Here are your rugby headlines for Wednesday, April 19
Wales star Brown's fresh injury blow
Dragons and Wales tight-head Leon Brown has been hit by another injury blow after it was confirmed he will have a scan on his neck and shoulder.
The 26-year-old was forced off in the first half of last week’s loss to Ulster in Belfast, in what was just his third appearance of the campaign for the Dragons.
After neck surgery last summer, a cautious approach has been taken with the prop. He will sit out this weekend's Judgement Day clash against the Scarlets and will be hopeful that his scans are positive ahead of Warren Gatland's World Cup training camps this summer.
“Hopefully it's nothing too bad, but history will tell you that we need to be on red alert because of the op that he had previously," said Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan. "He is moving his neck fine, he is a little bit weak in his shoulder but fingers crossed."
Saturday could also offer a farewell for the likes of Sam Davies, Ben Fry and Huw Taylor before they leave the Welsh side.
Scarlets powerhouse plays last game for region
Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel says powerful No. 8 Sione Kalamafoni has played his last game for the region.
The influential No. 8 injured his Achilles during his side's dramatic Challenge Cup quarter-final victory over Clermont Auvergne and will miss the semi-final against Glasgow.
"It is disappointing for us to lose him because he is a player who has given us so much," said Peel. "It is disappointing for him as well because for him to play at the end of the season would have been great.
"The players are willing to step up and it's an opportunity for somebody to fill those big shoes. He has been brilliant for us. In terms of overseas signings he is one of the best. He is the guy who has always offered himself to carry the ball and stand up in defence. He is a likeable guy as well and a good person to have in the environment. He is quiet off the field and then on the pitch he is vocal and led well and captained the side a few times."
Peel did confirm Wales speedster Johnny McNicholl is back in training and is likely to be fit for their European semi-final at Parc y Scarlets in two weeks.
"He has a chance," said Peel. "It is a huge boost. As much as he is the player on the field, his leadership in terms of the young backline we have, he really steps up. It's great for us to have him in and around training and the games."
Wales red jersey pulled gifted young gun back to Wales
Bristol boss Pat Lam says the pull of the Wales red jersey enabled the Scarlets to snap up gifted youngster Ioan Lloyd. The 22-year-old made two appearances for his country during the Autumn Nations Series in 2020, but Wales' new 25-cap rule would have made him ineligible had he signed a new deal with the English powerhouses.
Lam explained: "With Ioan's contract expiring in the summer and the 25-cap rule in place in Wales, he had to make a tough decision about his future. While we were keen for Ioan to stay, the move back to Wales to play club rugby protects his international ambitions and we as a club support him and want him to be successful."
England stars warned after Nowell ref outburst
England's players are to be given new instructions over their use of social media during the World Cup, according to The Guardian.
The RFU move comes in the wake of Jack Nowell being charged with misconduct after criticising referee Karl Dickson on Twitter following the red card brandished to his Exeter team-mate Olly Woodburn against Leicester.
The paper say the players will not be banned from using their social media platforms, but will be given renewed guidance “in line with Rugby World Cup regulations”.
In charging Nowell, the RFU emphasised his tweet, since deleted, had been posted to his 61,000‑plus followers. He faces a disciplinary hearing and if banned could be ruled out of Exeter's Champions Cup semi-final against La Rochelle.
World Rugby’s regulations state that “unions, associations, rugby bodies, clubs and persons shall not publish or cause to be published criticism of the manner in which a match official handled a match”. It looks like they will be cracking down on that during the tournament in France this autumn.
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