Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, December 14.
Jones and Williams boost for Wales
Wales and Lions prop Wyn Jones could be back for the Scarlets early in the new year.
The 30-year-old prop has been absent with a leg injury since the United Rugby Championship game against Zebre on October 15, with the Scarlets later reporting he was set to undergo a knee ‘clear-out’ procedure.
But he is heading in the right direction and there is a possibility he could return during the next batch of European games, with the west Walians facing the Cheetahs on January 13 and Bayonne eight days later. “Possibly towards the later end of that block,” said head coach Dwayne Peel when asked when Jones might be back.
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“Whether he gets right for the next round of Europe, maybe.”
It will be tight as to whether Jones will be involved in the early part of the Six Nations, though, with Wales facing Ireland in Cardiff on February 4.
But Jones’ team-mate Johnny Williams could well challenge to be in the selection mix for that game.
A calf muscle injury has sidelined him since October 1, but his region are optimistic he will play a part in their Christmas derbies.
“I’m hoping Johnny Williams will play a part in the festive derbies somewhere,” said Peel.
“It’s disappointing to lose him, because he’s a real athlete who plays the game hard.
“I look back to the start of the season and in the three games he played he was excellent.
“He was really good against the Ospreys, Ulster and Benetton.”
But prop Samson Lee still has a fair way to go before he returns. The Scarlets don’t expect him back until the middle of the Six Nations at the earliest.
Dragons dealt injury blow
The Dragons will be without centre Aneurin Owen until the Six Nations break after a serious knee injury.
The 22-year-old suffered a blow to his left leg in the United Rugby Championship defeat to the Stormers in Port Elizabeth, meaning he is set for another lengthy spell out of the game. This would be Owen's third substantial injury of 2022, having previously fractured an ankle against Munster earlier in the year before suffering a hamstring strain in pre-season.
As a result, he is unlikely to feature before the start of the Six Nations, hindering Dai Flanagan's options in the backline through the festive matches.
"Nye unfortunately took a bang to his knee and it looks like he will be out for a couple of months," said Dragons forwards coach Luke Narraway. "We are waiting for clarification on exactly how much time but it was a bad bang so we need to make sure we get that recovery right."
Wales second-row Ben Carter is also set for a short spell on the sidelines after pulling up with an ankle injury in the team run ahead of last week's Challenge Cup opener against the Lions. The Dragons are still waiting to learn the extent of the damage, but the 21-year-old seems likely to miss the first of their festive derbies against Cardiff on Boxing Day.
"Ben is still awaiting some results after unfortunately he landed funnily and had some discomfort,” added Narraway. "We need to make sure we get that right but hopefully it's not too serious."
WRU insist equality and diversity a priority
The Welsh Rugby Union has insisted that equality and diversity are very important to the governing body.
The comments from WRU chief executive Steve Phillips came after the governing body said on Monday that it had come to an "amicable resolution" with its former general manager of women's rugby Charlotte Wathan, who had launched employment tribunal proceedings over claims of sexual discrimination before withdrawing the claim.
Phillips said earlier this year: "I can't emphasise enough equality, diversity and inclusion are very important to us. "We want our staff to be able to participate, be respected, valued and, more importantly, feel safe."
Phillips emphasised that stance at a WRU media appearance on Tuesday, saying: "We've got to keep on top of these things. We'll never be complacent in anything in terms of equality and diversity. We've done a thorough review and we've just got to keep on top of this stuff. The expectations are very high and rightly so and everybody in the WRU will maintain those standards."
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Doddie Weir memorial service to be streamed live
The memorial service for Doddie Weir will be streamed live by Scottish Rugby next week.
The former Scotland and British & Irish Lions lock died last month, aged 52, after a long fight against motor neurone disease and having raised millions of pounds through his charitable foundation to support research to find a cure for MND.
The memorial service is due to begin at Melrose Parish Church, next to the Greenyards ground where Weir played for several years, at 1pm on Monday, December 19 and will be screened live around the world on the Scottish Rugby website.
Scottish Rugby chairman John Jeffrey, who is also a trustee of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, said: "Scottish Rugby is honoured to live stream the memorial service.
"Doddie's impact was way beyond the rugby community in Scotland and the rest of the British Isles.
"The outpouring of affection for Doddie has been global and I know it will mean a lot to his family and friends that the service is being broadcast on our website."
World Rugby refers Laporte situation to ethics officer
World Rugby has referred Bernard Laporte's decision to suspend himself from duty to its independent ethics officer for review after the governing body's vice-chairman was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence on corruption charges.
Laporte, who was also the president of French rugby, has also been banned from holding any post in rugby union for two years, although that is currently suspended, pending an appeal.
"World Rugby notes the decision by World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte to self-suspend from all positions held within its governance structures with immediate effect following his conviction by the French court in relation to domestic matters, and pending his appeal," a statement read.
"While acknowledging Laporte's self-suspension and right of appeal, given the serious nature of the verdict World Rugby's executive committee has referred the matter to its independent ethics officer for review in accordance with its integrity code. World Rugby will not be making further comment until the conclusion of the independent process."
French newspaper L'Equipe reported that Paris Criminal Court also fined Laporte 75,000 euros (£64,000) for passive corruption, influence peddling, illegal taking of interests, concealment of misuse of corporate assets and abuse of corporate assets.
It involved Laporte's relationship with Mohed Altrad, a billionaire businessman who owns French champions Montpellier.
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