Here are your rugby evening headlines for Sunday, January 29.
FAW boss offers help to WRU
Football Association of Wales CEO Noel Mooney has offered his help to new Welsh Rugby Union interim CEO Nigel Walker as he floated the idea of collaboration between the two bodies.
While the FAW have largely drawn praise for their work in recent years, it's been a different story in rugby - with last week's allegations of a toxic culture and sexism, racist and homophobic abuse a new low for the game. However, Mooney, who joined the FAW in 2021, posted on social media that he recognised the opportunity for change in the WRU, as well as the room for the two bodies to work together.
Mooney tweeted: "Pwb lwc @NigelWalkerWRU as interim-CEO of the @WelshRugbyUnion. Radically changing a culture and significant governance reform is both exciting and challenging….but crucial to reach any sports organisations full potential.
"The @FAWales are always here to collaborate."
In another tweet replying to a comment, he said: "There are a huge amount of areas of commonality - it makes complete sense for the two organisations to work side-by-side on governance, high performance, grassroots, facilities, equality, diversity & inclusion, sustainability, brands, coach education, digital transformation just to name a few."
Ospreys coach delighted as young stars get Italian job done
Ospreys coach Toby Booth was delighted with the character of his young side as they came from behind to beat Zebre in Italy.
Booth's side were much-changed from the team that defeated Leicester Tigers at Welford Road last week, with the Swansea.com Stadium outfit missing 14 players to Wales call-ups and a few other key figures to injury. However, the youthful Ospreys still found a way to win despite trailing by 10 points heading into the final quarter.
"We got off to a great start and there was a lot of belief," said Booth afterwards. "It was maybe a bit too easy for us.
"But as you'd expect at home, with the crowd behind them, they got themselves back into it. That probably makes the manner of this victory all the more impressive in a way.
"This young group have had to find a very tough win from a place of adversity. That will serve them well in the long run. The fans who travelled over speaks volumes about the Ospreys and I think the nature of the performance does as well."
Booth also had special praise for the senior players, such as Stephen Myler, Bradley Davies and captain Nicky Smith - with the latter having been overlooked by Wales amid talk he could leave Welsh rugby at the end of the season - for the roles they played in the victory.
"Stephen, we knew he couldn't play much," he added. "He's on limited game-time.
"Getting him out there was important. It's not just what he does, but he's got hell of a lot of experience and people listen to him.
"He provided the calm voice and leadership required and then the old stagers up front, Brad and Nicky, got a bit of an arm wrestle and our set-piece got us back in the game.
"We managed to grab the momentum back and when the whistle went, we were out in front again."
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England duo set for France
England No. 8 Billy Vunipola and defence coach Richard Cockerill could both soon be heading to France.
The Rugby Paper report that Saracens star Vunipola, who was left out of Steve Borthwick's England squad for the Six Nations, is attracting interest from Racing 92. That follows reports elsewhere that Brive and Japanese club Tokyo Sungoliath are also chasing the 30-year-old.
As for defence coach Cockerill, the former Leicester Tigers coach had joined Eddie Jones' coaching ticket in 2021, but with the Australian having been sacked after the autumn, it would appear that Cockerill won't be hanging around either.
The Rugby Paper report that Montpellier are have agreed a deal for his services after the Six Nations.
Development XV lose narrowly
WRU Development XV went down 27-26 to the Combined Provinces XV at Cardiff Arms Park in their first home game of the inaugural Celtic Challenge.
The away side had opened the scoring through Ella Roberts before the hosts hit back with Teleri Wyn Davies powering her way. Lauren Smyth added the extras to put Wales ahead.
Roberts grabbed a second try for the Combined Provinces before further tries from Emma Hooban and Ailsa Hughes opened up a 22-7 lead for the visitors at the break.
The Welsh side responded after half-time with tries from Kat Evans and Sioned Harries - the first converted by Catherine Richards - closing the gap to just three points.
Aoife Dalton's try for the Combined Provinces proved crucial in getting the win, even after Jenna De Vera made it a one-point game late on.
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