Here are this evening's rugby headlines on Tuesday, January 18.
Wales could lose winger already
Wales could lose Alex Cuthbert for the start of the Six Nations within 48 hours of him being named in the squad.
The Ospreys winger is part of Wayne Pivac's 36-man squad but faces a citing hearing after being sin-binned during the European defeat against Racing 92.
The 31-year-old was yellow-carded for a high tackle on hooker Teddy Baubigny in the 25-10 loss.
A disciplinary hearing will be held on Thursday to decide his fate and punishment if it is deemed to have been a red card offence.
Bans can range from two to 52 weeks for high tackles, with any Cuthbert sanction certain to be at the lower end of that scale.
An EPCR statement read: "EPCR has received a citing complaint against the Ospreys wing, Alex Cuthbert (No 14), arising from his club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 3 match against Racing 92 at the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday, 15 January 2022.
"Cuthbert is alleged to have tackled the Racing 92 hooker, Teddy Baubigny (No 2), in a dangerous manner in the sixth minute of the match in contravention of Law 9.13.
"Daniel White (England), Chair, Mike Ross (Ireland) and Leon Lloyd (England) have been appointed as the independent Disciplinary Committee for the hearing which will take place by video conference on Thursday (20 January).
"The complaint was made by the match Citing Commissioner, Peter Ferguson (Ireland)."
Wales play their first Six Nations match against Ireland on February 5.
The Wales Six Nations squad news
Dan Biggar has been named as Wales captain for this season's Guinness Six Nations Championship.
Biggar takes over from the injured Alun Wyn Jones, who is among a number of high-profile absentees.
Other players not part of the squad due to injuries are Jones' fellow British and Irish Lions George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
But flanker Ross Moriarty, who has not played since the autumn due to a shoulder problem, does make Wales head coach Wayne Pivac's 36-man group.
The squad includes three uncapped players in hooker Dewi Lake, his Ospreys colleague - flanker Jac Morgan - and Cardiff number eight James Ratti.
You can read all the latest news, opinion and reaction here.
Cardiff loan Robinson to English league leaders
Cardiff Rugby flanker Olly Robinson has been loaned to England's best team, Leicester Tigers.
The Tigers are sweeping all before them so far this year but are about to be hit by a number of Six Nations absentees.
Robinson is expected to leave the Welsh region permanently at the end of the season after struggling for game-time in a congested back row.
He began his career with Birmingham Moseley RFC before joining Bristol Rugby in 2014 for three seasons. He moved to Cardiff on loan during his final year with Bristol and made the move permanent ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.
"Olly is an experienced player, who has played top-level rugby in both England and Wales as well as having been a part of a Barbarians squad," said Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick
"With the Six Nations seeing members of our squad away for two months, Olly provides valuable depth in our forward pack and is the type of player we want at Leicester Tigers.
"He's a tough, hard-working young man with a great character and want to learn and improve, who will add to Leicester Tigers on and off the field."
Wales international keeps job amid shake-up
Former Wales player Luke Charteris will keep his job as Bath Rugby's lineout coach despite a big shake-up at the struggling English club.
Bath today confirmed their senior squad coaching unit for the 2022/23 season onwards, with four current coaches moving on at the end of the season, in attack coach David Williams, new defence coach Brent Janse van Rensburg, scrum coach Mark Lilley and skills coach Ryan Davis.
But Charteris will remain under new head coach Johann van Graan next term.
Bath chief executive Tarquin McDonald said: “We are pleased to confirm these appointments. Under Johann van Graan, Neal Hatley will continue as Forwards Coach and JP Ferreira will become Defence Coach after successful stints at the Lions in Johannesburg and Munster in Ireland.
"Luke Charteris will continue as Lineout Coach and a new Attack Coach will be confirmed imminently.
“The current coaching unit will continue in their posts until the end of the 2021/22 season, and the club is grateful for the continuing contributions of David Williams, Mark Lilley and Ryan Davis.
“Stuart Hooper will continue in his role as director of rugby.”
Jones insists Farrell still best man for the job
Eddie Jones insists Owen Farrell is still the best candidate to lead England into the Guinness Six Nations despite his lack of game-time in the wake of ankle surgery.
Farrell is due to make his comeback from the injury sustained against Australia last autumn when he lines up for Saracens on Sunday, less than a fortnight before the opener against Scotland on February 5.
"Owen is captain because he has the respect of the team, he's a winner and he drives the competitive spirit of the team. He's the right man to lead the team," Jones said.
"He's due to play this weekend. Then he has another training week and then he will be eligible for selection, so we'll have to see where he's up to."
Sam Underhill and Elliot Daly have been omitted from the 36-man training squad picked to begin preparations for the Championship in Brighton next week because of their disrupted seasons.
Underhill is recovering from the concussion sustained on Bath duty on New Year's Day, while Daly has been back in action since December having overcome a stress fracture.
