Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, April 21.
Shingler retires
Scarlets stalwart and Wales international Aaron Shingler is retiring from rugby at the end of the season, it has been announced.
The athletic back-rower has spent 15 years with the Scarlets, playing in 226 matches after making his debut in 2009.
The 27-cap Wales international made his Test debut 11 years ago and was part of the squad which reached the Rugby World Cup semi-finals in 2019.
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“It has been an extremely tough decision to make, an emotional few weeks for myself and family," Shingler, 35, said. "I would have loved to keep going in the Scarlets jersey, but the body is telling me now is the right time to call it a day.
“It’s been an absolute honour to represent this great club for the last 15 years. When I started out playing for my village club Hendy I never dreamt I would have played more than 200 games for the Scarlets and also represented my country on the biggest stage.
“There’s been some tough times, some difficult injuries to overcome, but I have loved every minute and I feel immensely proud to have played as many games and for as long as I have.
“To be part of a side that lifted the PRO12 trophy in 2017 was a special feeling as was that European run when we beat Toulon and La Rochelle at Parc y Scarlets. Those are nights I will never forget.
“I’d like to thank all my team-mates, coaches and staff who have helped me along the way; the fans for all the support they have given me and a huge thank you to my wife Katie for being so supportive through it all.
“It’s not over yet and I can’t wait to get stuck into training next week ahead of the Challenge Cup semi-final and hopefully there will be another final to finish off.”
Dai Young suspended
Dai Young has been suspended by Cardiff Rugby.
WalesOnline understands the decision was taken by the club on Thursday evening, less than 48 hours before the team's final game of the season against the Ospreys at the Principality Stadium.
Both players and staff were informed of the news on Friday morning. Read the full story here.
Ospreys star believes they're the best
Ospreys centre Keiran Williams believes his side are the best Welsh region and should therefore be making it into the European Champions Cup next season.
Ahead of what could be an emotional Judgement Day for the Ospreys on Saturday as he and his teammates brace themselves for a number of departures, Williams – who joined Jac Morgan and Morgan Morris in signing a new deal with his region this week – will go up against fellow new Wales squad colleague Mason Grady as the Ospreys attempt to beat Cardiff with a bonus point to pip their great rivals to the Welsh Shield and earn a place in the Champions Cup next season.
But it could well prove a bitter-sweet occasion with the long-term futures of stars such as Alun Wyn Jones, Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Webb, Dan Lydiate, Nicky Smith and Scott Baldwin still up in the air and Stephen Myler, Joe Hawkins and Ethan Roots all confirmed to be moving on.
“It’s happened in the past and it’s a fact that we lose people every season,” says the centre, who will line up at the Principality Stadium for a derby that is live on S4C. “It makes things difficult, but we have to go out and play our best even though we know that players are moving on. Hopefully, we can do those players justice, make them proud, and make this game against Cardiff one to remember.
“Personally, I think we still have to do better than we have done in the last season or two. We have to get things right with the squad we put together. We didn’t start the season well, but I still think we are the best of the four regions. Hopefully, when the game is over we can point to the table and it will show that.”
Williams was attracting interest from English and French clubs after a season in which he broke into Warren Gatland’s Wales squad for the Six Nations for the first time. But the 26-year-old insists his decision to extend his time at the region was a straightforward one.
“I’m a home-grown boy from the area and so once I had the deal over the line then it was almost an easy decision to make. I recognise that we are going into a challenging time for all four regions, but I don’t see why things can’t improve and I want to be part of that because I have an affiliation with the Ospreys.”
Williams will partner namesake Owen Williams in an attack-minded Ospreys line-up that includes George North and Luke Morgan on the wings and sees the long-awaited first start for Anscombe at outside-half after his recent injury problems. They will face a Cardiff side who will take the Heineken Champions Cup spot if they pick up a single bonus point.
It should mean a fascinating battle in the back lines between Williams and Grady – although not the direct confrontation most had anticipated. Centre Grady, who was capped for the first time in the Six Nations, has been moved to the right wing in the absence of injured Josh Adams, with Rey Lee-Lo instead at outside centre.
“Hopefully, we will be the team that has qualified for the Heineken Cup as it’s a hugely important thing for us to be in that tournament," Williams said. “We were disappointed we couldn’t beat Saracens, but the wins against Leicester and Montpellier provided some of the highlights of our season, so it’s a tournament we definitely want to be in again next season.”
Ospreys v Cardiff will be broadcast live on Saturday on S4C's Clwb Rygbi.
England legend expects rivals to eventually close gap in Six Nations
Emily Scarratt is confident the gap between England and France and the rest of the Women's Six Nations will be narrowed over time.
The tournament's heavyweights will collide at Twickenham on Saturday week in front of a crowd of more than 50,000, setting a new world attendance record for the women's game. While those great rivals will slug it out in what is almost certain to be a Grand Slam decider, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy continue to struggle having only recently introduced professional contracts.
The gulf in class has prompted Red Roses head coach Simon Middleton to state that the Six Nations cannot "continue in the guise it is", but Scarratt believes that over time it will become more competitive.
"It's no secret that England and France are ahead in terms of how long we've been professional and the infrastructure and commercial opportunities that we have," Red Roses centre Scarratt told the PA news agency. "But what we've seen from the others is that they've just started that journey. It takes time for players to adjust to life as a full-time professional and learn how to get the most out of that.
"I understand what Simon is saying and as a rugby player I want to play in really competitive games all the time where you're pitting yourself against the very, very best. We'll definitely see that in the France game, but unfortunately we won't see it against some of the others because of that gap that there is.
"I believe that over the coming years it will only become more competitive. I can't put a timeframe on that but it will definitely happen. When you have a gap like this, the strides that can be made quickly can be big. It's that top bit at the end where the margins become far smaller."
France were the last northern hemisphere side to beat England in 2018 but their 15 successive defeats in the fixture since masks a hard-fought rivalry seen most recently in their clash during the group phase of last autumn's World Cup. The Red Roses eventually prevailed 13-7 against a side that lost to winners New Zealand by a point in the semi-final and they are dangerous opponents.
O2 and the RFU have co-funded a half-time performance by the Sugababes for the Red Roses v France Women's 6 Nations match on Saturday 29 April. For tickets, visit https://www.eticketing.co.uk/rfu/Events.
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