Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, September 29.
All Black now out for the season
The extent of an injury suffered by All Blacks centre Quinn Tupaea is worse than originally feared as he now faces a race to be fit for next year's Rugby World Cup.
In the first Bledisloe Test against Australia earlier this month, Tupaea has on the receiving end of an ugly clearout from the Wallabies' Darcy Swain, who was shown a yellow card for a reckless act that left his opponent strewn on the turf.
Swain was accused of targeted the lower leg as his Tupaea buckled painfully. The Wallaby was shown a yellow card at the time but was later banned for six weeks, but will only miss three Tests after Australia controversially named him in an 'A' team series against Japan, which counts towards his ban.
Meanwhile, recent scans have revealed Tupaea has suffered damage to his Anterior Cruciate Ligament and will require surgery. Initially it was hoped that only his Medical Cruciate Ligament was requiring attention but the latest diagnosis is a best case scenario of nine months, meaning he will miss next season's Super Rugby Pacific competition.
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Rowntree still angry after defeat to Dragons
Munster head coach Graham Rowntree was still annoyed with his side after their narrow defeat to the Dragons last weekend.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the Irish Independent said his anger 'had barely subsided' as he vowed to be honest with his players in his assessment of their performances.
“I’m still annoyed,” he said. “I require honesty from my players, so they are going to get honesty from me – and they are comfortable with that. We can’t hide away from our inabilities on Sunday.
“I have been around long enough to understand how to speak to people, control my emotions at the right time. But (it’s) a different experience, a different experience (as head coach).
"We have had a good, stern, honest review. We move forward. What else can you do? You work on what you can do and you look forward to the next game."
Evans hoping home factor boosts Cardiff
Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans is hopeful that a return to the Arms Park this weekend will help put a chastening defeat away to Glasgow Warriors firmly behind the Welsh capital side.
Cardiff have won six out of their last eight home matches, but have struggled on the road, with the defeat in Scotland further proof a remedy for their ills outside of the Welsh capital need to be found. However, the visit of the Lions does give Dai Young's side the chance to feed off the Cardiff crowd once more.
“We know what South Africans have brought to this competition," said Evans. "But we’re at home and we would rather focus on ourselves. We love coming to the Arms Park.
“Our home form is pretty good. We're all really excited to get into it Friday and right the wrongs from last Friday.
“The boys get real big buzz from the crowd here at at Arms Park. The intensity and the noise they make gives us a big lift throughout the game.
“Every game is an important one but our home games are definitely something we need to keep on top of as well as trying to obviously put our performances in and get our results away from home as well.”
Worcester administrators hoping for sale in weeks
Worcester Warriors' administrators say the process to buy the suspended club needs to move forward in "weeks rather than months".
They also confirmed they have held "credible discussions" with more than one party interested in buying Sixways outfit.
Worcester were suspended from the Premiership, Allianz Premier 15s, Allianz Cup and all other age group competitions this week after they failed to show the RFU credible evidence that their current owners had a viable financial model moving forward.
Administrators Begbies Traynor are continuing to try and find a buyer for the suspended Gallagher Premiership outfit. Worcester's debts total more than than £25million, including at least £6m in unpaid tax, while owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham have been accused of asset-stripping the club. The Warriors' Premiership game against Gloucester on Saturday is off, with their next fixture scheduled at home to Harlequins on October 8.
Two consortiums, one involving former Worcester chief executive Jim O'Toole, are understood to have expressed interest in buying the club out of administration.
"We've been in position for just over 24 hours and our main focus is engaging with interested parties," Julie Palmer, one of the people leading the administration process for Begbies Traynor, told Sky Sports News .
"We've had expression of interests and credible early discussions with more than one party, but we want someone to offer a long-term credible financial proposal. Our duty is to the creditors but the buyers have to satisfy the RFU they are going to be able to run a rugby club."
Sky also report that not all of the club is in administration. WRFC Players Limited, which is responsible for paying players and as such keeping them within the terms of their contracts, is not. However, they are due in court on October 5 where they face the threat of being liquidated.
At that point, players would be released from their contracts. Should players not be paid on time this Friday, they will have a 14-day period in which to be paid before being able to sign with other clubs.
Cardiff universities off to winning start
Both Cardiff universities got off to winning starts in the BUCS Super Rugby tournament.
Cardiff University came away from Bath University with a dramatic late 22-21 victory, while Cardiff Met got revenge on Swansea for last year's surprise defeat with a 42-30 win at St Helen's.
Red Roses to play standalone Twickenham match for first time
England will stage their first standalone fixture at Twickenham when they face France in next year's TikTok Women's Six Nations. Previous appearances at the venue have come on the same day as the men's team have played.
The Red Roses will take centre stage when they clash with France on April 29 in a repeat of the fixture that saw them crowned Grand Slam champions earlier this year.
England will also face Scotland at Kingston Park on March 25 and Italy at Franklin's Gardens on April 2, while they face Wales and Ireland away.
"To have a standalone Red Roses fixture at Twickenham Stadium is exciting and a real marker of where the game is at," head coach Simon Middleton said. "We know there are some big targets to sell out the stadium at the 2025 World Cup and it's great we have the opportunity to draw a big crowd two years out."
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