Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, May 26.
Welsh rugby club heartbroken
A Welsh rugby club has been left devastated after the death of one of its teenage players.
Kane Edwards, 13, died after swimming in the River Tawe in Swansea on Tuesday. He apparently got into difficulty while in the water, sparking an extensive search involving police, fire, ambulance and coastguard personnel, and a helicopter on the evening of Tuesday, May 24.
South Wales Police said the teenager was located around an hour later but could not be resuscitated.
His rugby team, Morriston U-15s, said in a statement: "As a team we are totally heartbroken at the loss of our one and only Kaneo who tragically left us [on Tuesday]. He will forever be a monkey and our team will never be the same. #KANEO17. Our thoughts are with Kane's family."
Morriston Rugby Club said they were putting support in place for everyone affected, adding: "We received notification that a member of our junior section had lost his life in a tragic accident. Deeply saddened, our thoughts go out to his family and friends in the saddest of times. We as a club are taking necessary steps to ensure that the correct support measures are in place for the many affected. RIP Kane."
Elite Wales 38 to be scrapped?
The way Wales internationals are paid has to change as part of plans to make Welsh rugby more sustainable and successful moving forward, a member of the Professional Rugby Board has said.
Dragons chairman David Buttress, who alongside other regional representatives and WRU and independent board members sits on the PRB, said he thinks changes will be made with regards to Wayne Pivac's 'Elite 38 Squad' - whereby 80% of 38 Wales-based internationals' wages are paid by the Welsh Rugby Union. However, as they are with Wales for a large chunk of the season, they do not feature for their regions as much as some would like.
"I was in the room three years ago when we set this up," Buttress told the Scrum V podcast. "We've made mistakes and there were one or two of us at the time said that attaching specific payments to specific players in the 38 is going to lead to inflationary problems because those players will be in demand because of the funding attached to them, it's going to cause problems of an arms race to attract those players because of the funding attached to them, and also potentially some of the cultural problems that also get attached to the fact where a player is ultimately rewarded 80% in their perception, albeit incorrectly, for playing for Wales.
"We've got to hold our hands up to stuff like that. The best businesses change things quickly they get wrong, and double down on the things they're doing right.
"The thing you'll be pleased to know is we are talking about that stuff. I think it is recognised and I do think we will make some changes. We have to but of course we need to do it in full consultation and do it in a way that works."
Wales international proves big success
Wales international Ashley Beck has signed a new deal to stay at Worcester Warriors.
The 32-year-old has proved a big hit at the English Premiership club, scoring eight tries in 59 matches. After an injury-hit first season in 2018, he has played between 18 and 20 games per campaign over the past couple of years.
Beck won seven caps for Wales between 2012 and 2013 but saw his international ambitions continually blighted by injury problems.
“It’s a really good club, it has a lovely family feel about it, everyone is close off the field so it was a no-brainer to stay here,” Beck said. “We really feel really at home here. My daughter was born up here, we are expecting again and it’s the first house we have had together."
Worcester boss Steve Diamond said: “Ash is a student of the game and a top professional. With the young lads pushing through into the starting team it’s important that we get the balance of youth and experience right and Ash gives the squad that stability.”
Bath chairman leaves
Ed Griffiths has left his role as chairman of Gallagher Premiership club Bath.
Former Saracens chief executive Griffiths had only held the position since January 1 this year. He was initially drafted in by Bath on a consultancy basis last November to lead an in-season review of the club's rugby programme.
Bath are currently 12th in the Premiership with one game left, having lost 17 of their 23 league fixtures this term. Those defeats included a 71-17 reversal at home to Saracens and a 64-0 loss at west country rivals Gloucester.
Bath owner Bruce Craig, who relinquished his role as chairman in January, said: "We thank Edward for all he has done in helping our club to refocus. He has brought expertise, knowledge and experience, and he leaves the club in a significantly stronger position. I will continue to support the club as we move forward."
Bath said in a statement that Griffiths had "completed his term as chairman." The club added that he had been "contracted to lead Bath Rugby's performance reset, and many of his recommendations have now been implemented."
Current Munster boss Johann Van Graan will begin his role as Bath's head of rugby on July 1.
