Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, May 9.
Welsh youngster targets Italy national side
Young Welsh three-quarter Ben Cambriani has signed for United Rugby Championship side Zebre, and will try to fight his way into the Italian national team, according to his new club.
Former Ospreys player Cambriani makes the move from English side Ampthill, where he has impressed over the past couple of seasons, scoring tries for fun and being named in the English Championship team of last season.
His grandfather was born in Rome before moving to Wales in the 1960s, and the 23-year-old is the son of former Swansea and Welsh rugby league player Adrian Cambriani.
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Adrian made his debut for Swansea at the age of just 17, scoring against Welsh Academicals before touching down twice in his second game, against Aberavon, four days after his 18th birthday. But he then decamped to newly formed rugby league outfit Fulham, playing in the first game they ever played and scoring two tries in a 24-5 win over Wigan. A year later he was playing Test rugby for Wales in league.
As for Cambriani Jnr, who has represented Wales at U-16s, U-18s and sevens, his new Italian side are excited to have signed him, saying in a statement the "explosive" youngster "is ready to make his debut and get involved in the two international tournaments, the URC and EPCR Challenge Cup, to earn his chance with the Italian national team".
Cambriani said: “I am very happy to join Zebre. As a team, they have a very fast and expansive style of play which suits my characteristics. Also, I have seen a lot of young players grow up at the club over the last few years. It is the ideal environment and time to seize this opportunity and embrace this challenge. I cannot wait to start."
Dallaglio faces bankruptcy petition over £700k debt
A judge has given former England rugby union star and BT Sport commentator Lawrence Dallaglio time to clear a tax debt of about £700,000.
Judge Sebastian Prentis considered Dallaglio's case at an Insolvency and Companies Court hearing in London after HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) officials lodged a bankruptcy petition.
Dallaglio, 50, is trying to raise money by selling a property, an HMRC representative told the judge on Tuesday.
A judge will reconsider the case in about three months, the court was told.
Dallaglio, part of the England side that won the World Cup in 2003, was not at the hearing.
He was listed by his full name - Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio - on court papers and represented by a lawyer.
Townsend to stay
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is excited about having the chance to "drive the team forward" in the coming years after signing a contract extension until April 2026.
The 50-year-old's previous deal was due to expire after the World Cup in France this autumn, and there had been intense speculation prior to this year's Six Nations that he would be leaving his post as - at that point - there had been no talks with the Scottish Rugby Union about an extension.
However, a strong tournament in which the Scots finished third appears to have persuaded Townsend's paymasters that he deserves the chance to continue leading the team for the next three years.
"Being head coach of Scotland is a tremendous honour and I'm excited about the potential of the current squad of players and the game they can deliver against the best teams in the world," said Townsend, who is already Scotland's longest-serving head coach after taking the reins almost six years ago.
"I also feel the connection the team has with the country is special and that our supporters are backing the team like never before.
"The number of people who arrive two hours early to welcome the team off the bus on a home matchday demonstrates the love shown for this group of players and their belief that the squad can achieve something special.
"Our focus right now remains on Rugby World Cup preparations, but I am delighted to have secured my future for the next few years and look forward to continuing to do all I can to drive the team forward and inspire our supporters."
Scotland World Cup squad
Former Scotland captains Stuart Hogg and Stuart McInally remain on course for World Cup swansongs after the pair were named in Gregor Townsend's 41-man pre-tournament training squad on Tuesday.
The experienced duo announced recently that they will retire from rugby to pursue other interests after this year's showpiece in France.
While Exeter full-back Hogg was always expected to be included in the squad, there was some doubt about whether Edinburgh hooker McInally would be included.
In a squad of few major surprises, Glasgow back Stafford McDowall and Leicester lock Cam Henderson are the only uncapped players included, although both were involved in the Six Nations squad earlier this year.
Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham and Glasgow flanker Rory Darge are both back in the mix after missing the Six Nations through injury.
Exeter second row Jonny Gray has not been included after suffering a knee injury recently, while Fraser Brown, Johnny Matthews and Mark Bennett are among the most notable absentees.
The 41-player group will gather for an initial training camp on 29 May to begin preparations for warm-up matches at home to France, Italy and Georgia and away to the French in July and August.
The squad will then be trimmed to 33 ahead of the tournament in which Scotland will be in a group alongside South Africa, Ireland, Tonga and Romania. Their first match is against the Springboks in Marseille on Sunday 10 September.
Read more:
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Powerful Welsh star turns down Cardiff contract for move back to rival region
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