These are your rugby headlines on Tuesday, January 10.
Townsend 'in France job application'
Reports in France state Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has applied for an assistant coach role with Les Bleus following the Rugby World Cup.
Midi Olympique report Townsend was among a number of candidates who applied to take charge of the attack of Fabien Galthie's outfit.
Current attack coach Laurent Labit will be leaving his post after the tournament in France later this year to take up a post with Stade Francais, and Townsend has reportedly "presented his candidacy" to the FFR.
His own contract with Scotland ends upon the conclusion of the World Cup. A spokesperson for the SRU said they would not comment on speculation, as reported by The Scotsman.
Townsend spent a chunk of his playing on the continent, joining Brive in 1998 and then moving to Castres two years later. He also played for Montpellier.
'I'm sure Gatland is keen to watch him'
Dragons coach Dai Flanagan says he'll be managing players' workloads over the coming weeks and admits Warren Gatland will be keen to see one of his charges in action.
Games are coming thick and fast for the Rodney Parade side - they will will head to France on Friday to face Section Paloise before returning home to tackle Emirates Lions on home turf on Sunday, January 22.
Ben Carter is set to return after an ankle injury and Flanagan revealed he would be "touch and go", and with Gatland naming his Six Nations squad imminently, the Wales international will be keen to put down a marker, fitness permitting. The Dragons coach expects Gatland to have a close eye on him.
Other players, like Ross Moriarty, have been running on fumes, Flanagan added, and game-time will be managed over the coming weeks.
“We will pick the best team that we can,” he said. “I’ve some youngsters who I need to bring through, but we also want to win every game we play.
“Ben Carter will be touch and go. If it’s not Pau then the week after against the Lions, and he is important for us because he is a big man. There is a new national coach who I am sure is keen to watch Ben and he wants to get back as quickly as possible.
“He is flying around at the moment, so hopefully it’s sooner rather than later. Joe Davies has been unbelievable in this period – he is a diesel engine but at some time you run out of diesel.
“That’s where having Ben back in, after Matthew Screech picked up a knock at the Scarlets, we need people like Ben back.
“Ross (Moriarty) is fantastic for us but he was running on fumes, like the majority are.
“George Nott could hardly walk, we had no choice but to bring him off. Ross was ill over Christmas, and I love that his dad is quite tough on him and was telling him to get on with it, I probably protect him more than his dad does!
“His effort was outstanding, and he will be ready to go again soon.”
Warburton's Bale tribute
From one Wales legend to another.
Sam Warburton has paid tribute to Gareth Bale after the footballer announced his retirement from all forms of football.
The news, which was revealed on Monday afternoon, came out of the blue, with Bale releasing a statement on his social media channels that he would be hanging up his boots. He will now, at the age of 33, look "for a new adventure". You can read more about it here.
His announcement prompted an outpouring of tributes for the former Southampton, Tottenham and Real Madrid star, including one from his Whitchurch High School alumnus.
Warburton, whose own retirement announcement took people by surprise, wrote on Twitter: "Icon. Congratulations on an unimaginable career and for representing Wales so proudly. Without a doubt, one of the greatest."
Farrell to learn fate tonight
Owen Farrell will today learn his Six Nations fate after being cited for a dangerous tackle on Gloucester's Jack Clement.
The England star will stand in front of a disciplinary panel to discover if he will be hit with a ban which could put his tournament at risk.
Having been cited for dangerous tackling, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.13, Farrell would be looking at a starting point of at least a mid-range punishment of six weeks given he made contact with the head area of Clement.
However, mitigation could see the ban reduced. In 2020, Farrell was banned for five weeks for a similar infringement, escaping a 10-match suspension because of good behaviour, with even his "work for charity" mentioned by the disciplinary panel.
Undergoing World Rugby’s coach intervention programme would also take a week off whatever ban he might receive.
The outcome of the hearing is expected this evening.
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Tom Shanklin has players and fans in stitches with comedy Dwayne Peel handshake on live TV
