Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, May 13.
Hawkins’ Ospreys wage emerges
Five-cap Wales worldwide Joe Hawkins was incomes £20,000 a 12 months on an academy contract whereas representing Wales within the Six Nations, it has been claimed.
The five-cap centre made his Wales debut in opposition to Australia final autumn and was a Six Nations common below Warren Gatland, however the 20-year-old has been dominated ineligible to characterize Wales for the foreseeable future having signed for Exeter Chiefs subsequent season from the Ospreys. It was confirmed final week that he can be ineligible for World Cup and Test choice shifting ahead.
The Daily Mail report he was incomes £20,000 a 12 months on an academy contract whereas representing Wales within the Six Nations, and regardless of ticking the appropriate bins for his wage to extend considerably below Welsh rugby’s earlier pay banding system, the Ospreys didn’t hike up Hawkins’ pay packet and neither did the WRU step in.
They additionally say Hawkins signed a heads of phrases contract with Exeter previous to his first Wales squad call-up however this didn’t meet the necessities of the Welsh Rugby Union and the Professional Rugby Board. Had he formally signed earlier than his Test debut, issues may have been completely different.
Hawkins alluded to the monetary scenario when explaining his transfer to Exeter on social media.
“While I’ve spent the final three years taking part in skilled rugby, and later worldwide rugby, I’ve been held to an academy contract being considerably underpaid,” Hawkins mentioned in a public assertion. “I need to acknowledge that by signing for Exeter Chiefs, my first skilled contract, I’ve totally prioritised my rugby profession. I’ve performed so with my skilled improvement, private improvement and monetary safety in thoughts.”
Wales gamers bid for silverware
Various Wales internationals will proceed their bids to carry membership silverware this weekend.
Wales centre Nick Tompkins begins for Saracens of their Gallagher Premiership semi-final in opposition to Northampton Saints on Saturday, May 13 (3.30pm kick-off). Five-time champions Sarries are that includes of their 14th Premiership semi-final and are aiming to win their first title because the 2018-19 marketing campaign, having dramatically misplaced to Leicester in final 12 months’s closing.
On Sunday, Sale Sharks host Leicester Tigers within the different last-four fixture (3pm kick-off), with Wales flanker Tommy Reffell beginning at No. 7 for the Tigers.
In Japan, Cory Hill’s Yokohama Canon Eagles will take a look at themselves in opposition to defending Japan Rugby League One champions Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights within the semi-finals, nonetheless the Wales lock is absent from the matchday squad.
Next weekend, Dan Biggar will bid to take Toulon to Challenge Cup glory once they face Glasgow Warriors within the closing on Friday, May 19.
As for Wales Women internationals, England’s top-flight Premier 15s – which all of Wales’ starters play their membership rugby in – resumes on Saturday following the Women’s Six Nations, with 4 rounds of fixtures left to solidify the highest 4 for the semi-finals on June 10 and the ultimate on June 24.
URC finalists to be confirmed
A spot within the United Rugby Championship closing is at stake on Saturday, May 13, as DHL Stormers, Connacht, Leinster and Munster look to go one step nearer to being topped 2022/23 champions.
Holders the DHL Stormers face Connacht in Cape Town (3pm UK kick-off time) after they overcame South African rivals the Vodacom Bulls whereas the Irish province got here out on high of their derby at Ulster.
There can also be an enormous all-Irish encounter within the different semi-final as Leinster tackle Munster (5.30pm kick-off) after beating the Cell C Sharks and Glasgow Warriors respectively.
DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse, Angelo Davids, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff (captain), Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Ben-Jason Dixon, Ruben van Heerden, Willie Engelbrecht, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos.
Replacements: JJ Kotze, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Connor Evans, Marcel Theunissen, Paul de Wet, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Jack Carty (captain), Caolin Blade, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Niall Murray, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Kieran Marmion, Tom Daly, Byron Ralston.
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Charlie Ngatai, Dave Kearney, Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath (captain), Michael Milne, Rónan Kelleher, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ryan Baird, Jason Jenkins, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan.
Replacements: John McKee, Cian Healy, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Nick McCarthy, Ciarán Frawley, Liam Turner.
Munster: Mike Haley, Keith Earls, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly, Ben Healy, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (captain), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Neil Cronin, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
READ NEXT:
Axed Wales coach in talks with Toulon and URC change set to hit Welsh areas
Byron Hayward walks away from Wales job and is changed by Grand Slam-winning star
Young Wales worldwide axed by Cardiff begins new life in France
Welsh rugby ‘doomed with out progress’ and sole regional participant in staff of season
