Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, May 30.
Wales international moves to England
Wales international scrum-half Lloyd Williams has confirmed he will join English Championship side Ealing next season.
The 33-year-old Cardiff stalwart was one of 16 players released by the financially-struggling Welsh team at the end of the season.
WalesOnline has previously reported Williams was to move across the Bridge and the player has now confirmed it.
He said: “I’m looking forward to next season, I’m moving to Ealing Trailfinders.
“I’m excited for the move, it’s something different for me. It’ll be different, I’ve been at Cardiff for a long time.
“But it’s a challenge that I really wanted at some point in my career and I felt like now was the right time to make that move.”
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Lydiate reveals ‘massive shock’
Wales flanker Dan Lydiate has admitted news of Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric’s international retirements came as a big shock to him and other team-mates.
Lydiate said both men had remained tight-lipped prior to going public, suggesting each of them was unaware of the other’s intentions to break the news on the same day.
Jones and Tipuric called time on their Test careers within 80 minutes of each other earlier this month, just months before the Rugby World Cup.
Lydiate said: “Yeah, it was a massive shock. I saw both of them the day of and the day before and they didn’t say anything and I don’t think either of them knew the (other’s) statements were going out either.
“But they have made the call, it was the right time for them, and we wish them the best. If any young players coming through have half of their playing careers, you’d be a very happy man or woman.”
He added: “They broke the mould with Alun Wyn. He is always very diligent with his training, the ultimate competitor and he’s never slowed down. I don’t think there will be another man who comes close.”
London Irish to get stay of execution
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
London Irish look set to be granted a short deadline extension by the Rugby Football Union as they try to complete a takeover deal with an American consortium.
Irish had faced the possibility of suspension from the Gallagher Premiership on Wednesday as their hopes of meeting an RFU deadline regarding their finances for next season appeared bleak.
The RFU had set a deadline of close of business on Tuesday for a takeover of the club to be completed and approved by Twickenham chiefs, or the club showing that it will continue to be funded to operate throughout next term.
The RFU said in a statement earlier this month: “If the club fails to meet these conditions, it will be suspended from participating in the Premiership (and other competitions) in season 2023-24 to avoid a scenario where the club enters insolvency mid-season, with the corresponding and substantial impact that has on players, staff and fans, as well as on the remainder of the league.”
The RFU’s club financial viability working group had a meeting scheduled on Tuesday evening before making a recommendation to the RFU board on Wednesday, which would be followed by an official announcement.
It is understood that recommendation is likely to comprise a deadline extension – possibly of a week – although it would be conditional on Irish players’ May salaries being met by the club’s current ownership.
Irish have been in grave danger of becoming the third club after Wasps and Worcester to depart the Premiership this season.
And while that scenario might still unfold, there now appears to be a glimmer of hope for the Exiles
Ireland name four uncapped players
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has named four uncapped players in a 42-man training squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
Munster wing Calvin Nash, Leinster backs Ciaran Frawley and Jamie Osborne and Ulster hooker Tom Stewart have all been included.
Leinster back Jordan Larmour and Munster fly-half Joey Carbery miss out, though, for a first block of training that starts on June 18.
Ireland have World Cup warm-up games against Italy, England and Samoa in August, with their tournament opener coming against Romania in Bordeaux on September 9.
A warm-weather training camp in Portugal is also planned for August before Farrell confirms his 33-player World Cup squad.
“It is exciting to announce our extended training squad for the first phase of Rugby World Cup preparations, and we are looking forward to assembling in Dublin next month to hit the ground running as a group,” Farrell told irishrugby.ie.
“It is pleasing to see that selection has been as tough as ever, as real quality players have initially been unfortunate to have missed out.
“I am sure that camp will be competitive enough as we grow minds and bodies and look to push on with our game from last season.
“In the meantime, it’s important that we freshen up for a busy and exciting summer ahead so we are ready to get to work on June 18.”
Training squad: Backs – B Aki (Connacht), C Blade (Connacht), R Byrne (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), K Earls (Munster), C Frawley (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster), M Hansen (Connacht), R Henshaw (Leinster), H Keenan (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), C Murray (Munster), C Nash (Munster), J O’Brien (Leinster), J Osborne (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), J Sexton (Leinster), J Stockdale (Ulster).
Forwards – R Baird (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), T Beirne (Munster), J Conan (Leinster), G Coombes (Munster), C Doris (Leinster), T Furlong (Leinster), C Healy (Leinster), I Henderson (Ulster), R Herring (Ulster), R Kelleher (Leinster), D Kilcoyne (Munster), J McCarthy (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), T O’Toole (Ulster), A Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), T Stewart (Ulster), K Treadwell (Ulster), J van der Flier (Leinster).
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