These are your rugby headlines on Friday December 16.
Webb ready to stake Wales claim
Rhys Webb will look to give Warren Gatland another nudge when he lines up for the Ospreys in their European Champions Cup encounter with Montpellier on Saturday evening.
The Lions scrum-half found himself out in the cold under Wayne Pivac, with no involvement at Test level for two years, but he has maintained a consistently high level for the Ospreys.
READ MORE: Welsh young gun tipped to become Gatland World Cup bolter
Webb was pinpointed as a dangerman by English champions Leicester Tigers and produced a first-half display which saw him cause havoc with his sniping, work at the breakdown and offloading during last weekend's Euro opener.
Another strong effort in France this weekend is bound to interest Gatland, with Ospreys head coach Toby Booth unashamedly a fan of what Webb can do.
“Rhys was very visible against Leicester,” said Booth. “He’s been a great leader for us. Putting his personal disappointment of not being with Wales apart, he’s a guy who’s led from the front on and off the pitch here. He’s a guy who’s pushing others.
“He’s been stepping up from a leadership point of view as well as his performance. His performance on the pitch comes from how much he’s delivering here in the environment.”
Although Webb was unwanted by Pivac, there will be a clean slate for Wales' players under Gatland. The returning Welsh boss is a big admirer of what the experienced scrum-half can bring to the table and may choose to fast-track him back in for the Six Nations.
No-one has really nailed down the Wales number nine jersey in recent times, with Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy and Gareth Davies among those to be chosen, and then left out, under Pivac.
Anscombe interest as Russell Bath move back on
Finn Russell's on-off prospective move to English giants Bath is very much back on again, according to the French Press.
The Scotland No. 10 was heavily linked with a move into the English Premiership, but was then said to be staying with Racing 92. However, L'Equipe report Racing and Russell are too far apart financially on a new contract. His current deal ends this summer.
It means Racing look likely to be on the hunt for a new fly-half, with Wales star Gareth Anscombe among their targets. The Ospreys man is injured and set to miss the Six Nations, but could be tempted by a big-money move abroad should a Racing offer materialise.
New Zealand star Beauden Barrett and Perpignan’s South African stand-off Tristan Tedder have also been mentioned as possible Racing targets amid the uncertainty over Russell's future.
Peel ready for 'alien' atmosphere
Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel says it will be an "alien" experience when his Scarlets face South African opponents in European competition in Italy.
The Challenge Cup fixture is actually unfolding at Stadio Lanfranchi in Parma on Saturday afternoon, when the Cheetahs play Peel's Scarlets, the South Africans having chosen to stage their home games in the competition in Italy on grounds of cost. They played in France against Pau in the first batch of European matches.
Undoubtedly, it makes for an encounter with a difference, a point not lost on head coach Peel.
"It is a very alien [concept],” he said. “We have already spoken about it, who is going to be there, any sort of fans. Hopefully we will have a few going over.
"The atmosphere will be different, so it's about creating your own. We had good energy last weekend and it's important we keep that up. The Cheetahs are on tour so you get that sort of tight bond and it will be a tough task. They will have a point to prove as well because they were replaced in the United Rugby Championship by the other four South African teams. We respect that and the challenge that is coming.
"The atmosphere will be alien but it's about us being on task and creating our own atmosphere."
The Scarlets won 39-7 against Bayonne last weekend while the Cheetahs won 21-16 against Pau. After a misfiring start to the URC season, the Welsh team aim to kick-start their campaign via Europe and hope they can prove realistic Challenge Cup contenders.
Worcester fears over Championship spot
Worcester Warriors' prospective new owners have accused the Rugby Football Union of "seeking to impose onerous operational conditions" on them.
Atlas Worcester Warriors RFC Limited also say the "conditions, commercial restrictions and barriers" would prevent Worcester's admission to the Championship for next season.
Worcester and Wasps lost their Gallagher Premiership status after entering administration earlier this term, and it is understood there are now doubts whether or not Warriors will be granted Championship status.
"The RFU board will be meeting to discuss this matter on Friday and we won't be commenting formally on a decision which has not been made," an RFU spokesperson said.
Atlas' founding directors are ex-Worcester Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole and James Sandford, chief executive of Atlas Sport Tech.
"The RFU are now seeking to impose onerous operational conditions, commercial restrictions and barriers that would prevent our admittance to, and participation in, the RFU Championship for the 2023/24 season and seeking to rely on a lack of 'financial due-diligence', which in our view is patently untrue," Atlas said.
"The position being taken by the RFU gives, in our view, too much control and oversight to the RFU, and such control and oversight is over and above what we consider is reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances."
A decision will be announced by Twickenham chiefs on Friday.
READ MORE:
Wales star Dillon Lewis being targeted by host of English Premiership clubs
Welsh players to be offered conditional contracts while recruitment freeze continues
-
WRU chief Steve Phillips slams critics of community board members and calls for Welsh rugby 'alignment'
Two merged Welsh regions 'could compete with best in Europe' as WRU says country 'needs' four
