Hard-up Wales stars consider STRIKING over contract chaos, leaving clash with England in doubt
EXCLUSIVE BY ALEX BYWATER: Wales players are considering the prospect of unprecedented strike action ahead of next weekend's clash with England.
EXCLUSIVE BY ALEX BYWATER: Wales players are considering the prospect of unprecedented strike action ahead of next weekend's clash with England.
The role of oft-maligned television match officials will be curtailed in a concerted effort to speed up play in Super Rugby Pacific.
COMMENT: Wales' opening two performances in the Six Nations have been more than disappointing, but the impact of contractual uncertainty behind the scenes is now clear.
Jones insisted he is acutely aware of the need to get the Australian public back onside, with this year's World Cup looming, while Australia will host the tournament in four years' time.
Wales international Bradley Davies believes player strike action would be the
Louis Rees-Zammit is set to play for the first time since Christmas Eve on Friday, handing Wales a rare piece of Six Nations good news.
Wasps have been cleared to launch a revival mission in the Championship next season, but the RFU confirmed last night that Worcester have been denied a place in English rugby's second tier.
EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: Leeds Rhinos coach Rohan Smith is using names from sports outside of rugby to inspire his methods for his youthful team.
The situation has been magnified due to recruitment being on hold and next season's playing budgets not yet being finalised for Wales' four professional regions.
Grand Slam-chasing Ireland are confident they have sufficient squad depth to cope without injured lock Tadhg Beirne for the remainder of the Guinness Six Nations.
Wales legend Jonathan Davies has voiced his sympathy for the players who are considering strike action - and lashed out at the 'shambolic and depressing' state of the game in the Principality.
ALEX BYWATER: Sportsmail revealed Wales' players were considering the option because large numbers of players at the four regions are currently unable to be offered new deals.
Harlequins and former England pair Joe Marler and Danny Care are set to add to an all-star Barbarians side coached by Eddie Jones for May's clash with a World XV.
Eddie Jones has revealed Andrew Johns was on the verge of sensationally switching codes, only for the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) to get cold feet at the eleventh hour.
EXCLUSIVE: Rugby in Wales is in crisis with national head coach Warren Gatland's stars threatening possible strike action ahead of their Six Nations clash with England.
INTERVIEW: During his seven-month absence after rupturing an Achilles in last season's Premiership final, the Sale fly-half has been a distant observer as an age-old debate has raged.
RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: When we first met a year ago, Steve Thompson hoped that the sport would learn from his struggles with dementia to better look after its own going forward.
EXCLUSIVE: The interim WRU CEO is understood to have delivered the message in a meeting at the team's training base in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Tuilagi is certain to be given a ban after his dismissal in this hard-fought Premiership game in which late tries by Callum Braley and Fraser Dingwall completed an astonishing fight back win.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Squeezing on to a bench, they explain how finding clothes can be a struggle. Nineteen-year-old Lewis laughs, stretching out his arms so his sleeves ride halfway up his forearms.
Veteran Wallabies backline utility Reece Hodge has become the latest Aussie player to fly the coop, with the Rebels star joining French Club Bayonne after the World Cup.
The match was halted for a few seconds and following a video review by referee Ian Tempest and TMO Claire Hodnett, Tuilagi was sent off for the dangerous challenge.
ALEX BYWATER: Sportsmail revealed last week that Wales' squad were considering a strike for Saturday's clash with England amid contractual chaos. Such a scenario remains on the table.
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I hope it doesn't come to a strike. If a Six Nations game were cancelled because of this, it would be counter-productive and another serious body blow to rugby as a sport.
The 29-year-old fly-half has been recalled by head coach Steve Borthwick after a long injury lay-off. Ford ruptured an achilles in the Premiership final last June.