Here are your rugby headlines for Monday, April 10.
Wales fly-half 'number one target' for region
Dragons fly-half Sam Davies is reportedly Cardiff's "number one target" as he considers a move away from Rodney Parade.
WalesOnline reported last month that the Wales fly-half could leave the Dragons, with the Arms Park side having been mentioned as a possible destination.
France was also named as a possible path the fly-half could head down.
Now the Rugby Paper report that Davies is apparently Cardiff's main target, days after coach Dai Young spoke highly of another Welsh fly-half Rhys Patchell. French Pro D2 clubs Oyonnax and Grenoble were also linked.
Cardiff are in need of a new fly-half with Rhys Priestland looking likely to retire and Jarrod Evans heading for Harlequins next season.
Vunipola's World Cup hopes suffer blow
Billy Vunipola's World Cup hopes took a blow after the England star limped out of Saracens' European Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle on Easter Sunday.
The 30-year-old limped out during the first half of the game, which his side lost 24-10, and left on crutches as the Top 14 outfit booked their place in the semi-finals, where they will take on Exeter Chiefs.
Vunipola is set to undergo a scan this week, and Saracens will be desperately hoping he is fit for their home Premiership semi-final next month. England boss Steve Borthwick might well feel a little anxious too, with a World Cup just around the corner.
“It’s a huge worry,” Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said. “I’ve never seen Billy come off on a stretcher. He’s on crutches and he’ll need a scan when we get home. We have five weeks before a home semi-final in the Premiership and I am glad we have that luxury.”
Tuipulotu keeping feet on the ground ahead of Scarlets semi-final
Glasgow centre Sione Tuipulotu has his feet firmly on the ground after helping the Scottish outfit reach their first European semi-final. Franco Smith’s side beat the Lions 31-21 at Scotstoun on Saturday night to set up a Challenge Cup semi-final meeting with Scarlets in Llanelli.
But Tuipulotu feels they will need to be better against Dwayne Peel's side.
“The key thing for me is to keep a level head,” the Scotland international said. “They pushed back a little bit in the second half like we knew they would. For us it was about limiting their opportunities and taking away some of their strengths.
“I thought we did that well in periods but we need an 80-minute performance moving into the semi-final and into the final. I’m just relieved we got it done. We made it a little bit hard for ourselves at the end there but I was happy with out first-half defensive performance and then after that we did well to hold on.”
Peel looking forward to Glasgow clash
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel says he's looking forward to a “massive occasion” when his side take on Glasgow Warriors in the European Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday, April 29.
Peel's side booked their place in the last four courtesy of a dramatic late win over Clermont Auvergne at Parc y Scarlets, a win that hands them the luxury of home advantage.
“When you look at this competition, finishing top of the table in the pool stages to secure home advantage has been huge,” said Peel. “It will be a massive occasion. Being at home does not necessarily mean you are going to win the game but it helps and for our fantastic supporters, it’s a massive day out. To have an occasion at home for our supporters is something we will all look forward to.”
Reflecting on the 32-30 victory over Clermont, Peel added: “It was an emotional night in many ways. It was a massive win in the end. We snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
“After 65 minutes I thought we had lost it. Clermont in the second half were powerful, they kept us in the 22 and at that stage I thought there was only going to be one winner.
“Credit to the boys, they fought so hard. We were clinical when we needed to be and I am proud of the effort and character we showed to stay in that game. There is a lot of work to do but the spirit and fight was huge, the way we came back to win the game was fantastic.”
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