Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, December 27.
Wales set to tour Australia in 2024
Wales are set to tour Australia in 2024, according to reports. The Times say Wales will face the Wallabies in what could be the last "traditional" summer tour, while England will travel to face New Zealand for the first time in a decade. Ireland will visit South Africa and Scotland are set for Tests in the Pacific Islands.
The newspaper also reports that France will head to Argentina and Italy will take on the United States and Canada. With the Lions touring Australia in 2025 and the Nations Championship due to start in 2026, this could be the last time a full-strength Wales side goes on a traditional summer tour of the southern hemisphere.
The Nations Championship, if it does come in, would see teams play multiple nations across July and November in a league format, rather than a touring one. However, the Times also report that the 2024 tours might only be two Tests rather than three given they follow a World Cup year, although there is reportedly the option to plan an extra Test against an emerging nation.
England star signs long-term deal with Bath
England flanker Sam Underhill has committed his future to Bath by signing a new contract with the Gallagher Premiership outfit. The 26-year-old, who previously played for the Ospreys, was set to be out of contract next summer but he has agreed to stay at the Rec for an undisclosed amount of time described as "long term".
"I have learned an incredible amount over the past five years at Bath," Underhill said. "I'm thoroughly looking forward to seeing where I can take my game with the group of staff and players we have here. I want to contribute to a successful Bath side and I know everyone is pulling in the same direction to help the club achieve great things in the seasons to come."
Turnbull delighted with Cardiff's strength of character
Cardiff captain Josh Turnbull has praised the side's character as they snatched victory against the Dragons with a last-gasp try.
The Rodney Parade side had looked destined to end a 14-game losing streak in the fixture, only for Cardiff to march down the field and steal the win thanks to Corey Domachowski's late try. Afterwards, Turnbull admitted there was little panic in the Cardiff ranks as they kept up their winning run against the Dragons.
“We always knew that if we stuck with what we were doing and what we knew we could do, then we would come away with points and we did that," he said. "Every time we executed what we set out to do we came away with something.
“It was really pleasing that we stuck in there right until the end, it was a full 80 minutes from all the boys, the whole bench made an impact and it was just a matter of us doing the right things, in the right areas of the field to come away with the win.
“It’s always difficult but as a group of players, we have shown we can dig deep this year, what it means to play for the badge and there’s a real group of boys who want to prove that we can come away with something especially when we’re under the pump as we were.
“We’re all in a good spot, we have boys stepping up and putting their voices across. We have good game drivers in Tomos Williams, Jarrod [Evans], Rhys Priestland, Lloyd Williams, who understand the game really well, keep putting us in the right areas and ultimately as forwards it’s down to us to deliver the ball for them to play.”
Rowntree: 'Munster have to be better'
Munster coach Graham Rowntree admitted they had to be better as they let a chance to defeat Leinster slip through their hands.
Leinster had won the previous three meetings in Limerick, but Munster were handed a brilliant opportunity to end that run when Max Deagan was sin-binned for bringing down a maul illegally, conceding a penalty try in the process. That score handed Munster a 14-6 lead early in the second half, only for Leinster to fight back when down to 14 men.
Tries from Scott Penny and Dan Sheehan when down a man turned the game in Leinster's favour, with Leo Cullen's side ultimately winning 20-19 to make it 11 wins from 12 this season.
Afterwards Rowntree said: "Without having a load of territory in that first half we were ahead, and then in the third quarter we worked hard for a penalty try, they had a guy in the bin and we concede two soft tries. We can't do that, we just can't do that.
"We lost our way towards the end of our way there against a good team, whoever they seem to put on the field. There's a lot of familiar faces in that Leinster, team, whoever they field, they're a class team.
"The most disappointing thing for me was how we dealt with that time after the penalty try, conceding two soft tries.
"I'll have to watch it again in the cold light of day. We spoke about it a lot, they have an armoury of quick-tap moves. We spoke about it, and previewed it in the week, and trained it, but we have to be better. In the white-hot heat of the battle we have to be better than that."
READ MORE:
Dominant Ospreys see off Scarlets as Morgan and Webb give Gatland timely nudge
Ospreys v Scarlets incident sees red card after just five minutes as fans split
Josh Adams fumes as he's forced to leave field in Six Nations scare for Gatland
Cardiff beat Dragons in dramatic finale to ferocious Welsh derby
Wales star Will Rowlands out of Six Nations and may not play for Dragons again
