These are your rugby headlines on the morning of Wednesday, March 29.
WRU release Llanelli statement and will meet today
The Welsh Rugby Union will today meet to discuss Llanelli RFC's withdrawal from next season's Premiership.
News broke on Tuesday evening that the famous west Wales side would be pulling out of the 2023/24 campaign in order to focus on player development for the Scarlets.
Llanelli said they had voted at a board meeting to give notice to the Welsh Rugby Union of intention to withdraw. The Union have since been notified of the decision, while Llanelli's players and staff have also been told the news.
READ MORE: Famous Llanelli RFC club announces it will withdraw from Welsh Premiership next season
Now the WRU have released their own statement on the matter and will convene today to talk over the matter, adding they have already been in touch with the club to offer assistance.
The WRU statement read: "The WRU has sympathy with Llanelli RFC and has already reached out to offer support wherever possible.
"The WRU is grateful to the club for speaking out at this time and also for confirming its commitment to fulfil the remaining fixtures of the current season.
"The CGB will discuss the very real issues Llanelli have raised and decide on any next steps in full consultation with Premiership clubs."
Reece to miss World Cup
New Zealand winger Sevu Reece will miss the World Cup later this year after the All Black sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The 26-year-old was hurt in the Crusaders' win over the Blues a fortnight ago and Crusaders coach Scott Robertson has now confirmed the worst possible news.
"Sevu's out for the whole of the 2023 season," Robertson said.
"He's back in 24. We really feel for him. It's a hard one. For him and the whole club, he's so important for us and we really feel for him.
"A lot of work will get him back to where he was beforehand - being a world-class wing."
Hogg's brother gets emotional
Stuart Hogg's brother Graham has paid an emotional tribute to his brother following the news he'll hang up his boots after the World Cup later this year.
Scotland full-back Hogg made the announcement on Monday, with his retirement at age just 30 taking a few by surprise.
Brother Graham, himself a rugby player in his younger days, says he has made his family prouder than he'll ever know.
“In that [2017] interview, Stuart talked about owing it all to me, but we — the family — are the ones who owe him more than he can ever know,” he told The Times.
“Stuart has allowed us to make some incredible memories together, and in some of my own tougher times watching him thrive has been the thing that has really kept me going. We owe him everything, not the other way around.”
Some of the stick Hogg has received in the press and on social media for his appearance have really cut Graham and the Hogg family close to the bone. Hogg released a statement not long ago hitting back at those barbs over his hair, teeth and general appearance.
“That is the hard stuff, I’m getting a lump in my throat even now,” Graham added. “I’ve been through some pretty difficult times myself, and I would scroll the stuff being written about Stuart and I would feel like picking fights with absolutely everyone. Unfortunately that’s the world we live in — social media can be an outstanding place, but it can also be a lonely, pretty brutal place as well.
“Rugby is going through a bit of a transition, it’s not flavour of the month in a lot of circles, so we do need guys like Stuart who show that you can be yourself, that you can come from this type of environment down in the Borders and make it right to the top, being yourself doing it.”
Wales backed to overthrow France
Wales are being backed to overthrow France and claim second place in the Women's Six Nations this year.
Ioan Cunningham's Welsh side, who in the opening round recorded a resounding 31-5 win against a newly-professional Ireland team in transition, finished third in 2022 just months after historic WRU contracts were first handed out.
One year on, Wales show signs of being fitter and more organised, and while they will want to close the gap on reigning champions England and regular runners-up France, many felt that reducing cricket-like scorelines against such teams would be progress enough this campaign.
But former England centre Rachael Burford is backing Wales to go one better than Les Bleus.
Writing for The Times, Burford said: "I remember watching Wales play England in the Six Nations last year and Wales were all over England for the first 15 minutes, until their fitness evaporated and England charged in 10 tries for a 58-5 win. On Saturday Wales were dynamic and that agility lasted the whole 80 minutes in their 31-5 win against Ireland. I believe they could upset the odds and finish second, behind England, in this tournament, which would be their highest finish since 2009."
She is backing the Red Roses to once again claim the trophy following their 58-7 win over Scotland, but admits she was disappointed with France's performance despite their 22-12 win against Italy.
"France are a team that can rebuild fast, but I don’t think England have much to worry about when they play them at Twickenham Stadium on the final day of the tournament. France, however, should watch out for Wales."
READ MORE:
Famous Llanelli RFC club announces it will withdraw from Welsh Premiership next season
Tonight's rugby news as Wales star's regional career may be over after bad news
Dragons coach defends his 'morals' after former players slam attempts to rough up Ospreys star
The Wales World Cup hopefuls who don't know if they have a team in a few months
