Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Sunday, June 11.
Gatland to consider SOS call to Ball
The Rugby Paper report that Wales coach Warren Gatland is pondering an SOS call to Jake Ball.
The head coach will be without Alun Wyn Jones and Cory Hill in France this autumn after the former retired from international rugby and the latter revealed on Friday he would be leaving Wales' training squad to sign for a club overseas.
Only three other locks - Adam Beard, Will Rowlands and Dafydd Jenkins - remain, and the publication report that Ball, back home in Australia after his season in Japan has ended, is under consideration.
The 31-year-old, who has 50 caps to his name, is available again after the change to the 60-cap rule but said earlier this year there had been no call from Gatland.
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"No, I've had no contact so far," he said back in April. "I'm just concentrating on being here and playing for Green Rockets at the moment.
"If that was to happen, that's a conversation that would need to happen. But I've had no contact so far."
He added: "Look, I'm really happy and I've been lucky to play international rugby. I feel I've been able to achieve a few things there.
"I'm happy with the way I left. The intention was never to come back and play for Wales when I left.
"I had to make peace with the 60-cap rule in place and the fact I may never play for Wales again. In terms of that, I've made peace with it and I enjoy playing out here in Japan.
"Hopefully I stay out here for a few more years."
Jones backs Gatland to deliver at World Cup
Australia coach Eddie Jones insists Wales will still be a force to be reckoned with at the upcoming Rugby World Cup, despite the current cloud of chaos hanging over Warren Gatland's preparations.
Friday brought news that Cory Hill had become the latest star to leave the Wales camp, with the former Dragons second row poised to sign with an overseas club in a deal that will subsequently rule him out of the upcoming tournament.
Big hitters like Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb are also absent, while Rhys Carre was sent home due to a failure to meet individual performance targets. Ross Moriarty, meanwhile, asked not to be considered for the camp after signing for French side Brive.
It's a situation that's thrown Gatland's preparations for the tournament into chaos, and put a real early dent in his bid to pick up the team after a thoroughly disappointing Six Nations campaign.
However, former England coach Jones, whose Australia side will face off against Wales in Lyon on September 24, is adamant that Gatland is more than capable of masterminding a strong tournament.
"They've had a tough Six Nations but sometimes a tough Six Nations can be almost the ideal preparation for a World Cup," he told the BBC.
"You work out what you haven't done well. You work out maybe some selection issues and then you go into the World Cup with a renewed focus and a renewed purpose.
"That's the danger of Wales, they'll get that. They've go one of the most experienced Welsh coaches of all time in Warren Gatland and we know he's a very successful coach.
"He's got a great track record at the World Cup, so we know it's going to be a very difficult game."
Wales kick off their World Cup campaign against Pool C rivals Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.
Gloucester-Hartpury secure historic final appearance
Gloucester-Hartpury held off a Bristol Bears fightback to secure a first ever Premier 15s final appearance at Kingsholm.
Sarah Beckett put the hosts ahead with a try after just two minutes before Kelsey Jones went over with a second just before half-time.
Bristol hit back with a brace from Lark Davies tries after the break, but an unsuccessful conversion from Wales international Elinor Snowsill left them trailing 14-12.
And Gloucester-Hartpury sealed the victory when Rachel Lund went over with 12 minutes to go.
"You can see the emotions, what it means to every one of us," player of the match Alex Matthews said.
"We came here for a purpose - we want to go and win it. We just had to stay patient and break them down eventually."
Exeter and Saracens meet at Sandy Park later today in the other semi-final, with the final pencilled in for June 24.
La Rochelle book their place in Top 14 final
European champions La Rochelle booked their place in the Top 14 final with a 24-13 play-off semi-final win over Bordeaux.
Having already claimed their second successive European crown with a win over Irish giants Leinster last month, La Rochelle now have a chance to win their first ever Top 14 title in Paris next Saturday, with Toulouse lying in wait.
South African Dillyn Leyds crossed over for La Rochelle's first try of the game, going over after just nine minutes before Pierre Bourgarit increased the advantage on 21 minutes. Antoine Hastoy added the extras, to put further daylight between the teams, and when he converted a third try from Paul Boudehent just before half-time, La Rochelle looked comfortable.
A penalty try just after the break gave Bordeaux a glimmer of hope, while a couple of penalties from Matthieu Jalibert further narrowed the scoreline.
But La Rochelle weren't to be denied, and held on to claim their place in the final.
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