Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Monday, February 20.
60-cap rule announcement imminent but key issue remains
Professional Rugby Board (PRB) chair Malcolm Wall says an announcement on the 60-cap rule is imminent in the coming days as Welsh rugby bosses seem set to offer concessions on two of the demands made by Welsh players as part of their contract dispute.
However, crucially, with strike action on the cards for next weekend's Six Nations clash with England, it would seem that there is no wiggle room on the players' biggest gripe - the fixed-variable contracts being offered to them as of next season.
Senior players met with WRU interim CEO Nigel Walker last Wednesday, where they laid out a series of demands that they wanted resolved. The main three points were that players wanted the 60-cap rule to be scrapped, the Welsh Rugby Players' Association (WRPA) to be guaranteed a seat on the PRB and for the performance-based bonuses that account for 20% of players wages to be dispensed with.
Speaking on Scrum V on Sunday night, the PRB chair appeared to suggest that the first of those two issues had been solved.
"I'm very pleased to say there's been progress on the last two points you raised which is the 60 cap (rule) and the voice (of the players on the board)," Wall told the Scrum V Sunday programme.
"We agreed with Gareth Lewis of the WRPA that he would be invited to be an observer and contributor to the PRB and indeed he's joining us next Wednesday. We've had a good informal dialogue with Gareth and indeed many of the other players, but recognise we need to make that formal.
"Gareth will also be invited on a quarterly basis to the Rugby Management Board which is attended by the directors of rugby. We look forward to seeing Gareth next Wednesday.
"The 60 cap rule was under review prior to the national players expressing their displeasure with it, particularly last week. Indeed, myself, Nigel Walker and Warren Gatland met last Monday and it was one of the topics of conversation we had.
"We've been carrying out a review, but because of the obvious angst and concerns around it, we've accelerated that and we look forward to making an announcement on that in the next few days. We need to tidy up a few one or two things on that front."
However, when it came to the topic of the fixed-variable contracts, Wall insisted that it was still the path that Welsh rugby bosses wanted to go down. However, he did add that some of the controversial clauses - such as a capability clause that could see a player's performance reviewed and their contract altered and even terminated - had been removed last week.
"With regards to the fixed and variables (contracts), we still believe fixed and variable are the right way to go forward," he added. "We are arranging with the WRPA this week to hopefully conduct more than one town hall with players in order to better explain the reasons behind that.
"If I may take this opportunity to just talk about two other points on the contracts that have got quite a lot of publicity, the capability clause was removed from the draft contract this week after consultation with the WRPA.
"And the loan clause, we are working together to improve the phrasing so there is no sort of enforced loaning. It has to be done by consent, although not unreasonably withheld. So I think we've made progress on those fronts."
Would you support Welsh rugby players taking strike action amid contracts turmoil? Have your say here
Shane brands Welsh rugby a global laughing stock
Shane Williams claims Welsh rugby is now a global laughing stock following the ongoing contract dispute that has placed the preparations for this weekend's clash with England into chaos.
The current saga follows on from the high-profile and concerning allegations around sexism and misogynist the governing body, while several poor results mean matters aren't much better on the pitch at the moment.
Writing in his latest column for the Rugby Paper, Williams wrote: "Pick whichever words you like to describe the on-going saga – disgraceful, shameful, humiliating, degrading or dreadful. To me it is simply summed up by one phrase, “it’s a complete and utter shambles”.
"We’ve been in difficulties before, but this is just wave upon wave of problems that have turned the WRU into the laughing stock of world rugby. It is going to take some strong leadership, tough decisions and a real will to get us out of this unholy mess."
Williams says he'd "hate to see the players go on strike ahead of such a vitally important game," but admits he sympathises with their concerns around pay.
"They may be super-humans on the rugby field, but off it they are fathers, husbands and partners simply trying to earn the best living they can," he continued.
"We all have to see the human tragedies that are unfolding before our very eyes here. They are the ones feeling the pain, yet they are expected to maintain the highest of standards and put their bodies on the line week in, week out without knowing what their future holds.
"Am I over-dramatising the situation, I hear you ask? Not a bit of it! They are the pawns in a game of chess in which they have no idea of the overall strategy they are playing. It’s time for the WRPA to have a voice, to be sat at the highest tables and to be properly consulted."
Hibbard takes aim at 'short-sighted' WRU
Meanwhile, ex-Wales hooker Richard Hibbard says he would not sign the contracts currently on the table for players, and says the WRU have failed to learn lessons from past situations.
"It is another dire situation created by the WRU and I wouldn't sign this contract on offer," Hibbard told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.
"I was lucky to play high level but it's the boys who have one option within the region with this dead rubber contract that are affected most. Those are the voices you don't hear.
"It's incredibly disappointing because we have been here before and not learned
"They should have had the funding model in place by the end of last season, if not last summer, so the regions and boys could plan.
"The whole thing is just another shambolic system error. It is about time the WRU, and all governing bodies, realised your product is not the stadium or hotel, it's the players.
"They are going to inspire the next generation. If you don't have good regions or premiership system, it's not going to work out.
"It's so short-sighted. This problem has been brewing for 10 years, not just overnight.
"It stems from the WRU underfunding the regions and having the wrong priorities."
England name squad for Wales clash
Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, and George Ford have all been named in Steve Borthwick's 36-man squad for England's trip to Cardiff.
Vice-captain Lawes hasn't played for England since he skippered the July tour of Australia due to a calf problem, while Curry is also working his way back from injury.
Ford has returned from an Achilles injury, meaning Fin Smith is out of the squad, while uncapped duo Fraser Dingwall and Cadan Murley are included. Ollie Hassell-Collins is unavailable due to a knee issue.
Manu Tuilagi's hopes of inclusion were dealt a further blow after he was sent off on club duty for Sale Sharks. The the centre has not been named by Borthwick.
Forwards: Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 97 caps), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 11 caps), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, 3 caps), Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 45 caps), Jamie George (Saracens, 74 caps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 64 caps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 96 caps), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 16 caps), David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 58 caps), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 76 caps), Jack Walker (Harlequins, 1 cap), Jack Willis (Toulouse, 7 caps).
Backs: Henry Arundell (London Irish, 4 caps), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Owen Farrell (Saracens, 103 caps), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps), George Ford (Sale Sharks, 81 caps), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 9 caps), Max Malins (Saracens, 16 caps), Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 2 caps), Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 53 caps), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 19 caps), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps), Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps).
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