Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, August 19.
Scarlets coach impressed by All Black
Scarlets coach Dwyane Peel has declared himself delighted with new signing Vaea Fifita. The All Black is the region's star signing of the summer and has been in Wales for a few weeks as the Scarlets trained in Pembrey.
Peel likes what he's seen so far, adding: "He has been excellent. He is obviously a quality player and he's shown those qualities. He has fitted in really well and spoken up when he's needed to.
"He's been good and I think he is enjoying it. From my end, he's slotted in really well and I'm looking forward to seeing him play."
Fifita, 29, has been capped 11 times by the All Blacks and can play second row or in the back row. He has joined from English Premiership side Wasps.
Wallabies coach gone after record defeat
Australia defence coach Matt Taylor has resigned for personal reasons less than a week after the Wallabies conceded seven tries in a record 48-17 loss to Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
Taylor met with head coach Dave Rennie, with both men agreeing it was the "right time" for him to go and focus on "some personal matters".
"While this was an extremely difficult decision, I know it's the right one for me and my family at this point in time," Taylor, who joined in 2020, said on Friday morning.
"I'm looking forward to spending more time with them and look forward to getting back into coaching when the time is right."
Rugby Australia are yet to announce a replacement. The Wallabies, who are in Wales' World Cup group, have two Tests against world champions South Africa over the next few weeks.
Welsh Prem gets live TV deal
S4C will show matches from every round of the Indigo Welsh Premiership this season, it has been announced.
S4C’s coverage gets underway at Sardis Road on Saturday 3 September, with a live broadcast of the match between Pontypridd and reigning champions Cardiff. The match will be televised on S4C and shown online on S4C Clic, with kick off at 5.30pm. English match commentary will also be available.
On Thursday 8 September, the match between Swansea and Aberavon will be shown online on S4C Clic, S4C YouTube page and the S4C Chwaraeon Facebook Page, with kick off at 7.30pm.
Newport host Cardiff on Thursday 22 September, with the match being shown online from 7.30pm. A week later on Thursday 29 September, there will be live online coverage of Bridgend v Merthyr (7.30pm), while Ebbw Vale v Llandovery will be broadcast online on Thursday 6 October (7.30pm).
Sue Butler, S4C Sports Commissioner, said: "The Indigo Group Premiership is the pinnacle of Welsh club rugby and is an important foundation of our national game. S4C is committed to showing Welsh sport across all of our platforms and we’re looking forward to some cracking Thursday night games."
Wasps chased by HMRC
Wasps are the latest English Premiership side being chased by HM Revenue & Customs over an unpaid tax bill, the Telegraph report.
The news comes days after it was revealed Worcester Warriors face a winding-up petition from HMRC. Wasps chief executive, Stephen Vaughan, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
There have been fears for Wasps' future for months after the club announced a delay in repaying those to have invested in a £35 million bond scheme that helped pay for the 2014 purchase of a 250-year lease on the Coventry Building Society Arena.
They also requested £13 million in public money from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in June to help pay stadium costs.
The most recent set of accounts, covering the year ending June 2021, show a loss of £18.5 million over a two-year period and had net current liabilities of £54.7 million, the report says.
Read more:
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England wing targeted to replace new Welsh superstar after horrific misfortune
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