Here are your rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, 25 April.
Exeter consider contesting Wales international's red card
Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter has confirmed the club will explore if there are any grounds to contest Dafydd Jenkins’ red card against Bristol Bears in order to have the Wales second-row available to face La Rochelle this weekend.
Exeter take on the reigning Champions Cup holders in the semi-final this Sunday, with Baxter keen on calling upon the services of one of his most promising talents.
The 20-year-old is the youngster player to captain a Premiership club, while he also made his Test debut this season. However, he was sent off during Exeter's 22-21 win over Bristol for a head-on-head collision with prop Max Lahiff.
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There has been precedent for red cards being overturned recently, with Montpellier's Zach Mercer recently having a red card for a high tackle on Jenkins' Wales and Exeter team-mate Christ Tshiunza rescinded.
Speaking after the Bristol game about contesting the red card, Baxter told DevonLive: “I have just grabbed him now and asked him ‘What do you want to do?’
"He just said ‘Let’s have a really good look at everything ahead of the hearing, see if there is anything that could be mitigation. Can we look into it.’
"We will sit down and watch it in detail and see if there is anything there [to appeal]. If there is then great, if not then we will have to decide.
“The key will be looking at it to see if there is any mitigation which might have brought it down to a penalty or a yellow card. That is the key. If there is something there we will investigate, if there is not then there’s not.”
Wing Lewis returns to Scarlets
Winger Tomi Lewis is returning to the Scarlets after signing from Jersey Reds.
The 24-year-old joined the English Championship side last summer, scoring 11 tries this season. During his first stint with the Scarlets, the Wales Sevens and U20s international made two senior appearances.
"I'm looking forward to coming back to the Scarlets and challenging for a place in the side next season," said Lewis.
"I've had a great year at Jersey, played a lot of rugby and feel I've developed as a player.
"I'd like to thank my team-mates, coaches and the staff at the club and hopefully, we can finish on a high by lifting the Championship title this weekend."
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel added: "Tomi is a real talent, a player with genuine pace and an eye for the try line.
"He has been on fire for Jersey this season and will have learnt a lot from his season in the Championship."
Costelow thrilled to take game to next level
Sam Costelow believes a run of games in the Scarlets number 10 shirt has allowed him to take his game to the next level.
The 22-year-old has been outstanding for the West Walians this season with his performances making him a strong contender for Warren Gatland's World Cup training squad.
"For me as a young 10 I wanted to keep my form. I wanted to consistently perform," he said.
"Sometimes I found myself dropping out of games a little bit but I think just staying in the whole game for the 80 minutes.
"As a player my only goal is to improve. Every day I want to try to improve and what will come will come.
"The senior boys back me.
"I know when to say something and when not to say something but they are always encouraging me to say how I feel on the field.
"I think that's my natural role, and I'll lead the side hopefully.
"The senior boys like Josh Macleod, Ken they've been really beneficial, telling me to express myself, be myself, and just lead the team."
The Scarlets host Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup on Saturday with Costelow playing a major role in Dwayne Peel's side getting this far.
A late touchline conversion against French giants Clermont Auvergne fired the Welsh club into the semi-finals.
Costelow admits he is comfortable dealing with pressure and insists the Scarlets are desperate to reach the final in Dublin.
"It'll be class (to reach a final) and it'll mean a lot," he said.
"There's a lot of boys moving on this year. We want to put a good performance in and finish on the right note for those boys.
"We want to be in Dublin. It's going to be one hell of a battle on Saturday but I know how much it means to our group so it's going to be good."
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to host 2024 finals
Next year’s Heineken Champions and Challenge Cup final will be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 2024 EPCR Finals, scheduled to take place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May, will be hosted at the 62,850-seater, state-of-the-art stadium in London London.
The 2024 EPCR Finals weekend will take place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May.
This year’s finals, which will be held at the Aviva Stadium next month, were originally set to take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but scheduling issues due to the Premier League season finishing later this year forced a switch to Dublin.
“We are absolutely delighted to announce that our 2024 Finals Weekend will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium,” said Dominic McKay, EPCR chairman.
“It is quite simply one of the most exciting venues in the world and an incredibly appropriate stage for next year’s showpiece Finals Weekend. We know clubs, fans, broadcasters, partners and all involved will thoroughly enjoy the world-class experience.
“The EPCR finals weekend is a huge event in the rugby calendar. Over 110,000 people attended the matches in Marseille last season and, following strong advance ticket sales, we are looking forward to another big attendance next month at the Dublin finals at the Aviva Stadium.
“EPCR has a proud history of taking its Finals Weekend to new cities and arenas – with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the latest in a list of cutting-edge venues. It is a sensational stadium with a burgeoning history of hosting rugby matches.”
READ MORE:
Wales internatioal to miss out on World Cup training squad unless he provides proof in six days
Wales star misses huge Euro semi-final and axed ace sends World Cup message to Gatland
Fifteen Scarlets players to leave as Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Patchell exit in 'tough' announcement
