These are your rugby headlines on Monday, October 31.
Buttress: AGM vote 'everything that is wrong with Welsh rugby'
Dragons chairman David Buttress says the outcome of the vote at the WRU's AGM is "everything that is wrong with Welsh rugby".
On Sunday, the Welsh Rugby Union failed in their attempt to give the board the option to appoint an independent figure as the organisation’s chair. The motion was presented at the WRU’s AGM at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, as the union sought to modernise its governance, but it managed to garner only 65.4% of the votes, 9.6% short of the 75% required.
Buttress wrote on Twitter: "Everything that is wrong with Welsh rugby, totally heartbreaking for those of us that love the game that self interest and personal gain are out (sic) ahead of what is right for players, supporters etc. What business in its right mind allows this amateurism. Appalling. So depressing."
Current chairman Rob Butcher had been backing the motion which would have seen the board able to appoint their own independent chair, who had not been appointed by the clubs.
However, the failure to get the motion passed means that current model will continue of the WRU chair being elected by eight directors on the board who are put in the position by votes from district representatives on the WRU council.
Afterwards, Butcher admitted that a slower, more concentrated effort might have worked, but he was still adamant it is the right thing for the game in Wales.
"It's very difficult to predict how these things will go," he said. "It can only take one thing to spook people in the meeting itself. To get 65% is good, but it wasn't good enough to get us over the line. I don't think we should be deflected from what the board and I think are the right thing to do. I don't want anyone to think this isn't a chair who doesn't care passionately about the right thing to do is. Take myself out of the equation, the right thing to do is to have the option of an independent chair."
Shane on fly-halves
Shane Williams says he expects Gareth Anscombe to be handed the No. 10 shirt for the clash against New Zealand on Saturday, should he overcome his injury worries in time.
Anscombe suffered a painful-looking rib injury playing for the Ospreys earlier this month and hasn't played a minute since, although he did return to training before heading into Wales camp. Williams says he would be more than comfortable with Rhys Priestland's inclusion, should Anscombe not come through his knock, such has been his form of late.
"It will be interesting to see who gets the No. 10 jersey," Williams said in his Rugby Paper column. "If Gareth Anscombe comes through his rib injury scare, then it is likely to be him, although the way Rhys Priestland guided Cardiff to their win over URC champions the Stormers last week he could certainly slot back into the jersey left vacant by Dan Biggar's injury."
Elsewhere, Williams sees the autumn as an opportunity for youngsters in the squad to lay down a World Cup marker. "What a month we have ahead of us and what an opportunity for World Cup hopefuls to stake their claim. Josh Macleod, Christ Tshuinza, Dane Blacker and Joe Hawkins will be given a chance to shine among the raw recruits, while Nicky Smith should be a man on a mission after his recall. And finally, Wales couldn't have picked a better skipper than Justin Tipuric. He say he likes to lead by example. If the rest of his team follow his lead then Wales will be fine!"
Toulon opt for Biggar over England star
Dan Biggar is "inching towards" agreeing a deal to join Toulon, according to The Rugby Paper.
It was reported last week that the Wales captain would leave Northampton Saints mid-season and sign with the French giants with immediate effect.
The Rugby Paper claim Biggar's move to the south of France was unexpected as the French side were already in advanced talks with England star Jacob Umaga. Umaga, 24, has just been made redundant by crisis club Wasps, but he will now have to look elsewhere as Biggar edges closer to a move to Top 14.
Retallick disciplinary confirmed
World Rugby has confirmed that All Blacks star Brodie Retallick will face an independent judicial committee on Tuesday, following his red card against Japan at the weekend. The Test veteran was dismissed in the 65th minute of his side's 38-31 victory for a dangerous clear-out on Brave Blossoms blindside flanker Kazuki Himeno.
He will now appear before an independent judicial committee on Tuesday, having been charged with an offence contrary to Law 9.20(a) (charging into a ruck or maul). The independent disciplinary committee will chaired by Wang Shao-Ing (Singapore), who will be joined by ex-former international referee Donal Courtney (Ireland) and ex-Test player Leon Lloyd (England).
The news has thrown Retallick's involvement in this weekend's Test with Wales in Cardiff into serious doubt, although New Zealand boss Ian Foster has already leaped to the defence of his player. “We are going to have a good look at it,” he told Sky Sports after the match. “I certainly didn’t see any intention, apart from trying to move a body. That’s a process we will have to go through.”
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