The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, March 25.
Welsh sides agree short-term deal
Scarlets have signed Dragons hooker George Roberts on a short-term loan deal.
Interim director of rugby Nigel Davies is without hookers Ryan Elias and Marnus van der Merwe for his side’s trip to Dublin to face Leinster in the United Rugby Championship on Friday after the duo suffered head knocks against Zebre last week.
With Elias and van der Merwe going through return-to-play concussion protocols, Roberts joined up with the west Wales side this week to provide cover amid the absences.
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The 28-year-old joined the Dragons from English Championship side Doncaster Knights in December and has since played four times for Filo Tiatia’s side.
One of those appearances saw the front rower – who hails from Wrexham – come off the bench to score a try as his side beat Scarlets 28-5 on New Year’s Day.
Confirming the short-term deal on Wednesday, Scarlets thanked the Dragons “for their assistance in allowing George to link up with the squad this week.”
Before moving to Rodney Parade, Roberts spent five seasons with Doncaster, having also represented Wrexham RFC and RGC.
Tributes pour in after Wales star’s announcement
Liam Williams has been flooded with tributes after the Wales and British & Irish Lions full-back announced his retirement from rugby.
The 34-year-old called time on his international career in January but has now decided to hang up his boots altogether after struggling with a recurring knee injury in recent years.
Williams won 93 caps for Wales, scoring 21 tries and winning two Six Nations titles, while he also played at three Rugby World Cups and toured twice with the British & Irish Lions.
At club level, he won the Pro12 title with the Scarlets and both the Premiership and Champions Cup with Saracens, while he also had stints with Cardiff and Japanese side Kubota Spears before joining Newcastle Red Bulls at the start of the season.
Announcing his retirement in an Instagram post on Wednesday afternoon, an emotional Williams said it was “the right time” to step away, with a “new chapter about to begin”. You can read his announcement in full here.
Tributes have since poured in for the Wales icon from former team-mates and clubs, with a comment from the official Newcastle Red Bulls account reading: “It’s been a pleasure having you with us, Sanj. Congrats on an incredible career.”
Wales and Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins wrote “Goat [Greatest Of All Time]” while Ospreys front rower Gareth Thomas said: “Legend! Congrats on a class career my guy.”
A post from the Welsh Rugby Union read: “Diolch Liam & congratulations on an incredible career,” while Cardiff wrote: “Diolch Liam!” and the Scarlets said: “What a career. Congratulations Sanj, Scarlets legend.”
Ireland and former Scarlets star Tadhg Beirne wrote: “Congrats Sanj! Was a pleasure my man. Serious career,” while Wales centre Nick Tompkins added: “What a boy. Good work spaghetti.”
Welsh back-rower Aaron Wainwright wrote: “Class Sanj” and prop Dillon Lewis said: “What a man,” while England international Courtney Lawes added “Hell of a shift brotha”.
Scotland star departs
Scotland lock Jonny Gray has left Bordeaux-Begles with immediate effect, joining fellow Top 14 side Perpignan until the end of the season.
A statement issued by Bordeaux on Wednesday said that the move had been made at the request of the 32-year-old second row, whose deal at the club expires at the end of the season.
Gray will swap places with fly-half Hugo Reus, who was meant to leave Perpignan for Bordeaux in the summer but will now make the move earlier than originally planned.
The 22-year-old joined Perpignan in December but will now provide midfield cover for Bordeaux duo Joey Carbery and Nicolas Nicolas Depoortère, who have suffered ACL and shoulder injuries respectively.
Gray will also provide cover in the Perpignan engine room, which has lost his Scotland teammate Jamie Ritchie after he fractured his leg against England in the Six Nations.
He will try to keep the Top 14 strugglers from relegation, with Perpignan 12 points clear of bottom side Montauban but still facing the prospect of facing the Pro D2 runners-up in an ‘access match’ play-off at the end of the season.
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