Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday January 20.
Beale arrested amid police investigation
Australia superstar Kurtley Beale has been arrested over an alleged sexual assault, it has been reported overnight.
Australian news outlets say the 95-times capped Wallaby back, who was named in a 44-man squad to start World Cup preparations, was taken into custody by police over an alleged incident in Sydney on December 17.
SIGN UP: Get the latest Six Nations headlines sent straight to your inbox for free with our daily newsletter
Police are looking into claims involving a 28-year-old woman at a licensed premises at Bondi Beach. It is reported Beale was arrested after a vehicle he was travelling in was stopped by police.
A statement from Rugby Australia read: "Rugby Australia, the NSW Waratahs and Rugby Union Players Association are aware of the situation involving Kurtley Beale.
“As this is a police matter, and we understand there has been no charge made, we will be making no further comment at this time.”
Beale, 33, remains a key player for the Wallabies with his mercurial skills and is expected to form an important part of new coach Eddie Jones' plans in World Cup year.
He was one of 44 players named earlier this month for a four-day training camp on the Gold Coast as Australia ramp up preparations for the global showpiece, which starts in September.
Warren Gatland's Wales will tangle with the Wallabies in the group stages of the tournament in France, the two expected to progress to the quarter-finals but battling it out for top spot.
Beale has spent most of his career at current Super 14 side the New South Wales Waratahs, but has also played for Melbourne Rebels and French giants Racing 92.
He made his Australia debut in 2009.
Best dubs Wales clash 'banana skin' for Ireland
Former Ireland captain and Grand Slam winner Rory Best has dubbed the Six Nations opener against Wales as a "banana skin" for Andy Farrell's tournament favourites.
Sitting at the top of the world rankings, Ireland head to Cardiff on February 4 as they bid to kick off 2023 in winning fashion.
Best, who led Ireland to the Grand Slam in 2018, says the Principality Stadium encounter has become a whole new proposition thanks to the re-appointment of Warren Gatland, who has again taken the reins in the wake of Wayne Pivac's sacking after a disastrous autumn campaign.
"The game against Wales is absolutely massive," he told BBC Sport. "If you'd asked me six-eight weeks ago before Warren Gatland got announced you would have been reasonably confident, bordering on very confident, going there with Wales in disarray and hard to see how they could turn it around.
"Knowing the Welsh players and Welsh teams I've played against, when you give them a spike of confidence and that belief which Gatland will give them, they become a very dangerous proposition.
"So that becomes a massive banana skin. But it's also a game that if Ireland can win then it just gives them so much momentum. It could set Ireland up to have a fantastic Six Nations.
"I would be very optimistic for Ireland to do very well. Is a Grand Slam possible? I think Ireland are in the best position possible. Is it probable? Maybe. I hope they do and they're very capable of doing it."
England international expects flak after Scotland switch
Ruaridh McConnochie is braced for some backlash from former England team-mates if he makes his debut for Scotland during the Six Nations having switched allegiance.
Bath winger McConnochie, 31, featured for then England boss Eddie Jones at the 2019 World Cup but has taken advantage of World Rugby's recent change in eligibility rules to pledge his allegiance to Scotland - the land of his parents - having not played international rugby for at least three years. Players are allowed to do so if they qualify for another nation.
He has been named in Gregor Townsend's Scotland Six Nations squad, with their first clash of the tournament taking place at Twickenham on February 4.
"I look back on England with an immense amount of pride," McConnochie told the Daily Mail. "I’ve got a lot to thank Eddie for. He didn’t need to put the trust in me. To be able to go to the World Cup was unbelievable and something I’d never dreamed of.
"My family are all Scots. They’ve all grown up supporting Scotland. It’s not paying them back, but it’s giving them an opportunity to text me saying 'Welcome home. We can’t wait to start wearing our blue shirt again rather than supporting England'. I’m 100 per cent committed."
Trio of Wales internationals nearing returns
Cardiff are hopeful that Wales prop Dillon Lewis will feature against Leinster next week ahead of Wales' opening Six Nations fixture the following weekend.
Lewis was named in Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad despite Cardiff coach David Young's fears that he wouldn't feature before the start of the tournament, having been out since December 10 with a knee ligament injury. Wales' opener against Ireland is on February 4, with Cardiff facing Leinster the week before on January 28.
With another of Gatland's tight-heads, Leon Brown, also having little rugby under his belt following a long-term injury, the prospect of Lewis featuring against Leinster would be a boost for club and country.
"Dillon's not far away," said Cardiff's defence coach Richard Hodges. "He's up and running. It's certainly looking positive in that regard. From what I understand, there's been some conversations in and around his availability for the Leinster game. I don't know whether or not that will come to fruition, but the fact those conversations have been had hopefully points to a positive direction further down the weeks."
Cardiff, who travel to Brive this weekend for their final Challenge Cup pool match, are hoping that back-three stars Liam Williams, Owen Lane and Jason Harries are fit for the trip to France.
Coach banned for verbally abusing referee
Pau assistant coach Geoffrey Lanne-Petit has been banned and his club given a suspended fine after verbally abusing official Hollie Davidson.
Misconduct charges for abusing assistant referee Davidson and failure to control staff members at the end of a match last month were upheld at a disciplinary hearing.
An EPCR statement read: “The Pau attack coach Geoffrey Lanne-Petit has been suspended for five weeks and Pau handed a suspended €25,000 fine following an independent disciplinary hearing arising from the club’s Challenge Cup round one match against the Cheetahs."
EPCR said Lanne-Petit accepted the charge. He is banned from matchday contact with the Pau squad, including pitchside, dressing rooms, team areas, technical zone and team communications systems, until February 26.
“The committee found Pau guilty of failing to control members of their coaching staff and persons connected to the club who disrespected the authority of the match officials following the conclusion of the match," a statement continued.
READ MORE:
Sam Warburton names future Wales captain and says Warren Gatland can stun Ireland
Warren Gatland disappointed WRU blocked Rob Howley appointment and insists he should be forgiven
The unlucky Wales players as Gatland's decision puts international careers in jeopardy
The verdict on Wales' Six Nations squad and the clear plan Gatland now has
