Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, September 5.
Press conference to reveal all
A press conference will reveal the circumstances surrounding the mysterious end of Virimi Vakatawa's rugby career in France. Vakatawa will speak to the media and public at noon on Tuesday in Paris after his club Racing 92 today announced he had been banned from ever playing in France again on medical grounds.
That decision was taken by the French rugby authorities (LNR) but no further details were made public. Racing's statement simply read: "Racing 92 has just been informed of the decision of the LNR's medical committee to ban Virimi Vakatawa from continuing his professional career as a rugby player in France.
"Particularly saddened by this terrible announcement, Racing 92 gives its full support to Virimi Vakatawa and immediately put in place all the arrangements to support its emblematic player as best as possible in these particularly difficult times."
Read more: Welsh rugby's winners and losers as new outside-half looks real deal
The 30-year-old Fijian-born centre is one of the best players in the world and played in both of France's last internationals against Japan earlier this summer.
Welshman named most underrated player in England
Welshman Sam Lewis and former Welsh Premiership winger Tom O'Flaherty have both been named as the most underrated players in the English Premiership by rival coaches.
Flanker Lewis is currently on trial at Bristol after being let go by cash-strapped Worcester Warriors at the end of last season. Winger O'Flaherty, who previously played for Bridgend Ravens and the Ospreys and studied at university in Wales, will play for Sale Sharks this season after leaving Exeter Chiefs following a five-year stint.
During a round-table discussion between all the head coaches and directors of rugby in the Premiership, each of them was asked by The Telegraph to name the most underrated player in the league.
Phil Dowson, Northampton Saints director of rugby, said: “Sam Lewis, who was at Worcester and is on trial at Bristol now. Class bloke off the pitch, can do a lot of things on the pitch. I was lucky enough to play alongside him and he’s brilliant."
Rob Baxter, Exeter Chiefs director of rugby, said: “I can still say it even though he has moved but I always thought Tom O’Flaherty was underrated. He never really seemed to be talked about around international rugby but he produced for us every week."
Alex Sanderson, Sale Sharks director of rugby, added: “I’m biased, but I’m going to say Tom O’Flaherty. And the stats from last season prove it as far as his metres on the field. He’s wild, brilliant and fun off the field, too. We’ve got a good player and a good lad, there."
All Black backed to shine in Welsh rugby move
Vaea Fifita has been backed to shine in the United Rugby Championship after switching Wasps for Scarlets. The All Black, capped 11 times before changing international allegiance to Tonga, made his debut for the side in the pre-season encounter with Bristol on Friday night.
Legendary former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith believes his former player will significantly strengthen the west Wales side. "He's one hell of an athlete if you get him fit and motivated,” said Smith, via Dai Sport.
"He’ll be one hell of an addition. He’s explosive, he’s got a good rugby brain, he can put on the turbos going into contact but like everyone has to be in the right mindset to be able to do that now.
"He’s good in the lineout too, and he’s played second row quite a bit in New Zealand. Certainly, talent wise he compares to the great New Zealand players, he’s prepared to put his head where I would put my foot, while he’s got something special inside him to really drive him on and never relent."
Duhan linked with French move to cover Welshman
Toulon and Racing 92 have both been linked with attempts to sign Scotland and Worcester Warriors winger Duhan van der Merwe.
RugbyPass reports that the Parisian outfit are linked with the 106kg winger to serve as injury cover for incoming rugby league star and Welshman Regan Grace from St Helens, who ruptured his Achilles tendon last month.
However, Midi Olympique have reported that Toulon are also circling amid Worcester's financial worries.
The Lions man previously played in France for Montpellier in 2016/17 ahead of a move to Edinburgh, then switching to the English Premiership at the beginning of last season.
Worcester Warriors urged to be placed in administration by local MPs
Four Worcestershire MPs have called for crisis-hit Gallagher Premiership club Worcester Warriors to be placed in administration.
HM Revenue & Customs have frozen Warriors' finances in their pursuit of unpaid tax, although it is understood that Worcester players have now been paid following an initial delay.
Premiership Rugby, meanwhile, has cleared Worcester to begin their league campaign as scheduled against London Irish on Saturday.
Talks are ongoing with two possible buyers for the club, and despite large debts that have built up in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the prospect of gate receipts has assisted Worcester's immediate financial outlook.
Worcestershire MPs Robin Walker, Harriett Baldwin, Rachel Maclean and Mark Garnier, though, have urged the Department for Culture Media and Sport to put Warriors in administration.
In a joint statement, the MPs said: "Over the last week, staff and players at the club have faced significant uncertainty with deadlines for payroll missed and repeated assurances broken. Mobile phones have stopped working and cars have been taken away from players. Events due to take place at Sixways have had to be cancelled as suppliers and caterers have not been paid on time.
"Whilst there does appear to be interest in new investors coming into the club, the interested parties have been clear that they see the best hope of securing its future being a purchase via an administrator. As the largest of the club's debts is owed to the Government via Sport England, the MPs are calling for the DCMS to trigger an administration as swiftly as possible. The hope is that this can then result in a quick turnaround with new owners bringing capital into the club in time for the Premiership season."
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