Here are the latest rugby evening headlines on Wednesday, August 24.
Australia star slams 'suits' over scrum clock suggestion
Australia international Andrew Kellaway has slammed rugby unions bosses after reports a 60-second "scrum clock" was being considered to try and speed up the game.
The idea, which the Sydney Morning Herald claims was requested by Rugby Australia, was put to Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa during an interview ahead of the Rugby Championship Test this Saturday. The Brumbies captain expressed reservations about the new concept, but it was his Test team-mate Kellaway who then stepped in to deliver a blistering verdict.
"We've got to be careful, don't we?" he said. "It's a niche area of the game where you've got guys doing a specialist skill. Outside backs, everybody else, we're asking these blokes to compress a spine for a living. And someone in a suit has the nerve to ask them to hurry up.
"If I was Al, which I'm not fortunately, I'd be pretty filthy about that. I think there's so many other areas we can pick up in the game. The breakdown is another one before we have to start going picking on the scrum."
He did, however, offer his support for other suggestions, including a more relaxed approach to failed intercept attempts, while opening up a transfer market between Super Rugby teams.
Cardiff welcome new recruits
New signings Taulupe Faletau and Liam Williams have been pictured in training for Cardiff after linking up with the Welsh capital side from Bath and Scarlets respectively.
The Wales and Lions duo were pictured being put through their paces at Cardiff Arms Park this week alongside their new team-mates.
Test stars report for Scarlets duty
Wales tourists Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Johnny Williams, Ryan Elias and Wyn Jones have this week reported to Scarlets for pre-season duty, getting straight into training before a team bonding paddleboarding session.
They were joined on their first day back by Tonga’s Sam Lousi and Scotland’s Javan Sebastian, with the squad and staff enjoying paddleboard fun under the guidance of SUP Wales at the Swiss Valley Reservoir.
The squad are continuing preparations for the opening pre-season match of the campaign against Bristol Bears at Parc y Scarlets on Friday, September 2.
Wales 2023 Women's Six Nations fixtures announced
Wales will begin the 2023 Women's Six Nations campaign at home to Ireland next year, also hosting England and rounding off their tournament against Italy on Super Saturday.
After the success of the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations Championship, which saw the arrival of TikTok as the first ever title partner of the competition, the competition will once again be staged in a standalone window in March and April after the men's and under-20s' editions conclude.
2022 was a record-breaking year with match attendance records being broken each week, including at Cardiff Arms Park, to mark a 62% increase on 2019 crowds (pre-Covid). Six Nations say TV viewing figures were also up 64%.
Wales kick off the action against the Irish on Saturday, March 25, before heading to Scotland in round two. After a fallow week, Wales will host England on Saturday, April 15, before travelling to face France on Sunday, April 23, in round four. Super Saturday will then return on April 29, kicking off with England v France, followed by Italy v Wales and Scotland v Ireland.
In the UK, all 15 matches will be broadcast on the BBC across network, BBC Nations and iPlayer.
Six Nations CEO Ben Morel said: "We look forward to building on this year’s successes, growing and engaging new audiences with the continued strong commitment from our broadcast partners and outstanding commercial partners all providing fantastic platforms to further drive women’s rugby and celebrate its game-changing heroes."
Ex-All Black wants to play for Australia
Former All Blacks half-back and World Cup winner Tawera Kerr-Barlow is putting his hand up to switch allegiances and play for the Wallabies.
The 32-year-old La Rochelle scrum-half played for New Zealand on 27 occasions and came off the bench in the 2015 World Cup final versus Australia. He is, though, Australia-born and had gone to New Zealand as a teenager to attend school and pursue his All Blacks dream.
Now, he would like to reverse that allegiance thanks to World Rugby's new rules on doing so and play for the country of his birth. In a Top 14 pre-season interview published on rugbyrama.fr, he said: "Unlike New Zealand, Australia have a rule allowing players who are overseas to still be eligible for selection. I am available to play for the Wallabies!
"I was born there. I have a lot of ties in this country and if the staff calls me I will go without hesitation. It would be a great opportunity but for the moment I am focused on La Rochelle."
