Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, March 8.
Jenkins starts for England
Welsh-qualified centre Joe Jenkins will make his first start for England U20s against France at Bath on Friday night.
The highly-rated Bristol Bears man is considered one of the most promising prospects in the English game and is a long-term target for Wales.
Having been born in Halifax, Jenkins qualifies for Wales through his father's side of the family who originally hail from Llanharan.
While it may look as if England have stolen a march on Wales for the long-term services of the 19-year-old playing for the Red Rose at age-grade level does not tie him to them.
In fact Byron Hayward is confident he will represent Wales at senior level.
"I spoke to Joe's dad back in November because he is definitely a player we are interested in," said the Wales U20s head coach.
"He's Welsh qualified. He said Joe felt obligated to England because he'd come through their U18s programme, and they had rehabbed him through a knee injury which is totally explainable.
"I understand and quite admire his loyalty.
"He is 100% Welsh and assured me that Joe wants to play for Wales at senior level and sees himself as a Welshman.
"However, at this moment in time he felt a loyalty to England because they've looked after him."
Gatland to announce Wales team
Wales coach Warren Gatland will announce his team to play Italy on Thursday morning.
Gatland has been considering a number of options after the defeat to England, with victory on Saturday vital to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
Gatland left out the likes of Dan Biggar and George North against the English. He has spoken of his need to keep giving players opportunities but is also keen to develop some continuity.
The Kiwi will hold a press conference on Thursday lunchtime before the squad fly to Rome.
Farrell calls in Jonny Wilkinson
Owen Farrell has been working with Jonny Wilkinson to reverse the goalkicking slump that has affected him throughout the Guinness Six Nations.
Farrell has completed only seven of his 15 shots at goal across the first three rounds of England's campaign, a success rate of just 47 per cent.
The red rose captain was most wayward in the 20-10 victory over Wales when he landed only two out of six attempts.
Since the visit to Cardiff, Farrell has been working with England kicking guru Wilkinson, the star of the nation's 2003 World Cup triumph.
"Half of it is overthinking, so it's about trying to take it back. I obviously know how to kick," Farrell said.
"I've hit some where I've missed but have been happy with how I've hit them. I've hit some where I've been off.
"It's trying not to overthink one or the other too much, trying not to fix everything and just to get back to kicking the ball as well as I can.
"It's also having an attitude that irons them all out - a whole view of it so that you don't overly pick at little things, which is probably what I've been doing.
"But I've been in this situation before and I'm sure I will again at some point, so it's making sure I get back to enjoying my kicks.
"Part of the answer is trying not to work every single kick out and bounce around from one thing to another. It's just to kick."
Jones keeps Wales captaincy
Head coach Ioan Cunningham has selected six uncapped players in the Wales squad for this season's TikTok Women's Six Nations.
Centres Catherine Richards and Jenna De Vera, prop Abbey Constable, lock Charlie Mundy, plus flankers Bryonie King and Kate Williams all make the 36-strong group.
Swansea-born Williams, who was raised in Auckland, trained with Wales during last year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Centre Hannah Jones, meanwhile, is retained as captain for a tournament that Wales kick off against Ireland in Cardiff on March 25.
"This is very much a fresh start after the recent World Cup, and we cannot wait to get back out there and to play again," Cunningham said.
"We need to grow the depth in our squad, and we have to have one eye on the 2025 World Cup and build on the performances we produced in last season's Six Nations and the World Cup in New Zealand.
"Hannah Jones grew at the World Cup as a leader, and she deserves to lead this side because she drives the standards on and off the pitch. Her work ethic is outstanding."
You can read full details on the Wales Six Nations squad here.
Irish wary of Scotland threat
Josh van der Flier believes it would be "naive" for Ireland to make bold Grand Slam proclamations ahead of a tricky Guinness Six Nations trip to Scotland.
Andy Farrell's men are the only team still in contention for a clean sweep going into the final two rounds of the championship following bonus-point wins over Wales, France and Italy.
Scotland's own Grand Slam hopes were extinguished by the French last time out but victory over the world's top-ranked side on Sunday at Murrayfield would launch Gregor Townsend's hosts back into title contention and clinch their first Triple Crown since the 1990 Five Nations.
"It's probably something we would have mentioned at the start of the tournament, so I wouldn't say it was a banned word, no," Van der Flier said of the Grand Slam.
"But with the threat we have this weekend with a Scotland side that are playing so well, it would be probably naive of us to start talking about a Grand Slam or anything like that.
"I think it's going to be a massive challenge against a really, really good side.
"It is obviously the goal for every team going in, you want to win all of your games, but it will be a such a big challenge this week that you can't look far past that."
Read more:
Wayne Pivac's plan to rip up Welsh regions with two main teams and a new side
Wales Under-20s name team to play Italy as 'exceptional' schoolboy starts
Warren Gatland told to pick Rees-Zammit at 15 and leave out Dan Biggar again as he picks Wales team
Wales coach explains what they are actually trying to do when they kick the ball
Wales Six Nations squad announced as six uncapped players called up
