Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, December 21.
Secret Santa race storm
United Rugby Championship side Benetton are at the centre of racism outrage after a black player revealed he was given a rotten banana as a present in the squad's Secret Santa exchange.
Prop Cherif Traore, 28, went public after being left deeply upset by the gift that saw many of his team-mates burst into laughter. His statement on social media has sparked anger, with the club issuing a strong statement condemning the actions of others.
The Guinea-born Italy international wrote: "Christmas is coming and as per tradition in the team it is time for the Secret Santa. A convivial and playful moment. A moment where you can afford to give anonymous gifts to your companions, even pungent, ironic ones. Yesterday, when it was my turn, I found a banana inside my present. A rotten banana, inside a garbage bag. In addition to considering the gesture offensive, the thing that hurt me the most was seeing most of my companions present laughing. As if everything was normal.
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"I’m used to, or rather, I’ve had to get used to, having to put on a brave face every time I hear racist jokes to try not to make enemies close to me anyway. Yesterday was different though. Fortunately, some comrades, especially foreigners, have tried to support me.
"Outside of Italy a gesture like this is seriously condemned even within small realities, and this time I want to have my say. I haven’t slept all night. At this Secret Santa there were also young boys of different origins. I have decided not to be silent this time to ensure that episodes like this do not happen again to prevent other people from finding themselves in my current situation in the future. And hoping that the sender learns a lesson."
A statement from Benetton said: "With reference to the post that appeared this morning on the social profiles of Cherif Traore, Benetton Rugby would like to reiterate that it has always condemned with the utmost firmness any expression of racism and/or form of discrimination. They are not part of our culture and do not represent our identity and our values. We have always proved it with deeds, not just with words, and we will continue to strongly support it.
"Similar behaviors have nothing to do with sport and in the face of episodes like this Benetton Rugby will always be on the side of respecting people, their culture, their ethnicity, their faith and their dignity."
Williams not ready yet
Wales full-back Liam Williams is not quite ready to make his return for Cardiff in the Boxing Day clash against the Dragons but is close to reaching the end of his rehabilitation after suffering a shoulder injury on his debut back in September.
It is now hoped he will feature against the Ospreys at Cardiff Arms Park on New Year's Day.
Boss Dai Young said: "I don't really want to name my team today, but we think Josh Adams is fine. He struggled early part of last week and this week, but he's more or less 100 per cent now. Liam Williams was one we'd have been hoping to feature this week but it's probably a week too early. We see him definitely featuring in the derbies, but not the Dragons game to be honest."
Elsewhere, number eight James Ratti is out for up to three weeks and Max Llewellyn, who is set to leave the region at the end of the season, faces three months on the sidelines with an ankle problem that requires surgery. You can read more about that here.
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Eddie Jones unrepentant
Eddie Jones is unrepentant about prioritising the World Cup as he reflects without regret on his seven-year England reign.
Jones was sacked a fortnight ago in response to England's worst year of results since 2008 and has now been succeeded by Steve Borthwick, his former coaching protege who guided Leicester to last season's Gallagher Premiership title.
While six defeats in 12 Tests was a damning statistic that compelled the Rugby Football Union to act, there was also frustration over Jones' focus on the World Cup at the expensive of immediate success.
"You've got to be competitive in the Six Nations, not just every four years at a World Cup," chief executive Bill Sweeney said on Tuesday.
England have lost three matches in three of their last five Six Nations, finishing fifth in the table on two of those occasions, but Jones insists he was right to concentrate on delivering at France 2023, after which his contract was over.
"There are two views. Of course the next game is important, no one is ever saying it's not. But also the World Cup is the ultimate trophy," said Jones, who confirmed he has held talks with other unions over possible roles.
When asked by BBC Radio 4's Today programme what he would have done differently, Jones replied: "I wouldn't have done anything differently.
"I was quite confident that we were on the right track leading up to the World Cup and I'm still of that belief. But if others don't share that, that's their decision.
"There are always judgements that you reflect back on with the value of hindsight. I thought I was coaching well.
"The thing that pleases me is the number of players who have come out and endorsed that. For players to say that now when they gain nothing from doing that probably reflects that I was coaching pretty well.
"But sometimes the results don't go your way and you pay for that. I know that as well as anyone so I don't have any regrets over what I did.
England veteran gets new deal
Danny Care has signed a new deal with Harlequins that will keep him at Twickenham Stadium for the 2023-24 season.
Care is closing in on two decades at the club he joined from Leeds in 2006 and was a key figure in their Gallagher Premiership title victories of 2012 and 2021.
The 35-year-old, one of the league's most dangerous attacking players, won the last of his 87 caps on England's July tour to Australia.
"Pulling on the Quins jersey has been and continues to be one of the proudest parts of my career and I'm delighted to sign on again with Harlequins," the veteran scrum-half said.
"I've been with this club for the better part of two decades and I cherish some incredible memories from the things we have achieved so far.
"The Challenge Cup win in 2011 and the Premiership titles in 2012 and 2021 are some of the highlights of my career and I know this group is capable of creating moments of the same calibre."
Read more:
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Pundits name the man Warren Gatland should pick as Wales Six Nations captain
Welsh captain in bleak warning over player exodus and Eddie Jones addresses Australia links
Wales announce new rugby competition with Scotland and Ireland in bid to fix glaring problem
