Here are your rugby headlines for Tuesday, September 27.
Warburton calls for law change
Sam Warburton has called for the laws to change regarding clearing a player out at a ruck because it causes too many injuries. It follows an incident which took place in the Glasgow v Cardiff game at the weekend.
The Warriors battered the Welsh outfit 52-24 up in Glasgow, with the game marred by an injury to the hosts' Rory Darge.
It has since come to light that the seven-cap forward, 22, will miss Scotland's autumn campaign as a result of injuring his ankle during a clearout at a ruck by Josh Adams on Friday night. He is expected to be out for "several months", according to a statement released by Glasgow, and Warburton believes the laws must change in order to prevent these injuries in the future.
"Glasgow v Cardiff. Sad to see a player in great jackal position and win race to ball get injured. Came from a ‘roll’ clearout," former Wales and Lions captain Warburton wrote on Twitter. "This typically happens when attacks clearing player loses height battle on entry and thus reverts to roll. Ban rolls. Causes too many MCL injuries."
Worcester suspended amid administration as Wales players in limbo
Worcester Warriors have been suspended from all competitions with immediate effect and placed into administration.
The Gallagher Premiership club's darkest day is also accompanied by the prospect of automatic relegation from England's top flight due to administration. Under Rugby Football Union rules, a club that enters administration can expect to be demoted.
But Worcester could avoid playing Championship rugby next season in the event of them providing sufficient evidence of no-fault insolvency through an appeals process.
Worcester are also suspended from the RFU's top-flight women's Premier 15s competition, leaving a number of Wales internationals in limbo with regards their club future on the eve of the Women's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Wales World Cup squad members Carys Phillips, Alex Callender, Sioned Harries, Natalia John, Caryl Thomas, Ffion Lewis, Lowri Norkett and Niamh Terry will all have learned the news down under, where they are preparing for their campaign kick-off on October 9 against Scotland.
The Warriors failed to meet an RFU deadline requesting proof of insurance cover and funding for the club's monthly payroll. Twickenham bosses also wanted evidence of a "credible plan to take the club forward" by 5pm on Monday. But the crisis-hit club did not respond to those requests, and their season has now been plunged into cold storage, with Worcester men's and women's teams both suspended.
Worcester are burdened by debts totalling more than £25million, including at least £6m in unpaid tax, amid growing anger felt towards owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham.
The RFU said: "The owners of Worcester Warriors have not met the RFU's 5pm deadline to evidence insurance cover, availability of funds to meet the monthly payroll and a credible plan to take the club forward. The RFU has therefore suspended Worcester Warriors from all competitions, including the Gallagher Premiership, Allianz Premier 15s, U18s Academy Cup and Allianz Cup with immediate effect."
Dragons win 'can't be a one-off'
Dragons full-back Angus O'Brien has insisted the win over Munster must not be an outlier if they are to make a real fist of things this season.
The win at Rodney Parade on Sunday was marred by the silence surrounding the position of director of rugby Dean Ryan, who was absent amid reports he has left the Gwent outfit. However, those on the pitch, led by coach Dai Flanagan, turned on the style against the Irish side, with Rio Dyer's try being the highlight of the afternoon.
Now, O'Brien has urged his team to back that display up against the Cell C Sharks on Saturday night at Rodney Parade. He said: "This can’t be a one-off. We need to build on that performance and build on that victory. We are straight back to work on Monday, and we have got to put another big performance in against the Sharks.
“We knew we would have a tough battle [against Munster] and that is what we got. We defended unbelievably and there were some courageous defensive sets to see the game out. We were bitterly disappointed with how we performed at Edinburgh, we know it wasn’t good enough, but we had an honest week and I’m so proud that we responded the right way.”
O'Brien was given the man of the match accolade for his own display on Sunday, his first appearance back in Newport since leaving the club for the Scarlets in 2018. He added: “It was like a second home debut for me. The fans are always great, they have always been great to me, and I loved being out there. I’m a lot older now, a lot more experienced now, and I learnt a lot during my time at Scarlets. I feel I have benefitted for that.”
Raynal takes '100 per cent responsibility' for Australia decision
Referee Mathieu Raynal said on Monday he took “100% responsibility” for the contentious decision at the end of this month’s first Test between Australia and New Zealand.
Raynal penalised Wallabies fly-half Bernard Foley earlier this month for time wasting in the last minute of their defeat to the All Blacks in Melbourne. Australia were leading at the time, before New Zealand scored a late try to win the opening Bledisloe Cup fixture.
“I take total responsibility for what I did, 100%,” Raynal told reporters after being named French rugby’s referee of the season. "I had a necessary reason for making the decision even if it was a strong one which caused people to talk.
“I try to do what is the most fair. That’s at the heart of my job.
“Sometimes it creates tensions, frustrations, arguments but I take responsibility over what I do.
“I told a player five times to kick the ball to touch. I couldn’t do otherwise.
“It’s not me who decided to make the decision, it was the player who forced me to make it."
Australia coach Dave Rennie slammed the decision saying he had “never seen a call like that, at any level”. However, Raynal claims they had a calm conversation afterwards.
“I had a discussion with him which was very sincere and honest,” he said.
“He was satisfied by the refereeing during the entirety of the match. Obviously we didn’t agree on the final decision.
“I can guarantee we had a calm conversation.
“To be honest I deleted newspaper and social media applications. I had just CandyCrush and the clock on my phone.
“I didn’t follow what happened. To keep my head, it was the best thing to do to keep focused on the second match. My job finishes once I leave the field."
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