Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, April 27.
Wales star targetd by World XV
Dragons and Wales hooker Elliot Dee is set to play for the World XV side against the Barbarians in next month's huge Twickenham clash after being approached by Steve Hansen.
Hansen will take charge of the global side on May 28 that is already expected to include the likes of Ngani Laumape, Nick Phipps, Marika Koroibete, Semi Radradra, Joe Launchbury and Wales' Rhys Patchell.
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They will be facing Eddie Jones' Barbarians, who are understood to have Alun Wyn Jones, Rhys Webb and Taulupe Faletau among their ranks.
Dee, who has 41 caps, hasn't played for Wales since November, 2021 after falling behind Ken Owens, Dewi Lake, Bradley Roberts, Ryan Elias and Scott Baldwin in the international pecking order.
“I haven’t given up on the dream of playing for Wales,” Dee told the South Wales Argus. “I don’t feel that I am any less of a player, I just haven’t been able to get a run of games and a bit of luck. I am aware I am probably starting from the bottom but I still feel I have plenty to offer.”
Scarlets hope for bumper crowd
The Scarlets are on course for a bumper crowd on Saturday night when they face Glasgow Warriors in the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup. The region have already sold more than 11,500 tickets and hope to edge closer to a full house of 14,800 by the time the game comes around.
It promises to be an epic night in a rare good news story for Welsh rugby this season. The winner will travel to Dublin on May 19 for the final against either Dan Biggar's Toulon or Benetton.
World Rugby accept World Cup draw issues
World Rugby say future draws for the Rugby World Cup will be fairer after criticism of the lop-sided nature of this year's tournament.
The seedings for the competition draw were decided way back in January 2020, a situation which has resulted in the current top five ranked teams in the world all on the same side of it. The likes of Wales and England, who were ranked higher back in 2020 but have since slipped, are top seeds.
It means two of Ireland, France, New Zealand and South Africa cannot make it past the quarter-finals, while one of Ireland, South Africa and fifth-ranked Scotland will exit at the group stage having been drawn in the same pool.
Asked if he accepted the frustration from fans and pundits, some of whom have described the situation as "horrendous", World Rugby’s chief executive Alan Gilpin told The Times: “Absolutely, and I understand, too, the frustrations of coaches and players.
“There is a counter to that, which is that we provide fans with great certainty early to plan their World Cups. But it needs a better balance and to get to a point where there is a fairer draw for all nations.
“The lopsided half is because of the draw timing. We are using the world rankings, which is the best reflection of the relative strength and weakness of teams but if it is done in a certain point of time compared to now then it can become outdated.”
Swansea win prestigious Dewar Shield
Swansea Schools won the prestigious Dewar Shield for the ninth time on Wednesday night, beating Pontypridd 24-22 at the Principality Stadium.
Full-back Bailey Porter's nine-point haul with the boot proved crucial, including one monster penalty, while Pontypridd kicker Gethin Jenkins saw a conversion hit the post.
Pontypridd took the lead through an early penalty from outside-half Gethin Jenkins and continued to use the power of their pack to pile the pressure on Swansea. Ponty dominated territory and possession but wasted a clear chance by failing to pass to any of three unmarked players on the outside with the try line metres away.
It was Swansea who took the initiative against the run of play. The ball broke for them following a line-out and they surged forward with No. 8 Noah Williams picking up at the base of a ruck to burrow his way over for the opening try. Full-back Bailey Porter converted with the final kick of a disappointing half for a 7-3 advantage.
Porter extended the lead to seven points with a long-range penalty early in the second half, and it got better for them when he converted Will Moore’s try a couple of minutes later to establish a 14-point gap between the teams.
Centre Ioan Leyshon barged his way over for Pontypridd but the conversion from Jenkins rebounded off an upright, meaning they were still two scores behind at 24-15.
They got another try from a driving line-out with Leyshon seemingly again the scorer from under a pile of bodies. It was converted by Jenkins, to close the gap to two points and set up a frantic finish.
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