Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, September 8.
Five Wales stars return for Scarlets
Wales internationals Gareth Davies, Johnny Williams and Johnny McNicholl start for the Scarlets when they take on Dragons RFC on Friday night in their final pre-season game (7pm kick-off) before the new United Rugby Championship season kicks off. Wyn Jones and Rhys Patchell are named among the replacements.
McNicholl, who missed the end of last season with a knee injury, starts at full-back with Tom Rogers switching to the right wing, while Williams partners captain Jonathan Davies in midfield, and Gareth Davies combines with Sam Costelow at half-back, with the No. 10 recovering from a knock which meant he missed the friendly against Bristol last weekend.
Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes and Harri O'Connor start in the front row with Sam Lousi coming in to partner Tom Price at lock in the only other change to the forwards. New signing Vaea Fifita sits out this game, while the back row trio of Blade Thomson, Tomás Lezana and Sione Kalamafoni start for the second successive Friday. Josh Macleod is also named on the bench.
Scarlets: 15. Johnny McNicholl, 14. Tom Rogers, 13. Jonathan Davies (capt), 12. Johnny Williams, 11. Ryan Conbeer, 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Gareth Davies, 1. Steff Thomas, 2. Daf Hughes, 3. Harri O'Connor, 4. Tom Price, 5. Sam Lousi, 6. Blade Thomson, 7. Tomás Lezana, 8. Sione Kalamafoni.
Replacements: Wyn Jones, Taylor Davies, Alex Jeffries, Morgan Jones, Josh Helps, Ben Williams, Luca Giannini, Josh Macleod; Dane Blacker, Dan Jones, Rhys Patchell, Eddie James, Corey Baldwin, Ioan Nicholas.
Welsh duo start for Dragons
Wales international duo Taine Basham and Ben Carter both start for the Dragons as they look to build their minutes ahead of their URC opener against Edinburgh on September 17.
Basham played off the bench in Wales' final Test in South Africa, but Carter was an unused squad member.
Seven changes have been made in total, with Samoa loosehead Aki Seiuli named up front while Ben Fry plays at openside flanker. Ross Moriarty moves to No. 6 in light of Basham starting at No. 8.
Young fly-half Will Reed gets his first taste of pre-season action, while winger David Richards starts and Jared Rosser plays at outside centre with Max Clark joining him in midfield.
Dragons RFC: 15. Jordan Williams, 14. David Richards, 13. Jared Rosser, 12. Max Clark, 11. Ashton Hewitt, 10. Will Reed, 9. Lewis Jones, 1. Aki Seiuli, 2. Elliot Dee, 3. Lloyd Fairbrother, 4. Joe Davies, 5. Ben Carter, 6. Ross Moriarty (capt), 7. Ben Fry, 8. Taine Basham.
Replacements: James Benjamin, Josh Reynolds, Luke Yendle, Ryan Woodman, Lennon Greggains, Huw Taylor, Ben Moa, Che Hope, Angus O’Brien, Joe Westwood, Oli Andrew, Ioan Davies.
England want player names on shirts
England fans could see players' names adorned on Test jerseys for the first time this autumn with the RFU keen to promote stars of the game to a broader audience. Eddie Jones' England face Japan, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa in the Autumn Nations Series.
The Times reports that, out of the Six Nations unions, England is the most engaged with the proposal while two others are interested, with opponents believing no player should be placed above the team while players' occupation of shirts can change from week to week. However, those in favour see it as a small step to engage with new and younger audiences.
Unions can make their own decisions for the autumn Tests but would need to vote unanimously for the change to come in for the Six Nations.
Wales, during the mid-2000s, has previously printed player names on their shirts, including during the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008. Named shirts are also a regular fixture in the Gallagher Premiership.
Callum Sheedy starts as Ellis Genge makes Bristol return
Ellis Genge will make his hometown return when Bristol Bears take on West Country rivals Bath at Ashton Gate on Friday night on the opening night of the new Premiership season, with Callum Sheedy lining up at No. 10.
Bristolian prop Genge starts in the front row alongside England teammate Kyle Sinckler and hooker Bryan Byrne, while Joe Joyce returns from injury to partner Chris Vui in the engine room.
Jake Heenan captains the side this week in the absence of Steven Luatua, while Magnus Bradbury is set for his first competitive appearance for the club at No. 8 alongside recent England call-up Sam Jeffries. Harry Randall and Callum Sheedy are the half-backs, with Sam Bedlow and Piers O’Conor lining up in the midfield. Charles Piutau, Rich Lane and Luke Morahan complete the starting XV.
Sam Lewis could make his first competitive appearance for the club from the bench.
Bristol Bears: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Piers O'Conor, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Rich Lane, 10. Callum Sheedy, 9. Harry Randall, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Joe Joyce, 5. Chris Vui, 6. Sam Jeffries, 7. Jake Heenan (capt), 8. Magnus Bradbury.
Replacements: 16. Will Capon, 17. Jake Woolmore, 18. Max Lahiff, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Sam Lewis, 21. Andy Uren, 22. AJ MacGinty, 23. Jack Bates.
Dallaglio backs European nations for World Cup
Lawrence Dallaglio believes the gap with the southern hemisphere has never been narrower to offer European nations hope a year out from the 2023 World Cup.
A tournament which begins with a monumental clash between hosts France and New Zealand in Paris on September 8 has never been more open with as many as six teams capable of winning.
Dallaglio's England vintage of 2003 are the only side from north of the equator to have lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in nine editions of the men's global event, but recent results have sent shockwaves through the established order. Ireland claimed a historic series victory in New Zealand, England toppled Australia on their July tour and a depleted Wales pushed reigning champions South Africa close over three Tests. France, meanwhile, completed the Grand Slam earlier this year and are favourites to seize the Springboks' crown.
"It's hard to win the World Cup, especially away from home. I thought that England would have done it again by now," BT Sport pundit Dallaglio told the PA news agency.
"There have been nine World Cups and eight of them have been won by the southern hemisphere, so either they're just better than us or we shoot ourselves in the foot a little bit. It's probably a mixture of the two.
"But having said that, at no point since 1987 when New Zealand won the first one have the southern hemisphere been as close as they are now.
"Very recently the top four in the world rankings were from the northern hemisphere. There's been a genuine shift in the balance of power, but the proof is in the pudding.
"France, Ireland and possibly England have got as good a chance as they've had in any previous year. If you get your run right, you can win a World Cup. They've all got a chance and it's exciting."
BT Sport is the home of Gallagher Premiership Rugby. The new season kicks off with Bristol Bears v Bath Rugby at 7pm on BT Sport 1 on Friday 9th September www.bt.com/sport/rugby-union
READ NEXT:
Rugby in mourning as much-loved commentator Willie Los'e dies suddenly in Cape Town
Shanklin says 'average' Welsh rugby players are overpaid and WRU bans transgender women
