Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Friday, February 24.
Gatland says 'dam has burst' on Welsh rugby
Warren Gatland says the dam has finally burst on Welsh rugby with problems at regional level finally catching up with the national side, while the desire to play for Wales potentially isn't as strong as it used to be.
Welsh rugby has gone from crisis to crisis since the game went open in 1996 but hit its nadir of late with players threatening to strike ahead of Saturday's Six Nations clash with England.
Gatland led Wales to three Six Nations Grand Slams during his first stint in charge while the regions struggled, but believes it was a case of papering over the cracks.
SIGN UP: Get the latest Welsh rugby stories delivered straight to your inbox with our free newsletter
"Now that I reflect back on it and look back on the first period I was here, a lot of these issues were going on but the fact we had been reasonably successful as a national side probably papered over the cracks a little bit. It was stopping the dam from busting," he said.
"The dam has burst now. It’s burst because the regions feel they are underfunded and haven’t got the success the players want. As a national side we’re not being successful. The desire to play for Wales and be in Wales potentially isn’t as strong as it was.
"Winning and success often hides away some of the issues that are going on behind the scenes. Maybe there were people disgruntled in the past, but now it’s been highlighted by the fact there are maybe a number of players who are thinking do they want to play their rugby in Wales. With us as a national side not going well in the first couple of games, they’re probably looking at other potential opportunities overseas."
The players and the Professional Rugby Board finally came to a compromise with the 60-cap rule lowered to 25 caps while a Welsh Rugby Players' Association member was granted a place on the PRB.
While Gatland supports the players, he feels they could have done things a bit differently.
"I suppose young men are sometimes a little bit impulsive in terms of there could probably have been a period where they could have laid down their demands to be done by this time," said Gatland. "It came pretty quickly and there was a lot of pressure put on the unions and the regions to get things resolved because they’d finally decided they’d had enough.
"Maybe there could have been a little bit more warning but that’s the way it is and they made those calls. It’s not what they wanted in terms of the reduction of the 60-cap rule to 25 but that’s still positive from their point of view and we’ve got agreement on the fixed and variable contracts."
POLL: Who will win Wales v England in the Six Nations? Have your say below or right here
England facing no-win situation
Sir Clive Woodward believes England are facing a "no-win situation" when they head to Cardiff to face Wales on Saturday. The World Cup winner believes the current crisis around Welsh rugby means Steve Borthwick's side will be expected to win when they step out at the Principality Stadium.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: "Saturday will be a great learning experience for this England team and their coach. It is a huge game for both sides. Wales have been in turmoil with the match only going ahead after their players withdrew the threat of strike action.
"In many ways, it is a no-win situation for England and a no-lose one for Wales. England are expected to win because of the chaos that has been taking place, although it will be far from easy for them. But as long as Borthwick keeps the faith with his continuity of selection, his team will continue to make great strides."
Farrell urges England youngsters to enjoy Cardiff atmosphere
Owen Farrell has told England's young guns to embrace the lively atmosphere in Cardiff on Saturday. Despite the ongoing crisis engulfing Welsh rugby, Farrell is still expecting a fervent reception from the home crowd at the Principality Stadium.
Asked what advice he would give to the younger players in Steve Borthwick's squad, Farrell replied: “Enjoy it. Love it. It’s brilliant. What do you think people grew up wanting to play in? People used to grow up playing in the back garden thinking they were playing in front of 75,000 people.
“You didn’t grow up wanting to play in front of 10 people, did you? So let’s act like we’ve got that opportunity. We want to do it, and enjoy it, and everything that comes with it. It’s not going to be all our way, for sure, but it’s brilliant.
“The bus ride in is brilliant, straight through the centre of Cardiff and we always have a nice welcome. The bus goes straight through a whole load of people, then disappears under the stadium as you arrive. The ground is iconic and when you see the love of rugby they have, it’s just fantastic.”
READ NEXT:
The England team to play Wales in full as call made on Marcus Smith
England insist Wales' Principality Stadium roof be open for Six Nations clash
Warren Gatland gets access to three new Wales players immediately but Rowlands could still be victim
