Here's your rugby evening news for Tuesday, 13 September.
Scarlets issue injury update on Wales quartet
Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel has issued an update on four of the Wales internationals in his squad, with one of them unlikely to play again this year.
Ahead of the new season starting this weekend, Peel was asked about any fitness concerns ahead of the opening day derby against the Ospreys. While long-term absentees Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens and Samson Lee weren't expected to feature, the Scarlets will be without another Wales international in Aaron Shingler, with the back-row unavailable this weekend.
"From our perspective, we'll select as we see fit for this one," said Peel. "One that is not available is Aaron Shingler, he's picked up a bit of a bump but it's only a short term injury.
"We're fairly comfortable with where we're at beyond that."
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Tight-head prop Lee tore his Achilles in South Africa earlier this year, with Peel now not expecting him to feature again in 2022.
"He tore his achilles and we're expecting that to be nine to 12 months," he added. "I think he did it around February time so we'd be looking around about the new year."
Speaking about Owens and Halfpenny, who have both been missing for club and country for a considerable time, Peel expressed optimism that both are closing in on a return in the coming weeks.
"They may be a week or two apart but they're both in training at the minute," he said. "I'm expecting that in the next week or two they'll be really ramping up the training into full stuff and then we'll see at the back end of that then."
Australian banned for Queen comment
An Australian rugby player has been punished calling the Queen a 'dumb dog' in a social media post on the day of the monarch's death.
Caitlin Moran, who has represented Australia, New South Wales and the Indigenous All Stars in rugby league, has been hit with a one-game suspension and a suspended fine for a social media post made last week. The 25-year-old Newcastle Knights halfback will also be required to attend education and training programmes.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, Moran wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post: "Todays a good f***ing day, uncle Luke (country singer Luke Coombs) announces his tour, and this dumb dog (Queen Elizabeth) dies. Happy f***ing Friday". The post was left up for almost nine hours before being deleted.
In their statement, which has been publicly supported by Moran's club, the NRL said: "Rugby league is an inclusive game and has a proud and strong relationship with many communities.
"Regardless of any personal views, all players and officials must adhere to the professional standards expected of them and on this occasion, the public comments made by the player have caused damage to the game."
However, Moran's club coach, Ronald Griffiths, has defended the star amidst the backlash.
"I wasn't worried," he said. "The relationship between Indigenous people and the monarchy is a complicated one.
"If Caitlin has done something then it will be investigated by the Integrity Unit and we'll work our way through the process.
"We're talking a little bit of negativity with Caitlin, but if we look at we're she's come from, in 2017 she wins us the World Cup and does her knee the year after and has probably in the wilderness since then.
"Those are the sort of things we need to look at and celebrate. We believe she's gone from strength to strength."
Foley returns for first Test in three years
Australia fly-half Bernard Foley will play his first Test in three years against the All Blacks in Melbourne on Thursday after Noah Lolesio was ruled out of the Bledisloe Cup clash by concussion.
The 33-year-old has been playing in Japan since the last World Cup, but is back in the Wallabies starting XV this week - making him their fourth starting flyhalf in eight Tests this season after Quade Cooper, James O’Connor and Lolesio. Not since 2007 has a Wallabies coach named four fly-halves in a year.
Lolesio and centre Hunter Paisami both suffered head knocks in the 24-8 loss to South Africa in Sydney in the last round of the championship, which left Australia with three wins in seven matches this year.
The return of Foley is one of eight changes made by Wallabies coach Dave Rennie in response to the defeat to South Africa. All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named a largely familiar side for the Bledisloe Cup clash, although he has named a new-look back-row.
Popham calls for players to have yearly brain scans
Former Wales international Alix Popham wants professional rugby players to have yearly brain scans so damage can be uncovered before it is too late.
The former back-row, who won 33 caps, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and probable CTE two years ago. The 42-year-old is one of over 200 former stars currently involved in legal action against the game's authorities and is leading a group demanding better protection for current players.
"I know of current players who are worried so have been for a brain scan and are showing brain damage. They are still playing," Popham said speaking to the Daily Mail.
"I 100 per cent think annual brain scans should be introduced and should take place year-on-year from when they turn professional to when they go into retirement. At the start of pre-season each player gets a full fitness check-up on a whole host of issues, but the brain is ignored. It's shocking.
"I believe there should be an annual MOT for each player. It should include a brain scan and players shouldn't get their licence to play until it's passed. The reason I believe regular brain scans are not being done is because the game's authorities are worried about what will be shown on the scans of the brains of current players."
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