Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, December 9.
Dan Biggar to debut for Toulon
He’s been out for almost nine weeks and missed the whole of Wales’ autumn series with a knee injury.
But Dan Biggar returns to rugby on Saturday (8pm, UK time) when his new club Toulon head into an European Challenge Cup clash with Zebre at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
The game will see the Wales fly-half make his bow for the French outfit after moving from Northampton Saints.
If Toulon will be delighted to have him on board, Warren Gatland will also be pleased to see him in action again amid the news that Gareth Anscombe is set to miss the start of the Six Nations because of the shoulder problem he picked up while on Wales duty against Australia.
Biggar partners Jules Danglot at half-back, with Sergio Parisse leading Toulon from No. 8.
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Phillips makes appeal after car broken into
Young Ospreys and former Wales U20s prop Garyn Phillips has appealed for help after his car was broken into and his kit stolen.
He says the incident happened on Thursday night.
Taking to Twitter, the 21-year-old said: “Anyone sees anybody trying to sell a bunch of Ospreys kit on some market place let me know. Car was broken into last night in #Swansea.”
Phillips recently returned from South Africa after featuring for the Ospreys on their short tour. He is viewed as a highly promising, mobile front rower with the potential to make a mark in the game.
Scarlets name team for European test
Wales internationals Ryan Elias and Josh Macleod are named in the Scarlets starting line-up for Sunday’s Challenge Cup opener against Aviron Bayonnais at Parc y Scarlets (3.15pm UK time).
The pair are among six changes to the side beaten by the Emirates Lions in the URC last time out.
Ioan Nicholas partners Jonathan Davies at centre and Dane Blacker replaces Gareth Davies at scrum-half.
Up front, Kemsley Mathias comes into the front row alongside Elias and WillGriff John, while Sione Kalamafoni slots in at lock with Vaea Fifita ruled out after taking a blow to the face against the Lions.
Ken Owens figures among the replacements, along with another of the Scarlets’ representatives in the recent autumn Tests, Kieran Hardy.
Scarlets: Johnny McNicholl; Tom Rogers, Ioan Nicholas, Jonathan Davies (capt), Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, WillGriff John, Sione Kalamafoni, Sam Lousi, Aaron Shingler, Josh Macleod, Blade Thomson.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Steff Thomas, Harri O’Connor, Tom Price, Tomás Lezana, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Steff Evans.
Dragons ring changes
Dai Flanagan has made nine changes for the Dragons’ Challenge Cup clash with the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday (10.45am, UK).
The Gwent club welcome back Wales duo Ben Carter and Rhodri Jones.
Prop Chris Coleman, lock Joe Davies and back-rower and captain Harri Keddie also return, with Matthew Screech moving to No. 6.
Behind, Sam Davies, Jack Dixon, Jared Rosser and Ashton Hewitt figure, while Sio Tomkinson moves to centre and Jordan Williams reverts to full-back.
Academy product Brodie Coghlan could make his club debut off the bench, with fit-again prop Rob Evans featuring among the replacements.
“Lions are a very tough opening game for us,” said head coach Flanagan. “You saw what they did to a strong Scarlets last weekend in Johannesburg. We know what is coming.”
Dragons RFC : Jordan Williams;Jared Rosser, Sio Tomkinson, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt; Sam Davies, Rhodri Williams; Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Harri Keddie (c), Ross Moriarty.
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Rob Evans, Lloyd Fairbrother, Aaron Wainwright, Ben Fry, Lewis Jones, Will Reed, Steff Hughes.
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