Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, June 2.
Changes to Welsh leagues announced
Wales' national rugby union leagues will see teams promoted and relegated for the first time since 2019 as the community game finally returns to normal. The 2022-23 season with see 286 clubs competing in 25 divisions in the Admiral National League programme.
Teams will play on a home and away basis once again after three seasons that were ravaged by the COVID pandemic, and clubs across Wales will be able to play for titles and promotion.
There were 24 Divisions in last season’s Admiral-backed programme from Championship downwards involving 275 clubs. For 2022-23, the numbers will rise to 25 Divisions, with Division 3 North being split into two to accommodate more teams who will now compete in 3 North East and 3 North West.
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There is also a rebrand of the titles in East, East Central and West Central Divisions with numbers replacing letters. In the East, there will be six divisions encompassing 66 clubs and there will be five each in East Central (56 clubs) and West Central (60 clubs)
The four divisions in the North will feature 42 teams, which will include 2nd XV sides from 11 clubs. In the West, there will be four divisions involving 48 clubs, with Divisions 3A and 3B remaining as they are.
The Indigo Group Premiership will also return to home and away matches for the 12 teams involved in that division.
Geraint John, WRU director of community rugby, said: "It has been a deeply frustrating period for our community clubs. Last season was dedicated to getting the game back up and running in Wales after COVID and the effort and enthusiasm put in by every team was fantastic. With full fixture lists returning next season, and promotion once again in the equation, there will be everything to play for. I have no doubt that standards will continue to rise and it is great to be welcoming new teams into the National League system."
Laporte keen to tie Edwards down
French Rugby president Bernard Laporte insists defence guru Shaun Edwards must be given another contract that ties him to France until 2027.
Edwards' arrival on Les Bleus' coaching staff has coincided with their return to prominence, culminating in a Grand Slam in this year's Six Nations. There have also been notable victories over Australia and New Zealand in recent times.
Head coach Fabien Galthie has already been signed up until 2027 and, keen to keep the band together, Laporte wants to see Edwards follow suit.
He told La Provence: "Shaun? He needs to be re-signed, that's for sure," before adding: "It's up to Fabien to take care of it. The decision to extend a particular member of the management does not rest with the Federation; it's up to Fabien to build his staff. It's not up to me to tell him to take so and so."
Edwards left Welsh rugby following the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The suggestion at the time was that he was open to staying on but was only offered a two-year deal and he wanted longer.
Fans disappointed by Welsh star's exit
Welsh flanker Sam Lewis will leave Worcester Warriors when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The openside, 31, has been a huge hit in the English Premiership since joining from the Ospreys in 2015, earning plaudits from the likes of Will Greenwood and fellow team-mates and coaches. Despite his outstanding form, particularly in the 2018/19 season, Lewis has remained overlooked by Welsh selectors.
And now he is moving on at club level in a surprising development. It is unknown if he has another team lined up, with Worcester fans "gutted" by his departure. Scores of Warriors supporters took to social media to express their disappointment at the announcement.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and I will leave with a heavy heart," Lewis said.
"That's the nature of professional rugby I suppose. But I will leave with some fantastic memories, with winning the Premiership Rugby Cup two weeks ago being right up there."
South Africans join Europe
Five South African club sides will join expanded versions of the Champions and Challenge Cups next season, it has been confirmed, in a move that changes the face of European rugby.
The four United Rugby Championship sides - Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Lions - had been expected to appear in the competitions next season. But the new development is that the Cheetahs, who were cast aside when the Guinness PRO14 became the United Rugby Championship in 2021, have been invited to join.
After completing a full season in the URC, the Stormers, Bulls and Sharks all qualified for a place in the top-tier Champions Cup. The only Welsh team in that competition will be the Ospreys after they finished as the top team from Wales in the URC.
The Lions qualified for the Challenge Cup and the Cheetahs have been invited to join that competition, where Cardiff, Dragons and Scarlets will feature.
English Premiership relegation to return
Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor has insisted promotion and relegation will return to the top flight.
Championship winners Ealing were denied a place in the Gallagher Premiership next season after their ground failed to meet the minimum capacity requirement.
But Massie-Taylor said the league is still committed to expanding the top tier from 13 to 14 teams, after which promotion and relegation will return.
"The intention was that we were moving to a 14-team league so it was disappointing that Ealing didn't pass the standards and come up," Massie-Taylor told the Telegraph.
"The expectation is that there'll be promotion next season, then the agreement is promotion and relegation after that. That was what was agreed by the RFU council.
"It is still the intention to have relegation going forward after this moratorium that was really important from a Covid recovery perspective.
"It was the right decision in order to preserve the 13 clubs that have existed within the Premiership. It's a miracle that they've survived after what has gone on over the last few years."
Lions star to stay in England
Chris Harris has penned a new contract with Gloucester.
The Scotland and British and Irish Lions centre joined the club from Newcastle in 2019 and has made almost 50 appearances.
Head coach George Skivington said: "Chris is one of those players who is instrumental to what we are here at Gloucester Rugby. He is hard working and has become one of the key leaders within the squad.
"Whether it is in attack or defence, he always leads by example and is a real sprinkle of world class talent in the group here at Kingsholm."
