Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, October 14.
Dragons appeal for help
The Dragons are appealing for help after one of their staff members was the victim of an alleged late-night robbery.
Gwent Police want to speak to a man they have released a picture of following reports of an incident in Newport near Newport Town Bridge at around 1.55am on Sunday, October 2.
A Gwent Police spokesperson said: “We’re investigating a report of a robbery after a man was attacked near Newport Town Bridge on Clarence Place, at around 1.55am on Sunday, October 2 and had his bag stolen.
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“Officers would now like to speak to the man pictured who was in the area at the time and may have information that can help with our enquiries. If you were in this part of Newport town centre in the early hours of Sunday, October 2 or have any information you believe can help our investigation, please get in touch with us.”
Anyone with any information can call 101, or can send Gwent Police a direct message on social media, quoting log reference 2200333477. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with information.
Dragons said on social media: "Any help with this police appeal or spreading the message would be much appreciated, after an incident involving a member of staff here at Dragons - thank you all for your support".
England amend eligibility rules for Wasps and Worcester players
Wasps and Worcester Warriors players who are forced to leave the English system to find club rugby will be eligible for England selection up until the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, The Times is reporting.
Players must be based in England to run out for Eddie Jones' side, but a recent Professional Game Board meeting saw an exception granted in light of the current crises both Premiership clubs are facing.
Players are said to need to return to playing in England post-World Cup to be selected for the 2024 Six Nations.
Ex-Wales coaches shocked and saddened
Former Wales coaches Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley have spoken of their shock and sadness at the financial state of their former club Wasps.
Wasps' game with Exeter Chiefs this weekend has been suspended amid reports the club is headed for administration, which would result in relegation to the Championship.
Former Wales defence guru Edwards, who credits playing for Wasps with allowing him to have a relationship with his son, admitted in his Daily Mail column: "What has happened at Wasps has really shocked me. I had no idea they were in so much trouble. It is sad to see as the club means so much to me — and a lot of other people.
"The club was a big part of my life. Without Wasps, it would have been difficult for me to have a relationship with my son. I wanted to prove myself in rugby union, but another huge reason for me going to Wasps was that it was in west London, close to where my son was.
"I still have friends at the club so I hope they find a way out of this."
Howley, who tasted Premiership and Heineken Cup glory with the side, said: "It will be a very sad time for all of us who enjoyed our involvement with the club. I feel sorry for the players and the coaches who are caught in the middle of this situation, but I also feel very sad for the fans."
The former Wales attack coach hopes new owners/stewards of the club take the right steps to give Wasps a "fighting chance to return to the Premiership".
"I know we’ve seen Worcester Warriors lose a lot of their players, but the people behind the scenes need to do everything they can to keep as many of the players as possible together in order to get back to the top as soon as possible – the club game in England needs a strong Wasps," he said.
Howley, who famously scored the winning try against Toulouse in the 2004 Heineken Cup final, added: "When you look back over the history of the Premiership, Wasps are right up there with the likes of Leicester, Bath and Saracens as one of the best teams. They have been dining at the top table of the English game for a long, long time and English rugby will be all the poorer for not having them there."
'Ospreys have come to play against Stormers'
Shane Williams believes the Ospreys' selection of George North on the wing rather than centre means they will turn up to play some real rugby against last season's United Rugby Championship league winners Stormers.
Toby Booth's men host the South African side on Friday evening (7.35pm kick-off, live on Premier Sports).
“The Ospreys' new style and brand of rugby is trying to get their danger men involved in the game," Williams, part of Premier Sports' team this weekend, said.
"They’ve moved George North from centre to the wing, which is great. But if he doesn't get any ball he’s redundant and it's a complete waste of time. So I think the mindset is we’ve got Keelan Giles on good form, we've got George North who can play on the wing and we know he's an out-and-out try-scorer. So if that's the case, that means that the Ospreys have come to play.
"Defensively Ospreys are going to have to be on top of their game - they do look more organised. This season they’ve played some lovely rugby ball in hand, with the likes of Keelan Giles on form and in a bit of space. But they’ve switched off in parts of games and conceded tries and what we know from the Stormers is they are more than capable of scoring tries from anywhere on the field - so that's a big ask. If it works out as I'm thinking, it could be a very open game."
Eddie Jones not viewing World Cup as swansong
Eddie Jones is determined for his long-standing association with the World Cup to continue beyond the conclusion of his England tenure next autumn.
Jones will step down after eight years in charge once France 2023 is complete and could return to his homeland Australia having been linked with a director of rugby role with the Wallabies.
Whatever his destination, the 62-year-old does not see his fifth World Cup being his last despite previously declaring that he would retire to Barbados to watch cricket when his time with England was over.
"No. Definitely not. It won't be. I can't guarantee you that, but I don't think it will be," said Jones, who has led England and Australia to World Cup finals and also won the competition as an assistant coach with South Africa. I reckon there's still a bit to do. There's still a bit in the tank. I rang up the boss of the Barbados IPL and he's not interested..."
England begin the countdown to the World Cup this autumn when they face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham.
Once the Six Nations is complete they will play four warm-up games and the challenge facing Jones is to propel the team forwards while not revealing the details of their masterplan for the tournament.
"The one thing you want to be doing from here to the World Cup - and every coach will say the same - is improving," he said. "You don't want to be static and you don't want to show everything. If you show everything then teams come up with plans to stop you doing that. We want to win every Test in November but we don't want to be showing any tactical developments that maybe we'll want to use in the World Cup. You don't want to show it in the warm-up games. You want to be able to do it on the training paddock consistently then be able to do it bang at the World Cup."
Read more:
Wales could name new rugby captain imminently as leading candidate emerges
Cardiff v Dragons team news as Josh Adams fit and visitors make eight changes
Today's rugby news as plans made to cut another English Premiership team and Wales make four changes
Scarlets v Zebre team news as ex-Wales captain plays for first time this season
Welsh rugby's star summer signing banned for a month after 'moment of madness'
