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Tom Coleman

Today's rugby news as Lions star to make shock move to France and Young hits out over 'ugly' Cardiff hammering

Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Saturday, September 24.

Young rues yellow cards

Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young says his side were made to pay for their indiscipline during Friday night's hammering against Glasgow at Scotstoun.

The Blue and Blacks fell to a 52-24 defeat to the Warriors, with the hosts running in eight tries, four of which arrived during periods were Cardiff were reduced to 14 men.

Thomas Young and Uilisi Halaholo spent stints in the bin, undoing what was otherwise a bright start from the visitors, who took the lead through and early Josh Adams try.

READ MORE: Wales star rings Wayne Pivac to ask why he didn't pick him

Young admits he was disappointed with how his side handled those two yellow cards, which he says handed Glasgow the initiative during the encounter.

He said: “It’s disappointing obviously and the scoreboard is quite ugly when you look at it at the end. But I thought we had a really good start. We got our noses in front and we were right in the game.

“Then we had a pretty harsh yellow card against Thomas [Young], but that happens on occasions. We certainly didn’t control that 10 minutes the way we wanted to. They scored three tries and 21 points in that period which obviously meant we’d be chasing the game a little bit.

“Another yellow card in the second half, and they scored another try so that’s four tries following yellow cards. That’s a big thing that we need to get better at - controlling those periods when we’re down to 14. It will inevitably happen in this game.

“We played good stuff on occasions and left points out there but we’re obviously disappointed to lose by that much. We’ve got to learn a lot from it, but ultimately the story of the day was the yellow cards and how we dealt with those periods because they will happen."

Dragons remain silent over Ryan

The Dragons are still saying nothing about reports that director of rugby Dean Ryan has left his position at Rodney Parade.

The Welsh side clash with Munster on Sunday and eyes will be on the Ryan situation and whether he is at the game.

A report on RugbyPass claims the Dragons have parted company with former England international Ryan, who has been at the helm since May 2019. They say that Ryan has been absent from training during the week and that he was informed of the decision on Friday morning.

The Welsh region have been asked about the Ryan situation but are saying nothing.

Simmonds set for move to France

Sam Simmonds will join Montpellier from Exeter Chiefs next season.

That's according to The Times, who claim the British & Irish Lions No 8 has told Exeter he will be leaving, although he is hoping to carry on playing for England.

An RFU policy means players based abroad cannot feature for the national team, but Simmonds is reportedly trying to structure a deal with Montpellier that will allow him to join them after next autumn's World Cup, should he be selected by Eddie Jones.

His departure will certainly be seen as a big blow to Exeter, where he racked up a Premiership record of 20 tries in the 2020-21 season, picking up the award for the league's player of the year.

With his contract up at the end of the year, Simmonds will replace Montpellier's Zach Mercer, who's returning to England to join Gloucester.

Blackett upbeat on Wasps future

Wasps head coach Lee Blackett insists there are “a lot of people who are very positive” about the club’s future.

Much of the build-up to the win over Bath on Friday night was overshadowed by the news the club were to file an intention to appoint an administrator with the High Court.

Wasps have been served with a winding up order by HM Revenue and Customs, and are being pursued for an unpaid tax bill. The club are also reportedly having difficulty in repaying a £35m bond that was raised to help finance their relocation from High Wycombe to Coventry eight years ago.

Players and coaches met with senior club representatives, including club owner Derek Richardson and chief executive Stephen Vaughan, on Thursday, and Blackett has revealed his optimism that the club's future will be okay.

“The players were able to ask any questions they wanted, and they were as honest as they are and gave direct answers. They gave assurances, but no-one can guarantee anything. That is why I like what they said and were honest in their appraisals of where we are.

“I am confident with those guys in place they will do the right thing for the club and we will have a club, that is for sure.”

Asked about Wasps’ prospects of seeing out the season, Blackett added: “They are confident. There is a lot of interest. It is a great club."

READ MORE:

Five Wales internationals are injured at the Ospreys as destructive back-rower returns

Young rugby player left covered in dog poo at training as concerned parent wants dogs banned from pitches

WRU demand strong Wales results this season as time for experimenting over

Cardiff leave out Faletau as young giants team up

Australia claim World Rugby admit Mathieu Raynal got time-wasting call wrong

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