Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, December 22.
Ireland star calls for 'scumbag' to be sacked
Lions, Ireland and Munster winger Simon Zebo has called on Benetton to sack the player who sent black Italian international prop Cherif Traore a rotten banana as a Secret Santa gift.
Traore went public on Monday to reveal the shocking incident from his own team-mates which left him distraught. He said: "I found a banana inside my present. A rotten banana, inside a garbage bag. In addition to considering the gesture offensive, the thing that hurt me the most was seeing most of my companions present laughing. As if everything was normal. I’m used to, or rather, I’ve had to get used to, having to put on a brave face every time I hear racist jokes to try not to make enemies close to me anyway. Yesterday was different though." You can read his full Instagram post here.
Sharing the 28-year-old Guinea-born player's social media post, Zebo, who toured with the Lions in 2013, said: "Name and shame the scumbag [.] Should be out of a job."
Benetton later posted a video on Monday evening featuring Traore saying he had accepted an apology and that his team-mates were "family".
Dragons player Ashton Hewitt was not impressed with the club's move, saying: "If one of my team-mates gifted me a rotten banana as ‘banter’ for secret Santa, there would be scenes. If my club then got me to do a video talking about apologies and all being family after the fact where other players were laughing along, it’s safe to say I’d lose my s**t."
Dragons' promise to players
The Dragons have promised their players they will "do things right" when it comes to deciding the futures of those who find themselves in limbo this Christmas.
Up to 70 players across the four regions are thought to be out of contract at the end of the season, with a freeze on new deals meaning many will head into the new year amid great uncertainty and the threat of being axed as squads are slashed in the current financial climate.
Coach Dai Flanagan has been meeting with recruitment chief Rob Burgess to work out a plan going forward in the hope of being as fair as possible to players. The region came under criticism last season when popular centre Adam Warren was left in the dark about his future before eventually being told his contract was being cut in May.
Flanagan said: “Individuals deal with it in different ways. Some will come right on the front foot and want to know early but we have made sure that in house we are focused on what is coming over the next few weeks. We have made it very clear that after the coming weeks we can start really diving into what the future looks like.
“We've got a pretty small squad anyway compared to the other three. They must be up in the 50s while we are 42, 43, so I wouldn't say that our numbers will change dramatically. The personnel has the potential to change a little bit depending on how negotiations go and if we've got room to add to the squad.
“I am very honest and quite simplistic with my messaging with the players. Me and Rob have had a little bit of time together and it's new to me, working through scenarios of a squad and how it's looking. Do you have X amount of hookers or do you carry one less? Do you have X number of back rowers? What fits, where are your strengths and where do you spend your money?
“We've got to make sure we are clear with the direction we need to go before we open up the conversations with the players. We are working hard behind the scenes to make sure we know where we want to go so we can be as honest as possible with players. We are going to be transparent and do things the right way.”
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Welsh rugby's best player this season hailed
The most influential player in Welsh regional rugby this season has been hailed for his outstanding performances.
There is little doubt Sione Kalamafoni has been the player of the season in Wales so far this term, playing the house down almost every time he has taken the field. Indeed, Kalamafoni has been little short of extraordinary. Any fair reading of his efforts for the Scarlets would place him high up among the finest overseas imports Welsh rugby has ever been blessed with.
“In terms of what he offers us week in, week out, he’s fantastic,” said coach Dwayne Peel. “He’s top of the carries list every week. He’s played second row a few times and whether he plays lock or No. 8 he’s right up there with his tackle quality as well. He’s a huge player and I can’t speak highly enough of him. Everyone sees it week in, week out. He has high numbers in terms of minutes played. He’s been a fantastic player for us.”
Wayne Barnes helps launch high-performance match officials representative body
Wayne Barnes has helped launch the first representative body for high-performance match officials in the same week that the record-breaking rugby referee revealed the extent of abuse received by himself and his family. International Rugby Match Officials (IRMO) will promote and protect the interests of officials and provide a platform for interaction with the sport's global governing body.
Barnes refereed his 100th Test match in November between France and South Africa but celebrations were soured by criticism from Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus that was followed by shocking online abuse.
Barnes said: "Today's launch represents an important development for the recognition and support of rugby match officials on the world stage. For the first time there will be a collective voice and support network for international referees and television match officials, championing matters of interest ranging from physical and mental wellbeing promotion to upholding the sport's values and representing international match officials within World Rugby decision-making structures."
As well as promoting the interests of existing officials and inputting into discussions on future laws, IRMO will also promote the development of officiating as an existing career path. It will do so with the full support of World Rugby, whose chief executive Alan Gilpin said: "Match officials are fundamental to the sport and their role is greater than the matches they officiate. They are ambassadors, champions of our values and increasingly contributing to the future shape of the sport through their game expertise."
England prop announces retirement
England prop Shaunagh Brown has announced she is to retire at the end of the month.
Brown, who competed for England in the hammer at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, won 30 caps and was part of the Red Roses squad that reached the World Cup final in November.The 32-year-old trained firefighter only began her rugby career in 2015 but retires with Six Nations winners medals.
"I couldn't think of a better way to have spent the last seven years of my life than dedicating it to rugby and women," Harlequins forward Brown said. "And although I will stop playing the game, I will still be pushing the boundaries for rugby and women alike.
"Rugby has only ever changed my life for the better. I'm so grateful that I was able to find the sport. Now it's time to concentrate on getting other people to find rugby and let it change their lives too."
Read more:
Secret Santa gift leaves Six Nations star distraught and Liam Williams not ready
Dwayne Peel's difficult decision will see Wales hopeful miss out on big Six Nations trial
The Wales rugby player of 2022 candidates and who deserves your vote
Cardiff suffer hammer blow as star centre ruled out for three months after impending exit emerges
