Here are your rugby morning headlines on Bank Holiday Friday June 3.
Regional stalwart to become a teacher after signing duel deal
Former Dragons centre Adam Warren has signed a duel deal with Llandovery RFC and Llandovery College with the view of becoming a teacher.
The 31-year-old, who was capped by Wales in 2012, will return to the Welsh Premiership club where he played for five years between 2010 and 2015. However, in addition to turning out for Llandovery, will also take on the role of backs and strength and conditioning coach at the College.
Read next: The 80-plus Wales-qualified rugby players now in England next season after raft of signings
And while he is there, he will use his time to study to attain qualified teacher status. Warren, who had become a stalwart at Rodney Parade after seven years there, only found out there would be no contract extension with the Dragons late into the season.
“The College is delighted to have successfully partnered with the Drovers to bring a player of Adam's quality into our coaching and strength and conditioning team set-up for September 2022,” said College warden Dominic Findlay.
“Adam will bring his many years of experience of the professional game into the College, sharing those experiences with our prospective stars of the future.”
Warren will join his brother Aaron at Church Bank, with Llandovery chairman Peter Rees saying: “It will be great to see the two Warren brothers back together in what is already an exciting mix of young and experienced players.
“We are confident that Adam will help us and the College to further develop aspiring regional players and particularly - from the Drovers’ viewpoint - to play the exciting free-flowing rugby that is synonymous with Llandovery.
“It is great that the Premiership is attracting quality players both out of the regions and at the commencement of their careers.
“By getting a suitable mix of experience and youth we can continue to improve the standards at the semi-professional level whilst also providing an environment that will develop the stars of the future.
“All too often we see players forced to move outside Wales to sustain their career. It just demonstrates the potential for innovative partnership working for the benefit of Welsh rugby.”
England urged to replace Tuilagi with Lions No. 8
Former England star turned pundit Austin Healey has called upon No. 8 Sam Simmonds to fill the hole left by injured centre Manu Tuilagi moving forward.
Tuilagi has become something of a focal point for Eddie Jones' side, with his strong carrying providing a platform for England. However, getting him on the pitch has been the biggest issue - with knee surgery the latest ailment to rule him out.
While England have other players capable of filling in at centre, they arguably don't have the ballast that Tuilagi provides. And Healey, in his column for the Telegraph, has questioned whether Exeter and Lions No. 8 Simmonds could become a long-term plan B.
"It's time to think further afield with selection," he wrote. "Sam Simmonds moving to centre? It would take buy-in from Exeter and seems like a longshot, given how hard the position is defensively. Eddie must have ideas along those lines which he wants to develop, because there are not many existing options at 13 and the ones that are available do not offer a lot of size.
"Without an obvious power runner you almost have to see the first phase as your best way of scoring, trying to catch the opposition out with pace and deception. Manu's absence this summer is just an opportunity for a reset. I can't believe that we haven't another player who can play that way in this country, but we haven't been able to.
"Moving on from Manu is a bit strong, but they have to consider that Manu might start the World Cup but not finish it, and if that happens do you have a style of play to fall back on. Do you actually have to replace him like for like, or should you be trying to get your best 15 players on the field?
"Simmonds can still wear No 8 on his shirt but be used in midfield, you don't have to be stereotyped."
Former Ospreys prop leaves Premiership club
Former Ospreys prop Marc Thomas has joined fellow Welshman Sam Lewis in leaving Worcester Warriors.
The 31-year-old loosehead joined the Warriors in 2020 and has played 26 games for them, scoring two tries. He had previously spent six years with the Ospreys, making 42 appearances, prior to spells with Jersey, Cardiff Blues, Yorkshire Carnegie, Doncaster and Harlequins.
Merthyr-born Thomas is one of eight more players confirmed as leaving Sixways, on the back of the announcement about long-serving flanker Lewis, another ex-Ospreys forward. In addition, the club’s Director of Rugby Alan Solomons is retiring from coaching at the end of the season, while defence coach Jonny Bell will be re-joining Ulster.
"The end of the season inevitably means that we have to say goodbye to people - players, coaches and staff. It is not an easy time of the year but it is part of the cycle of professional rugby," said Worcester lead rugby consultant Steve Diamond.
"I have enjoyed working with all those who are moving on. They are all good blokes and I wish them all the very best for their future ventures."
All Blacks star ruled out of Super Rugby play-off
Highlanders veteran Aaron Smith has been ruled out of his side’s crunch quarter-final against the Blues this weekend.
The All Blacks scrum-half was initially named to start in the playoff game but has since been ruled out with a groin injury in a massive blow for the Highlanders.
Folau Fakatava will come into the starting lineup, with Kayne Hammington being brought onto the bench.
