Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, December 5.
WRU admit off-field uncertainty affecting players' performances
New Welsh Rugby Union chair Ieuan Evans empathises with anxious players who are out of contract next summer and feeling the effects of a current recruitment freeze in Welsh rugby.
While the WRU and four regions continue to thrash out a new funding deal for the game in Wales, regions don't know their budgets for next season and aren't able to sign or re-sign players. Players publicly demanded an imminent end to the delay through the Welsh Rugby Players' Association.
Former Wales captain Evans empathises with out-of-contract players who cannot secure employment in Wales beyond the next six months or so. Asked specifically for his message to players who say the off-field uncertainty is affecting performances, Evans told Scrum V: "I could fully understand why it does. We're doing this for the betterment of the game moving forward. We have to find a model that best suits us going forward. We can't carry on doing the same thing hoping for a different outcome. I think it's quite obvious that that doesn't work. I've been a professional player. I fully understand the anxieties they are feeling, it's their livelihood, their family's, and I fully understand that."
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Asked when the regions will know their budgets for next season, he said: "The people in the room are discussing it. Progress is being made, probably frustratingly slow for lots of people. Understandable why there's speculation on why we haven't got to where we'd like to get to. But progress is being made."
Evans also admitted he doesn't want any player to leave Wales because of this issue. The interview was conducted shortly before Wales lock Will Rowlands agreed to join Racing 92 next season after the Dragons could not offer him a new deal which reflected his rise to prominence.
"I don't want any player to leave Wales," the new chairman added. "I want our best talent, best Welsh talent, here playing within our borders because it's important not only to benefit our international team but also because the Welsh public deserves the opportunity to see the best talent."
Wayne Pivac and Eddie Jones to discover fates
Wayne Pivac is set to learn whether he will continue as Wales head coach early this week as a Welsh Rugby Union review into a dismal Test campaign nears its conclusion.
After a woeful autumn campaign which registered a shock defeat to Georgia, Pivac departing from the role he has held since the end of 2019 seems the most likely scenario, although the Kiwi believes he still has the backing of senior players. The WRU would then be hopeful of appointing his predecessor Warren Gatland on a short-term basis to lead Wales to the 2023 World Cup while they look to appoint a successor.
However, events at Twickenham could have a major impact. Eddie Jones is set to discover his own fate and should he leave, Gatland also happens to be one of the candidates English bosses are strongly considering amid reports of talks having taken place. Follow live updates here.
Scarlets defeated as Lions claim back-to-back URC wins
Scarlets suffered a 32-15 United Rugby Championship away defeat to Lions, who made it back-to-back wins at Emirates Airline Park.
A brace from man-of-the-match Emmanuel Tshituka helped the Johannesburg-based outfit clinch a bonus-point success with Rabz Maxwane and Jaco Kriel also crossing over.
It was a fourth-consecutive loss for visiting Scarlets, who grabbed tries from Dan Davis, Tom Rodgers and Sam Lousi but left with nothing to show for their effort. Read the full match report here.
Lions to launch first women's team
The British and Irish Lions are set to launch a women's tour once they can find a gap for it in the global calendar, and could head to New Zealand first.
Talks are now centred on a venue and opposition, the Daily Mail reports, following the huge success of the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand this autumn where hosts Black Ferns ended England's 30-game unbeaten run to defend their trophy.
Lions chairman Ieuan Evans, now WRU chair, has insisted there is no need for a cross-border women’s team to mirror the men's schedule and venues, with the next men's Lions tour set for Australia in 2025. Forging its own path for a women's schedule would be logical, given that not all of the Lions' traditional opponents also boast heavyweights of women's rugby. New Zealand and Australia certainly do, but the likes of Canada or France would prove to be more meaningful opposition than the developing South Africa.
Any women's Lions team would likely be dominated by England players, but Wales, Ireland and Scotland are making progress after moving from their previous amateur status.
"I chaired the feasibility study on the women’s Lions, a recommendation went to board and it was accepted," Evans told the Mail. "Those discussions are ongoing but they’re very positive. The feedback and response we’ve had from players and unions, sponsors and broadcasters, has been excellent.
"Look at the women’s World Cup. Talk about transformational and inspiring. The quality of the rugby was off-the-charts good. It really is an opportunity for us. It’s a question of when and finding a slot. Why wouldn’t the Lions, who are such a totemic entity, have a women’s team?"
Wales players key in Premier 15s table climb
A Gloucester-Hartpury Women's side packed with Wales internationals moved top of England's Premier 15s table courtesy of a 10-try 67-3 thrashing of Wasps this weekend.
The victors recruited strongly over the summer, while Wasps lost talent amid uncertainty surrounding the side's future.
Wales second-row Gwen Crabb scored a hat-trick for Gloucester-Hartpury, while there was an all-Welsh front row in Cara Hope, Kelsey Jones and Cerys Hale with Bethan Lewis in the back row. Wales captain Hannah Jones combined with international teammate Kerin Lake in midfield, while Wales fly-half Lleucu George was pulling the strings at No. 10.
After a third victory of the new season, it means the Cherry and Whites overtake defending champions Saracens, who lost at Harlequins.
Saracens dropped to fifth in the table after losing 19-10 to Quins at Twickenham Stoop.
Sale are second after coming from behind to beat Loughborough 15-14.
Bristol and Exeter complete the top four with both sides on 10 points after the Bears beat DMP Sharks 84-12 and the Chiefs won 62-18 against Worcester.
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