Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, January 18.
Hill coming back?
Wales exile Cory Hill is considering returning to Wales from Japan, according to Warren Gatland.
The Welsh national team coach says he is keen to have the best possible players available for selection ahead of the World Cup later this year, with the likes of Japan-based duo Hill and Jake Ball both currently ineligible due to the 60-cap rule as they play their rugby outside of Wales.
SIGN UP: Get the latest rugby headlines sent straight to your inbox for free with our daily newsletter
Gatland was a big fan of Hill, who captained Wales on a tour of Argentina in 2018, but he started just two Tests under Wayne Pivac before exiting for Japan in September, 2021. An off-field incident involving two other men which saw a women’s home damaged meaning he left underneath a cloud, albeit he did offer an apology.
Another huge loss for the World Cup could be lock Will Rowlands, who is joining Racing 92 at the end of the season and will need special dispensation from the Professional Rugby Board to be picked, which is certainly not guaranteed.
Gatland ideally wants them available and says it's "disappointing" if they are are not.
"There are a lot of things at the moment in terms of things happening that are kind of out of my control," Gatland told the Scrum V podcast.
"It's been a challenge with the union and regions trying to sort out a deal and I kind of feel at the moment that it's almost like a reset.
"They're almost like 'let's rip up the template and start again'. Do we need a salary cap that lines up with what happens over the bridge in England so we're all on a similar footing?
"Is the 60-cap rule fit for purpose at the moment? You know I find it disappointing not to have someone like Will Rowlands or potentially those other two available for us [Hill and Ball], which potentially harms Wales' opportunity to perform well in a World Cup."
"There's been chat about Cory potentially coming back, some of the other coaches have been watching his performances in Japan," added Gatland.
"Probably for us, the big one is Will Rowlands.
"We'd like to see him get back and fit. It took him a little bit of time having come from Wasps to find the speed of international rugby and then he started to play some outstanding rugby.
"He is regarded as having some great leadership skills so I'd love him to be available for the World Cup later in the year."
Which uncapped player are you most excited to see? You can vote here too
Owen Williams' decisive performance
Owen Williams' outstanding display for the Ospreys in last week's epic victory over French champions Montpellier saw him come from nowhere to make the Six Nations squad, it has emerged.
Williams, who has just three Wales caps, was not in consideration until that game but completely won over Warren Gatland as he watched from the stands. He is one of three outside-halves in the squad, along with Dan Biggar and Rhys Patchell.
Gatland revealed: "I thought Saturday night's game between Ospreys and Montpellier was a proper game.
"That's where you want your regional teams to be playing, at that level and competing at that level all the time.
"I thought the previous week against Leinster they were a little bit unlucky and probably stopped a little bit of line-speed defensively, but they put themselves in a position to beat Leinster which was encouraging.
"To be honest before that he wasn't in consideration, but it was an outstanding performance he gave at 10, and given his experience I don't think we could ignore that especially given the way the team played, and the way he controlled the game."
Cardiff secure home knockout as Bristol docked points
Bristol have been docked five points and handed a suspended fine after selecting an ineligible player for their European Challenge Cup pool games against Perpignan and Zebre Parma.
The Bears were charged with misconduct by tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby after picking lock Elliott Stooke as a replacement in their match-day squads for both fixtures last month.
An independent disciplinary committee heard submissions from senior Bristol officials, with the club accepting they had breached tournament rules.
The points deduction drops Bristol to fifth in their Challenge Cup pool, but they have still qualified for the round of 16. It means Cardiff and Toulon are now assured of finishing in the top four and will have a home knockout match in the next round.
A 10,000 euros (£8,700 fine), meanwhile, has been suspended until the end of next season. Bristol say they will not be appealing against the decision.
In a statement, EPCR said: "While accepting that Bristol Bears had committed a genuine error and had not sought to gain an unfair advantage in any way, the committee determined that with the need to uphold the integrity of the EPCR Challenge Cup as paramount, the club was guilty of misconduct due to a breach of EPCR's tournament rules."
England star's red card rescinded
Henry Slade is available for England's Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 4 after the red card he received on Exeter duty was rescinded.
Slade was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Bulls full-back Kurt-Lee Arendse in a 39-28 Heineken Champions Cup defeat in Pretoria on Saturday night.
The decision was overturned by an independent disciplinary hearing after it was decided that, while the Chiefs centre had committed an act of foul play, it was not a red-card offence, European Professional Club Rugby announced on Wednesday.
It clears Slade to face Castres in Exeter's final pool game on Saturday as well as compete with Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, Joe Marchant, Elliot Daly and Dan Kelly for a place in England's midfield.
Read more:
1.3m left stunned as All Black fools entire team with genius move that leads to game-changing try
The unlucky Wales players as Gatland's decision puts international careers in jeopardy
Warren Gatland disappointed WRU blocked Rob Howley appointment and insists he should be forgiven
