The latest rugby headlines and bulletins from Wales and beyond
Wales international wonders how star isn't in Welsh set-up amid remarkable statistics
"How the hell is Thomas Young not in the Welsh squad!?!?"
So asked former Wales international Andrew Coombs on social media after statistics revealed how well the flanker has been playing for Cardiff this season.
The openside has averaged 18 tackles per game this season (min. 400 minutes), according to the numbers people Opta, the most of any player in the top three European leagues.Coombs, who featured in the Six Nations title-winning campaign of 2013, prefaced his question by saying: "Hopefully this will be the last time I need to say/ask this."
As well his mountainous haul of tackles, Young has achieved eight turnovers, behind only clubmate Trojan Josh Turnbull (10) in the United Rugby Championship in 2022-23, and made more than 200 metres as a carrier.
Wales, of course, have just completed an autumn series in which the back row of Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau made up the the strongest area of their side.
But the dynamic and irrepressible Young is pushing hard to be noticed.
Read more: Warren Gatland 'open to taking charge of England'
Penaud named autumn's best
Rugby fans have named France winger, Damian Penaud, the 2022 Autumn Nations player of the series. Penaud follows in the footsteps of Ireland’s Caelan Doris, who won the award in 2021.
Penaud was part of a three-man shortlist that included All Blacks number eight, Ardie Savea and Italy’s Ange Capuozzo, who was recently crowned the World Rugby breakthrough player of the year.
All three player-of-the-series nominees were selected by a panel of international media and broadcasters covering the 2022 Autumn Nations Series. The panel took into account the performances of every player to feature in the end-of-year Tests, before agreeing on three names who were judged to have had standout individual performances, as well as playing a key role in their teams achievements over the course of the series.
France and Clermont Auvergne wing Penaud garnered 40% of the votes, to claim the title. His performances included the box-office and decisive try against Australia, to secure his side a hard fought victory in their first clash of the series. Penaud finished by entering the list of top 10 try scorers for the national side, with 21 tries to his name, in 37 Tests.
European rugby bosses admit attempts to set up Club World Cup are ongoing
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
European rugby chiefs admit that attempts to set up a Club Rugby World Cup remain ongoing with no deadline set for the concept to get off the ground.
The competition that would pit the best domestic sides from the northern and southern hemispheres against each other every four years received public backing from unions and leagues during the summer yet is no closer to fruition.
European Professional Club Rugby chairman Dominic McKay is "optimistic" it will happen despite the many hurdles faced in establishing a global tournament.
"It's been a topic of conversation for some considerable time. We're making some good progress," McKay said.
"We're doing a lot of work behind the scenes to evaluate it as a proposition. It needs to be additive to what we currently enjoy and be complementary to the existing structures.
"Everyone is leaning in to find the right outcome, but we'll do that in a measured and sensible way. It's certainly possible and we're chopping through the detail methodically right now.
"Nothing's agreed until everything is agreed and we've got a bit of work to get through.
"Rugby is littered with great ideas that never come to fruition but I'm optimistic that we're making good progress.
"We won't be definitive on a timeline because that creates undue expectation, but we have to keep working away like we did on the South African side working their way into Europe.
"That was a really important project for us over the last nine months and we're delighted that's come to fruition. The next project is the concept of a world club challenge."
South African sides are taking part in the Champions and Challenge Cup for the first time this season but McKay revealed there are "checks in place" to review their participation.
It is understood that the French league is unconvinced by the presence of the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls, Lions and Cheetahs in European competition with the logistics and safety surrounding away fixtures the primary concern.
McKay stated that finals would continue to be staged only in established rugby nations, ruling out a 'destination final' such as Barcelona, but is open to one being held in South Africa at some point in the future.
Welsh players make shortlist for award
Two Welsh players have just missed out on the award for English Championship player of the month.
Wales international Jonah Holmes and youngster Morgan Strong both made the shortlist for the gong, along with Doncaster Knights hooker George Roberts, Bedford Blues fly-half Will Maisey, Cornish Pirates back-rowman Will Gibson and Coventry full-back Louis Brown.
Flanker Gibson took the bauble after banging in three huge shifts for his club.
But Holmes and Strong could also be pleased with their efforts.
The highlight of former Wales U20s man Strong's month came when he scored four tries for Ampthill in their 29-5 win over Richmond. It was the first time since his school days for the No. 8 to achieve such a feat in a single game. You can read more about how the former Wales U20s man did something very special here.
Holmes maintained the high level he has hit since switching from the Dragons to Ealing in the summer.
He has looked a cut above in most games and has been one of the division's players of the season so far.
People will talk about him forever - Scotland international hails Doddie Weir
By Anthony Brown, PA
Grant Gilchrist believes memories of Doddie Weir can inspire Scotland for years to come.
The 52-year-old former international lock lost his battle with motor neurone disease last weekend, just two weeks after making an emotional appearance at BT Murrayfield before Gregor Townsend's team faced New Zealand.
Gilchrist and the rest of his Scotland colleagues, as well as the All Blacks players, all made their way across to the side of the pitch to applaud Weir, who campaigned ever since his diagnosis almost six years ago to raise funds to aid the search for an MND cure.
"We know how brutal the disease is and we knew it was sadly inevitable but it still hits hard having seen him just a couple of weeks ago," Scotland and Edinburgh lock Gilchrist told the PA news agency.
"What a legacy he's left with the stuff he's done on and off the field. People will talk about him forever. The work he's done with his charity and the courage he's shown over the last six years is incredible.
"I think we've got to use Doddie's memory and legacy going forward on the pitch. We spoke ahead of the New Zealand game about doing Doddie and his family proud, and that shouldn't just be a one-off game against New Zealand.
"It's a massive year for the national team and what he's done, we could never repay. But if we fight and play with the spirit he would want us to have, we can make sure we do him proud and also keep pushing the charity work that he's started because that's important as well.
"We want to find a cure for this horrible disease, and that doesn't stop now - it keeps going forever."
Gilchrist - whose club Edinburgh have urged supporters to wear tartan to Friday's match against Munster as a tribute to Weir - felt privileged to have met his fellow lock on several occasions.
"Every time you got a chance to meet Doddie, you always had a smile on your face," said the 32-year-old.
"I was lucky enough to meet him numerous times through the years and he was always smiling and up for a laugh.
"We live in a serious world and professional sport is a serious business but it's important to get a balance, and characters like Doddie make such a difference.
"On the field, he was a wonderful rugby player. Those runs in the loose, I can see images of him running through the middle of the pitch when I was a youngster growing up.
"He's a legend of the sport but what he's done for MND and the bravery and courage he's shown in the last six years is probably what people will focus on because that's really special.
"It takes such a special character to go through what he did and be completely selfless about it. What he and his family went through must have been absolutely horrific but all he cared about was making a difference, and he's done that."
Two of the most poignant moments of Gilchrist's career came when Weir appeared before matches against the All Blacks - firstly in 2017, shortly after he announced his diagnosis, and then a fortnight before his death.
"It was really emotional both times when he came out before the All Blacks games," said Gilchrist.
"I had a tear in my eye the first time in 2017. I was on the bench that day. I remember tears running down my face as I went to sit back down on the bench, just thinking 'wow, that was a special moment'. Two weeks ago was the same.
"The best atmosphere I've ever felt in rugby was probably those two moments. It was weird trying to channel all that emotion into your performance."
READ MORE:
-
The Wales players out of contract at the end of the season amid worrying freeze on new deals
-
Dai Young has no interest in Wales job and claims it's not a role for a Welshman right now
-
Two more Welsh regions speak out and reveal dozens of players in limbo amid deep concern
-
French giants swoop for Wales star who could now be lost amid Welsh rugby's problems
