Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, March 31.
Tomkinson banned for tackle that sparked outrage
Dragons RFC centre Sio Tomkinson has been suspended for three matches for the grim red card tackle on Ospreys star Jack Walsh in last weekend's Welsh derby.
The late and ugly challenge sparked condemnation across rugby, with Dragons coach Dai Flanagan admitting his players crossed a line with their brutal targeting of Walsh throughout the match.
A URC disciplinary hearing has now found Tomkinson guilty of a reckless, though not deliberate, act but halved the six-week entry point ban because of his remorse and acceptance of the charge of foul play.
Unhappy Ospreys coach Toby Booth said Walsh was still recovering from the incident having had "his head removed from shoulders".
In Tomkinson’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Tommy Dalton (Ireland)), he accepted he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a red card. Mr.Dalton found the incident met the red card threshold and the actions of the player were reckless and not deliberate. He determined the appropriate entry point to be mid-range warranting six weeks.
Should Tomkinson complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.
Fixtures Sio Tomkinson is unavailable for:
- Glasgow Warriors v Dragons RFC, 1 April 2023 EPCR Challenge Cup
- *EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter Final, 8 April 2023
-Ulster v Dragons RFC, 14 April 2023 BKT URC
*In the event Dragons RFC do not win the match against Glasgow Warriors on 1 April 2023 the third fixture of suspension will be Dragons RFC v Scarlets, 22 April 2023 BKT URC
Rees-Zammit faces ultimate test
Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit is relishing the prospect of facing European champions La Rochelle in their own back yard as Gloucester bid to pull off a shock win.
The English side travel to France on the back of a poor defeat against Newcastle, with a place in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals on the line.
He said: “We’ve got to bounce back.
“Obviously it was tough last Friday away at Newcastle, and we didn’t put our best performance in at all, But we have a great opportunity this weekend to put that right.
“Everybody’s really looking forward to this game against the defending champions.
“They play very good rugby, but we’re focussing on ourselves and the game plan that we’re taking in and hopefully we can get the win.
“The Champions Cup doesn’t take much to get up for it, especially out in La Rochelle.
“The fans are very hostile and get on top of you but we’re going to use that as our own energy and hopefully, we can go out there and put a good performance in.”
Dragons rip up side
Dragons RFC have made nine changes from their 37-18 loss to Ospreys, as they face Glasgow Warriors in the last 16 of the European Challenge Cup on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).
Rio Dyer returns to the side, while Wales Six Nations squad members Bradley Roberts and Aaron Wainwright return to the XV after being named as replacements last week.
Prop Leon Brown is also back among the replacements for the visitors.
Jordan Williams switches to full-back in place of Angus O'Brien, who is unavailable as he prepares to welcome his second child with his wife.
A new front row sees prop Aki Seiuli pack down alongside hooker hooker Roberts and prop Chris Coleman.
Second-row George Nott is determined to overcome the Dragons’ derby-day loss last week. Nott will partner the fit again Ben Carter at the Scotstoun Stadium.
He told the club’s official website: “We were bitterly disappointed as a team and as individuals, not just with the result but our performance. That was not us, it was not a good reflection of us.”
“It doesn’t matter where you are in the league when it comes to knockout rugby. We've hit a bit of a lull in the URC, so this is a chance to get momentum back,” he added.
“A few times we have got our wins when people have written us off. We are in the knockout stages and are going up there to win.”
Their opponents have also made nine changes from their last XV, with six of Scotland’s Six Nations team returning. Allan Dell, Ritchie Gray, Jack Dempsey, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipilotu and Kyle Steyn all return to the squad. Scott Cummings will make his 100th appearance for Glasgow in the fixture.
The Dragons have lost their last four meetings with The Warriors, including a 42-28 loss at Rodney Parade in January in the United Rugby Championship. They have not won any game since January 13 when they beat Section Paloise in the Challenge Cup.
Glasgow Warriors: Ollie Smith; Kyle Steyn (captain), Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Cole Forbes, Domingo Miotti, George Horne; Allan Dell, Johnny Matthews, Lucio Sordoni, Scott Cummings, Ritchie Gray, Rory Darge, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey.
Dragons: Jordan Williams; Rio Dyer, Steffan Hughes, Max Clark, Jared Rosser, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams (captain); Aki Seiuli, Bradley Roberts, Christian Coleman, Ben Carter, George Nott, Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.
Ospreys team news as Anscombe back
Gareth Anscombe will feature on the bench for the Ospreys when they take on Saracens in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup last 16 encounter at the StoneX Stadium in Barnet (3pm).
There had been fears the shoulder injury the 31-year-old suffered playing for Wales against Australia last November might keep him out until well into the summer, potentially threatening his World Cup hopes.
But Anscombe has defied those concerns.
Now the 35-cap fly-half will want to help the Ospreys take another step on the European road while also signalling to Warren Gatland that he is determined to feature for Wales at the global tournament in France this autumn.
He is part of a powerful matchday 23 that features 16 internationals, with 11 of those starters.
Saracens: Alex Goode; Max Malins, Alex Lozowski, Nick Tompkins, Sean Maitland; Owen Farrell (capt), Ivan van Zyl; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Marco Riccioni, Maro Itoje, Hugh Tizard, Andy Christie, Ben Earl, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Tom Woolstencroft, Eroni Mawi, Alec Clarey, Nick Isiekwe, Jackson Wray, Aled Davies, Duncan Taylor, Alex Lewington.
Ospreys: Michael Collins; George North, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Luke Morgan; . Owen Williams, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Ethan Roots, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Dan Lydiate, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Iestyn Hopkins.
Wales star back for Cardiff
Cardiff welcome back a number of Wales internationals for Saturday night's European Challenge Cup knockout match against Sale Sharks (8pm kick-off).
It will be an emotional evening for all concerned following the sad death of former chairman and life president Peter Thomas.
A tribute will be held prior to kick-off, with a big crowd expected to honour the man who did so much for the club and Welsh rugby as a whole.
Tomos Williams, Josh Adams and Mason Grady all start in the backline, with Taulupe Faletau at number eight. A strong bench contains the likes of Dillon Lewis, Rhys Carre and Thomas Young.
It will be the first time Cardiff have played since the passing of Thomas, whose death was announced on Wednesday.
Read more:
Saracens v Ospreys team news: Anscombe defies expectations as England and Wales giants collide
The man in the blue hat tips the boy in the yellow hat to be big news for Welsh rugby
Cardiff v Sale Sharks team news as Wales stars back for emotional night
European rugby's top try scorer believes Wales chances are now over
