These are your rugby headlines on Friday, June 23.
Colllins announces he is leaving
Ospreys star Michael Collins has announced he is leaving Welsh rugby.
The full-back/centre, who joined from Super Rugby, becomes the most recent high profile departure from the Welsh game.
READ MORE: Welsh rugby starmaker quits
New Zealander Collins qualifies for Wales, but revealed in a surprise announcement on social media: "Absolutely loved my time at the Ospreys, looking forward to the new challenge ahead."
It is another body blow for the Ospreys who have lost Joe Hawkins to Exeter, while Alun Wyn Jones, Rhys Webb and Tomas Francis are also likely to play elsewhere next season.
The future of star No.10 Gareth Anscombe is also up in the air, while Dan Lydiate is moving to the Dragons.
Collins joined the Ospreys two years ago after shining in Super Rugby with Auckland Blues, Otago and the Highlanders in previous seasons. It was felt his hard running style and rugby intelligence would earn him a Wales Six Nations call under Pivac, but he is leaving the Welsh game.
It remains unclear where Collins will be playing his rugby next season, but a return home to New Zealand might be on the cards.
Springbok international wakes up after two weeks in coma
Former Springbok fly-half Derick Hougaard has opened his eyes after being in a coma for two weeks.
The ex-Leicester Tigers and Saracens star has spent the last fortnight unconscious in intensive care with the cause of his condition understood to be severe inflammation of the lungs.
Hougaard was admitted to hospital on Saturday June 10 after losing consciousness the previous evening. Afrikaans outlet Network 24 reporting earlier this week that he had been given a '50/50' chance of surviving.
However, the 40-year-old's partner Nádine has shared a promising update, confirming on Facebook that had Hougaard opened his eyes and was responding to medical personnel.
He has 69 Test points to his name having made his debut against Uruguay in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and playing his final international game against the All Blacks in 2007.
All Blacks exodus continues as veteran heads to France
All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala is heading to the Top 14 after the Rugby World Cup.
His club side the Blues confirmed on social media that the 31-year-old, who has 45 caps for New Zealand, will make the move after this autumn's showpiece.
While the Super Rugby Pacific side have not confirmed which club Laulala will be signing for, it is believed that he will be replacing veteran front row Charlie Faumuina at Toulouse, with the former All Black set to hang up his boots after turning out for Samoa at the World Cup.
Laulala was named in New Zealand's 36-man squad for the Rugby Championship earlier this month but had been expected to leave after only signing a one-year contract extension with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby last year.
His move makes him the 12th All Blacks player to sign a deal abroad this season, as he follows the likes of Sam Whitelock, Pita Gus Sowakula and Leicester Fainga’anuku to France.
Meanwhile, Beauden Barrett and Aaron Smith will link up again at Toyota Verblitz, with Brodie Retallick, Shannon Frizell and Richie Mo’unga among those joining them in Japan.
Wallabies ready to roar in Rugby Championship
Australia coach Eddie Jones says his side will hold nothing back in this year's Rugby Championship as they look to build momentum ahead of the World Cup.
The ex-England boss is looking to turn around the Wallabies' fortunes after some poor displays over the last two World Cup cycles and is wanting to instil belief ahead of this year's autumn showpiece.
The best way of doing that, Jones claims, is to go "hell for leather" this summer, with the 63-year-old suggesting his side could pull off a "smash and grab" treble of the Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship and World Cup.
Laying out his plan, the Wallabies boss told Australian news site The Roar: "Let’s face the facts, Australia has won 38 per cent of their Tests since 2015. There are not too many players here who have done well. That’s the reality of the situation.
“The players need to improve. I’m going to create the environment for them to be better. The players are going to play the game, and they’ve got to accept that they are part of the problem and a massive part of the solution.
"If they are prepared to work hard and be smart about their preparations, more focused, then we can smash and grab, win the Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship and the World Cup. Imagine that?”
England star avoids ban for 'headbutt' on coach
England forward Poppy Cleall has avoided punishment after allegedly headbutting an opposition coach during a game.
Cleall, who plays her club rugby for Saracens, was involved in an altercation with Exeter Chiefs assistant coach Steve Salvin as tensions flared between the two sides during the Premier 15s semi-final earlier this month.
The 31-year-old, who is the all-time Premiership try-scorer, is alleged to have been antagonised by Slavin as the two teams walked down the tunnel at half-time, with Telegraph Sport reportedly being told that she delivered a "soft headbutt" in his direction.
However, after launching an investigation, the RFU have said that Cleall will not face any discplinary action and is free to play again at the earliest opportunity.
Slavin, on the other hand, has been given a formal warning for his behaviour towards match official Charlie Gayther, with the referee finding himself at the centre of the scuffle.
