Here are the latest rugby headlines for Friday, April 28.
Llanelli withdraw from another fixture
Llanelli RFC have pulled out of a Welsh Premiership fixture for the second consecutive weekend.
Last week, the club pulled out of a Premiership clash with Merthyr, posting on social media: "Unfortunately, a combination of injuries and unavailability of players has meant we are unable to fulfil Saturday’s Indigo Premiership fixture against @RFCMerthyr. We would like to thank Merthyr and both sets of supporters for their understanding."
The result of that withdrawal was a 20-0 walkover for Merthyr. And now Llanelli have handed Newport an identical scoreline after being unable to field a team this weekend as well.
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"Unfortunately we are unable to fulfil Saturday’s fixture at Newport," posted the club on Twitter after Newport had confirmed the game had been cancelled.
The news has been met with criticism online, with several slamming the optics of pulling out of another fixture. One user called it a "disgrace", while another called it "pathetic and disrespectful to the league".
The inability to fulfil fixtures comes after Llanelli announced last month it was pulling out of the Indigo Premiership next season due to player demands from Scarlets amid budget cuts. The league will go ahead next season with 13 teams.
At the time they announced their intention to withdraw from next season's competition, Llanelli, who have won only twice this season, the club said their intention was to fulfil their remaining fixtures this campaign.
Biggar starts in European semi-final
Toulon have named a fully-loaded team for their Challenge Cup semi-final with Benetton, with Wales fly-half Dan Biggar starting as he goes in search of a first piece of silverware with his new club.
Biggar joined the club last November after leaving Northampton Saints. He starts Sunday's semi-final alongside Baptiste Serin in the half-backs, with Duncan Paia’aua and Waisea Vuidravuwalu starting in midfield. Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe starts at full-back, with Jiuta Naqoli Wainiqolo and France international Gabin Villière joining him in the back-three.
The pack is equally strong with Italy legend Sergio Parisse at number eight alongside France star Charles Ollivon and the powerful Cornell du Preez. Mathieu Tanguy and Brian Alainu’uese are the locks while props Dany Priso and Beka Gigashvili will pack down either side of hooker Teddy Baubigny.
A Toulon win could see Biggar face Welsh side Scarlets if they beat Glasgow in their own semi-final.
Kolisi has knee operation
Siya Kolisi could still lead the Springboks at the World Cup after he underwent surgery on his injured knee on Friday. That's according to a report in South Africa which says the 31-year-old forward had the operation in Cape Town with a view to ensuring he has the best chance of making it to France in September.
“Siya has been consulting specialists all week and the consensus is that if he has the surgery now he is likely to be available for the World Cup,” a source close to Kolisi told IOL.
The report adds that Kolisi's wife, Rachel, confirmed that he had the surgery. She said her World Cup-winning husband could not receive his National Order of Ikhamanga award because “he is in hospital for surgery on his knee.”
Australia to try out new white jersey before World Cup
Australia coach Eddie Jones has confirmed that the Wallabies will wear new white jerseys in a World Cup warm-up match against France in August in response to new guidelines to help colour-blind supporters.
The Wallabies will not be able to wear the famous gold in their pool match against Portugal in France later this year, with Jones confirming they will try out the new white jerseys ahead of the tournament to get prepared for the switch.
Jones told ABC News: “We just have to make sure the players are used to it. The big thing with colours is you have to be used to them, you have to be able to identify your teammates very quickly. It’s not our choice, it’s forced on us by the organisers of the World Cup. I don’t worry about things we can’t control. It’s there so we’ll make the best of it.”
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