Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, October 17.
O'Driscoll loving Rees-Zammit
Ireland and Lions legend Brian O'Driscoll has heaped praise on Louis Rees-Zammit following his latest exploits.
The Wales winger grabbed the headlines for his spectacular try-saving intervention for Gloucester against Bristol, but it was another late tackle in the match, helping his side gain a decisive turnover, that had O'Driscoll beaming.
He said on BT Sport: "It was brilliant defence from Rees-Zammit. As soon as he identifies it's two on two he goes and makes the tackle, an aggressive hit. That allows his team-mate to come in and put pressure on to get the turnover.
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"It's excellent from the Welsh winger. He's still only 21 years of age but has so many games under his belt. He had a couple of big moments.
"He's still learning as well. He's been very, very impressive. Even when he makes incorrect reads he has the ability to get the afterburners on and put them right."
Wasps enter administration
Gallagher Premiership club Wasps have been placed into administration.
Wasps Holdings Limited is the holding company for Wasps men's and women's rugby teams, and Wasps netball. The company has ceased trading with immediate effect.
The administrators FRP said that 167 employees have been made redundant, including all members of the playing squads and coaching staff.
Confirmation of the widely-expected move for Wasps Holdings Limited came in a statement from the administrators.
Wasps follow fellow Premiership club Worcester into administration, with the league now operating as an 11-team competition.
Wasps had already been suspended from the Premiership, following Worcester in seeing their season put on hold.
Wasps were hit by by a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs for £2million in unpaid tax, and they also faced having to repay a £35m bond which had helped finance the club's relocation to Coventry during 2014.
The administrators added that a small number of employees have been retained to support with the "orderly wind down of the company" and the operation of the CBS Arena, which is unaffected by administration and continues to trade as normal.
Eddie Jones makes shock England omission
Henry Slade has been left out of England's squad for the Autumn Nations Series in a surprise omission by Eddie Jones. Slade missed the summer tour to Australia because of shoulder surgery but has been in action for Exeter since the start of the season.
Will Joseph, Guy Porter, Manu Tuilagi and Owen Farrell are the recognised centres named in the 36-man group that will face Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham next month. Prop Kyle Sinckler is also back having sat out the 2-1 series victory over the Wallabies because of a back issue. Harlequins' uncapped wing Cadan Murley features in a senior England squad for the first time.
England squad for Autumn Nations Series ― backs: H Arundell (London Irish), J Cokanasiga (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), G Furbank (Northampton), W Joseph (London Irish), M Malins (Saracens), J May (Gloucester), C Murley (Harlequins), J Nowell (Exeter), G Porter (Leicester), R Quirke (Sale), M Smith (Harlequins), F Steward (Leicester), M Tuilagi (Sale), J van Poortvliet (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester).
Forwards: A Coles (Northampton), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), T Curry (Sale), E Genge (Bristol), J Heyes (Leicester), J Hill (Sale), M Itoje (Saracens), C Lawes (Northampton), L Ludlam (Northampton), G McGuigan (Newcastle), V Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester), D Ribbans (Northampton), B Rodd (Sale), S Simmonds (Exeter), K Sinckler (Bristol), J Singleton (Gloucester), H Tizard (Saracens), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), J Willis (Wasps).
RFU boss considers central contracts in face of financial crisis
Bill Sweeney believes even the once "nuclear" option of central contracts for England players will be discussed to solve club rugby's financial crisis. The Rugby Football Union chief executive revealed central contracts and two-tier deals will be floated as part of wide-ranging plans to reshape the sport in England.
Sweeney pledged the RFU will keep thrashing out a way forward with Premiership Rugby (PRL), with Worcester in administration and Wasps having followed suit. The RFU and PRL are already in talks on a new Professional Game Agreement (PGA), despite current terms not expiring until June 2024.
But with clubs racked with debt and benefactor owners adding the league's main ballast, Sweeney wants radical changes to bring about self-sufficiency. The RFU chief admitted in the darkest days of club-versus-country rows, the merest utterance of central contracts would have sparked internal war. But the severity of rugby's current plights means all parties are more open to major change than ever before.
When asked if central contracts could be an option to alleviate financial burden on cash-strapped clubs, Sweeney replied: "I think everything's on the table to be discussed. And everyone who's around the table wasn't part of the old days when there was animosity between club and country. And this is a fresher set of eyes that are looking at it. But there are certain phrases that are like nuclear buttons, and the phrase 'central contracts' tends to have that nuclear effect.
"There are higher-level salaries for those playing for England, and then there's the amount of time they spend playing for their club. So is there a different way that we can work with PRL and the clubs to mitigate the expense they are facing on that side of things and have a better structure in place? To achieve greater financial stability for the clubs and better preparedness for the national team."
Asked if joint contracts shared between club and country could also work, Sweeney continued: "Possibly. And I would say that all of these possibilities are on the table, because of what's happened. This has created an opportunity, albeit using a word like that doesn't feel appropriate. But it's a chance now to address ideas that have been knocking about for some time.
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