These are your rugby evening headlines on Thursday, April 7.
Dai Young surprised at red card decision
Cardiff boss Dai Young said he is surprised at Scarlets No. 8 Sione Kalamafoni escaping a ban after a red card for a high tackle on replacement Gwilym Bradley last weekend. The Cardiff Director of Rugby also suggested there is a "lack of consistency" in these decisions.
The back-rower was involved in a huge collision with Bradley, who was running back a kick and thundered into Kalamafoni with a 15-metre run-up. A disciplinary hearing deemed the red card alone was sufficient, meaning Kalamafoni is free to face Cardiff again in the reverse fixture at the Arms Park this Saturday.
"I don't want to make a thing about him being available to play but I'm amazed there's no ban at all, if I'm totally honest," Young said. "If you look at Rey [Lee-Lo] copped a four-week ban early on in the season.
"All you want as a director of rugby is consistency and I get there are always mitigating factors, but if I'm reading it right the hearing upheld the red card but they felt that was sufficient. That doesn't really fall into line with everything else that has happened.
"Most of the red cards that happen are unintentional, most of them are by players who are not dirty - and Kalamafoni is certainly not a dirty player and he hasn't gone out to hurt Gwilym. But a red card normally carries a ban, so I'm surprised and it looks like there is a lack of consistency in these decisions. I'm glad he hasn't had a three or four-week ban because that's harsh but we've had them this year. I'm surprised he's had nothing."
As for Bradley's condition, Young said: "He hasn't trained much this week. He's been coming through the return-to-play protocols. You can fail at any stage. He's symptom-free but he's got [Friday] to tick off and we'll take him to an independent specialist just to tick him off."
Liam Williams 'definitely has role to play'
Cardiff-bound full-back Liam Williams will "definitely have a role to play" for the rest of the season at the Scarlets.
That's according to Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel, who omitted Williams from the matchday 23 to face Cardiff at the weekend. But it looks like fans will see him in a Scarlets jersey again before his transfer to the Arms Park.
"He's been very good since coming back from Wales duty," said Peel. "He wants to finish strong and we need him to finish strong."
Season over for Wales trio and another star's campaign in doubt
Wales trio Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny and Scott Williams will not play again this season, it has been confirmed. It is a blow to the Scarlets and also Wales, with Wayne Pivac heading up a three-Test tour to South Africa this summer.
Owens, 35, last played in October and is "nowhere near a return to training" according to Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel. He underwent back surgery after withdrawing from Wales' autumn squad.
Halfpenny suffered a serious knee injury playing for Wales against Canada in July 2021 and will play no part this term, while centre Williams injured his shoulder against Cardiff last time out. You can read the full Scarlets injury bulletin here.
Elsewhere, Wales wing Josh Adams is on crutches after hurting his knee in action at the weekend. He is looking at four to six weeks on the sidelines, and does not currently need surgery. Read Dai Young's injury update here.
Wales autumn schedule confirmed
Wales will play autumn internationals against southern hemisphere trio Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.
The visit of New Zealand on Saturday, November 5 kicks off Wales' 2022 Autumn Series, with Argentina the next opponents at Cardiff's Principality Stadium the following week. Wales host Georgia on November 19 before concluding their four-match programme against Australia the following Saturday.
"In international rugby you always want to test yourselves against the best teams and we will be facing each of the very best sides in the world in the year ahead," said Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Steve Phillips.
"With a three-Test tour of South Africa preceding the 2022 Autumn Nations Series, we will be taking on the full set of Rugby Championship opposition. These matches, together with the 2023 Six Nations Championship, will form a vital part of Rugby World Cup preparation."
Wales finished fifth in the 2022 Six Nations with their only win coming against Scotland in Cardiff.
'Inspiration' Tom Smith hailed as one of Scotland's best
Gregor Townsend hailed Tom Smith as one of Scotland's best ever players following the former prop's death at the age of 50. Smith, who was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in November 2019, made 61 appearances for Scotland and helped them win the Five Nations in 1999. He also played six times for the British and Irish Lions and was part of the team that triumphed in South Africa in 1997.
Scotland head coach Townsend said: "Tom was one of the toughest and most skilful players I had the pleasure to call a team-mate. He succeeded in the most challenging of environments and kept up a high level of play well into his thirties.
"Tom also did a tremendous amount for charitable causes and was a great family man. I am convinced that he will be regarded as one of our best ever players and his loss will be felt by all those who played with him or watched him for club and country over the years."
Chris Paterson, who also played alongside Smith for Scotland, said: "Tom was simply inspirational. He was someone who had an aura that I didn't experience with any other player and commanded instant respect. As well as being a wonderful rugby player, he was a lovely, warm generous person and made you feel 10 feet tall when he spoke to you."
Scottish Rugby chairman John Jeffrey added: "Scottish Rugby has lost not only one of its greatest players but more importantly one of its greatest people. Tom embodied everything we like to espouse about our great game. Pound for pound, he probably was Scotland's greatest international. Tom was without a doubt the most humble person I have ever met and all of Scottish Rugby's thoughts go out to Zoe and the children."
