Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, April 27.
AWJ presents ex WRU chief with prestigious award
Former Welsh Rugby Union business director Craig Maxwell has been given a Special Recognition Award.
Maxwell, who has been business officer for each the WRU and Six Nations, was identified with incurable and inoperable EGFR lung and bone most cancers. The 40-year-old based the Maxwell Family Genomics Fund to boost, enhance and develop the most cancers pathway in Wales to make a long-lasting distinction within the lives of most cancers sufferers and their households.
Maxwell has raised within the area of £800,000 and was offered the Special Recognition Award on the Sports Industry Awards in Battersea Park by Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones. Rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield was additionally given the award for his work in elevating over £2.5m for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
You can learn extra about Craig’s efforts right here
Ex-Cardiff coach will get Six Nations job
Former Cardiff defence coach Richard Hodges has landed an enormous job with the Italian nationwide staff.
Hodges departed the Welsh area for URC rivals Zebre on the finish of final season. He will now go away Zebre this summer time to turn out to be an assistant to Gonzalo Quesada.
Italy are at the moment using a wave at worldwide degree on the again of their most profitable Six Nations ever, which included two wins and a draw.
Peel pleased with Scarlets’ efficiency
Dwayne Peel insists he was pleased with the Scarlets’ efficiency regardless of a 32-27 home defeat to the Sharks.
The Scarlets have solely gained thrice this season nevertheless it was a a lot improved efficiency in opposition to a robust Sharks facet which included a number of Rugby World Cup winners together with Eben Etzebeth. Tries from Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias and Ioan Nicholas wasn’t fairly sufficient to get the Scarlets over the road however there was loads to be constructive about.
“We fought arduous for the total 80 minutes and there have been parts to be pleased with,” stated Peel. “The problem is to maintain that degree of consistency for the remainder of the season.
“Defensively we had been notably sturdy on the maul the place we had been up in opposition to the Springbok entrance 5. But we handled that and performed with some freedom.
“Looking on the staff sheet, some individuals could not have given us a lot of an opportunity. While we’re not proud of dropping, it simply felt a distinct ambiance right here tonight with the followers.”
Welsh internationals assist Saracens to very important victory over Bath
Wales internationals Nick Tompkins and Aled Davies performed an important half in serving to Saracens’ to a significant 15-12 victory over Bath on the Rec.
This victory sees propels Saracens above Bath into second position because the Gallagher Premiership’s play-off race reaches its crescendo. Both Tompkins and Davies had been glorious all through what was labelled a Test match in the whole lot however identify by Bath boss Johann van Graan whereas Wales prop Archie Griffin scrummaged nicely as a second-half alternative for the hosts.
Saracens took a 12-0 lead into half-time after tries from Tom Parton and Rotimi Segun however Bath had been a distinct proposition after the break. Bath held the ascendancy for a lot of the second-half as they pulled the sport again to 12-12 with tries from Thomas du Toit and Cameron Redpath.
But Saracens merely have no idea when they’re crushed with a 77th minute penalty from England star Owen Farrell nudging them again into the lead. Bath threw the kitchen sink at Saracens over the past couple of minutes of this sport as they pressurised the attempt line however the guests held agency to assert a vitally necessary win.
