Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Wednesday, April 12.
Former rugby star given cancer all-clear
Former Welsh rugby favourite Mark Spiller has been given the all-clear from cancer after undergoing a successful operation to remove an eight-pound tumour from his liver.
Spiller, who played for Ebbw Vale, Pontypool and Pontypridd during the 1990s, was diagnosed with a rare neuroendocrine cancer, and was forced to go under the knife back in November.
A GoFundMe page was launched to help raise funds for his treatments, raising just over £4,500, and he's now confirmed to WalesOnline that he's been given the all-clear.
"It was an eight-hour op in the end," he said. "They actually removed a tumour weighing about eight pounds from my liver.
"They initially thought they could only take 95 per cent of it, but they've taken all of it. It's just been a case of going through what's been a long recovery then.
"Everything went alright, and I was in the hospital for about 17 days and it's been a slow recovery."
While given the green light from doctors, Spiller still has a few more tests to complete, and doctors are likely to continue monitoring his condition for the next five years or so.
"I've got to back to back to London for another scan, and if everything's okay with that, I can come off the injections, which I'm still taking once a month.
"They'll just monitor me then for the next five years with scans every couple of months."
Mark admits many of his team-mates, including Ponty legend Dale McIntosh, come together to show their support.
"It was amazing," he added. "The support's been massive. Stuff like this really does show you that when it comes to players, everybody supports everybody."
Young makes admission on departing Cardiff duo
Cardiff Rugby chief David Young admits the club were unable to put together a financially competitive offer to outgoing duo Dillon Lewis and Jarrod Evans.
Both players are set to join English Premiership side Harlequins next season, having racked up over 200 appearances for the Blue and Blacks between them.
Young admits losing the pair is a blow, but says the finances involved made it impossible to keep them on board.
“It is always disappointing to lose quality players but the current situation in Wales meant we were unable to table competitive offers," he said.
“They have contributed a huge amount during their time at Cardiff Arms Park and can look back on this chapter of their careers with pride. We wish them the very best for the future.
“We are working hard to replace them and we hope to begin making some announcements soon.”
Tuilagi close to new Sale deal
Alex Sanderson is confident of tying down Manu Tuilagi to a contract extension at Sale Sharks that will keep him at the club beyond this year's World Cup.
The Telegraph claim Tuilagi willl be Sale’s excluded player for this season, meaning his wages would be exempt from the current salary-cap.
“I’m happy to tell you that everything is positive,” Sanderson said when asked about a possible agreement with Tuilagi. “I can’t confirm as yet, but it’s more positive and closer than it’s been. Until the cat is in the bag and your chickens have hatched, you can’t call it with retention and recruitment. But the sounds are good.
“It’s really close, and actually in the laps of agents. If you could take agents out of it, this would have been done weeks ago. I want it done quicker, Manu wants his future sorted quicker. It’s in the corporate-legal ether.”
Hughes warns it will be 'tough' for Premiership to keep top stars
Former England forward Nathan Hughes believes the Premiership could be about to see an exodus of talent moving abroad as players seek more lucrative financial rewards.
Hughes had club stints at Wasps, Bristol and Bath before joining Japanese side Ricoh Black Rams last year.
Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Simmonds, Jack Willis, Jack Nowell, Joe Marchant and David Ribbans have similarly turned their back on the Premiership to play in France next season, with many clubs forced to cut costs in the face of growing financial issues.
And with players able to pick up a better pay packet abroad, Hughes believes more will follow.
"I think you'll see a lot of boys leaving the Premiership," he said. "The salary cap has dropped so it's about the Premiership trying to keep as many big players as they can in the league. It's going to be quite tough.
"France are offering players what they're worth and I think players are going to take it. Our careers are not that long. A lot of boys have been asking if I'm enjoying it (in Japan) and if the rugby is good. I can't talk highly enough about this competition.
"The culture is different. The rugby is quicker, less physical than back in the UK. I'm enjoying my time here so far and loving the club."
READ NEXT:
