Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, 6 August.
Australia captain withdraws from Test for personal reasons
Australia captain Michael Hooper has withdrawn from today's Rugby Championship opener against Argentina and will be returning to Australia due to personal reasons.
Rugby Australia announced on Friday night that the openside flanker, who has won 121 caps for his country, believes he's not in the mindset to fulfill the responsibility that goes with leading and representing his country at this point in time. Their statement added that he had addressed his team-mates before leaving Mendoza to return home.
Speaking about his decision, Hooper said: “While this decision did not come easily I know it is the right one for me and the team at this point in time. My whole career I’ve looked to put the team first and I don’t feel I am able to fulfill my responsibilities at the moment in my current mindset.”
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “Michael’s one of the most professional and impressive men I’ve coached I know this has been a difficult decision for him. He’s shown true courage by acknowledging where he is at and acting on it.
“We will support him in any way we can and I know the team will be focused on getting the job done tomorrow.”
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said: “Michael is an incredible leader, it takes a brave man to identify where he’s at and come forward whilst having the best interests of the team at heart.
“His wellbeing is and remains the highest priority right now where Rugby Australia and the Australian Rugby community will do everything to support him and his family.”
Wales centre signs deal with French club
Wales centre Tyler Morgan has signed for relegated French outfit Biarritz after being released by the Scarlets earlier this season.
Morgan, who won five caps for Wales under Warren Gatland, was released by the Scarlets in May, having been linked with a move back to the Dragons. However, a return to Newport was understood to never be on the cards - with Morgan ending up playing on the Sevens circuit for Wales instead as he searched for a club.
Read more: What became of the young Wales team who did something very special three years ago
And now, a week after playing for Team Wales in the Commonwealth Games Sevens in Coventry, the 26-year-old has joined French club Biarritz. The Basque club were relegated from the Top 14 at the end of last season, with their Pro D2 campaign beginning on August 25 at home to Oyonnax.
The deal was announced on Friday on social media by Biarritz chairman Jean-Baptiste Aldige and will come as a welcome boost after the departures of some high-profile names following their relegation.
Former All Black centre Francis Saili has left, while Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani is also expected to play no part having left without the club's consent before the end of the last campaign. Another centre, Brieuc Plessis-Couillaud, has joined Pro D2 rivals Carcassonne - paving the way for Morgan's signing.
Cardiff ready to right last season's wrongs
Cardiff hooker Kristian Dacey says the club are chomping at the bit to put last year's struggles behind them ahead of the new URC campaign.
Last season was a strange one for Dai Young's side, with an ill-fated trip to South Africa early in the season leaving many players stuck in quarantine. Ultimately that, along with a loss of form, derailed Cardiff's promising start to the season and the Arms Park side limped home with some disappointing results in the latter part of the campaign.
However, Dacey says the players are keen to right some wrongs and improve upon last year's 14th-place finish in the league.
“I've been there 12 years now and at times last year it was a real struggle," Dacey told the club website. "You look back to November really, where we had the COVID situation, South Africa and the season from there just never picked up. Although we had the odd result, the consistency of our performance just wasn't there.
“There's numerous factors, but at the end of the day we are the players on the field and it's about putting right what went wrong last year and it starts in pre-season. It's about getting the fundamentals in place, both things we want to bring to our game and things that went wrong for us last year.
“Block 2 is probably one of the most important blocks of pre-season in terms of setting those foundations and setting ourselves up for the season. Munster is massive. They’re one of the biggest sides in Europe coming to Cardiff Arms Park.
“These are the games you play rugby for, but there’s no easy game in this league anymore. We’ve got to take it one game at a time and we have to perform. There’s no excuses any more.
“We've got a squad, these boys are capable of doing big things and we have to put it out there on the pitch.
“Running out at Cardiff Arms Park is like something I've never experienced. We’re looking forward to it but it's a case of getting these two pre-season games going, seeing where we are and hopefully we can have a good start to the season and do something special.”
Bath sign lock after successful trial
Bath have signed second-row Michael Etete after a successful trial with the club.
The 25-year-old can also play in the back row and has spent three weeks with the Premiership side during pre-season training. In recent seasons, he's played for National 1 teams Leeds Tykes and Rams RFC as well as Leeds Beckett University RFC in the BUCS Super Rugby league.
"We have been really pleased with Michael's attitude and application so far in pre-season," Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said. "He has outstanding physical attributes and a strong desire to develop all facets of his game."
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