possession and territory comes off the back of that. Some of the individual intent to play was outstanding and the work-rate from the backs, in particular, was great. The Thistles put us under a lot of pressure physically and it will be the same in Ireland."
Combined Irish Provinces XV: Ella Durkan; Aoife Doyle, Aoife Dalton, Kayla Waldron, Natasja Behan; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Sadhbh McGrath, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Christy Haney, Clodagh O'Halloran, Fiona Tuite, Brittany Hogan, Molly Boyne, Hannah O'Connor (capt).
Replacements: Jess Keating, Niamh O'Dowd, Linda Djougang, Claire Bennett, Maeve Óg O'Leary, Ailsa Hughes, Aoife Wafer, Meabh Deely.
WRU Development XV: Caitlin Lewis; Amelia Tutt, Jenna De Vera, Niamh Terry, Molly Phillpot; Robyn Wilkins, Molly Reardon; Rosie Carr, Kat Evans, Danielle Dinapoli, Charlie Mundy, Abbie Fleming (capt), Kate Williams, Melissa Gnojek, Bryonie King.
Replacements: Tara Finnegan, Mica Evans, Katie Carr, Katie Jenkins, Kira Phillpot, Niamh Tinman, Chelsea Jones, Anwen Owen.
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