Today's rugby news as Wales star makes big return after five years and Warburton praises 'brilliant' Welsh club appointment

These are your rugby headlines on Sunday, December 15.

Wales star returns

Liam Williams will make his second Saracens debut today, having been named in the starting line-up to face Stade Francais in the Champions Cup.

The 92-cap Wales international rejoined the Premiership side last month, having left Japanese side Kubota Spears to return to the UK and be with his wife and newborn son.

READ MORE: Cardiff seal comeback win in Europe as Wales star shines in two-try outing

READ MORE: Tonight's rugby news as referee knocked out during game and Gatland given fresh injury scare

He was previously at Sarries between 2017 and 2019, with his prolific try-scoring record helping them to win the Premiership and claim a Champions Cup. title.

Williams will kick off his second spell with the club in Paris, with the Welshman one of two changes made by director of rugby Mark McCall. The other sees England star Ben Earl start at openside flanker, with Juan Martin Gonzalez dropping to the bench.

Maro Itoje will lead a starting side that features two other Welsh internationals - Rhys Carre and Nick Tompkins.

New Welsh talent earns Shane comparisons

Welsh teenager Tom Bowen has caused excitement after tearing it up on his Cardiff debut against the Cheetahs on Saturday night.

After fellow teen star Steffan Emanuel was handed his first start last weekend, coach Matt Sherratt opted to give 19-year-old Bowen his big chance in the Challenge Cup clash and he took it with both hands, with a fine performance earning him comparisons to a Wales great.

The wing returned to the region earlier this year, having left the club’s pathway system at the end of last season to take up a scholarship with Clifton College and join Bristol Bears. Since returning, he has impressed in training and scored seven tries in seven games for Cardiff RFC in the Super Rygbi Cymru.

Having been given his chance on the European stage, Bowen certainly made a name for himself, with a lightning quick break in the first-half seeing him set up Josh Adams for a try.

He would get on the scoresheet himself shortly after the break, however, as hooker Liam Belcher charged forwards into the opposition 22 and the ball was shipped out to Bowen on the left wing. The teenager still had lots of work to do with plenty of bodies between him and the line, but a sharp turn of direction saw him dart through a gap between five defenders and dive over the line.

That score led Wales international Lee Jarvis to compare the young talent to the legendary Shane Williams, as he praised the performances of him and Belcher and called for them both to be included in Gatland's plans going forward.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Liam Belcher should be in the Welsh squad," he said. "And I'd give Tom Bowen a go as well. Reminds me of Shane."

Warburton praises 'brilliant' appointment

The appointment of a coach in a groundbreaking new role introduced by Cardiff Rugby has been praised by former captain Sam Warburton as "brilliant".

In a move that is the first of its kind in Wales, the region has introduced an Emerging Player Programme / U16 District Lead and appointed Gloucester’s Foundation Phase Manager and former U18s head coach Stuart Bradfield in the position.

Bradfield will work with each Emerging Player Programme centre and oversee more than 450 players at U15 level, while "driving standards and alignment across Dewar Shield sides".

Warburton, who is on the board at Cardiff and has recently called for improvements to be made in talent identification in Wales, has praised the introduction of the role, saying it is "first of many positive steps" to be taken.

"A brilliant appointment and first of many positive steps," he wrote in response to the announcement of the role. "An exciting time for Cardiff Rugby who have given full support for the player pathway from CEO, Head Coach, Board and Owners."

After he was appointed, Bradfield said: “I’m excited to join Cardiff Rugby after seven years at Gloucester Rugby, with the opportunity to return home and work with some of Wales’ best young players. The Dewar Shield final, featuring two teams from the Cardiff catchment area, highlights the depth of talent in the regional pathway.

“I'm determined to enhance player identification beyond the current EPP pathway by strengthening links with schools and clubs, ensuring more opportunities for players to progress through the academy. This new role and investment demonstrates Cardiff’s strong commitment to developing it’s academy and building a successful future.”

Dombrandt plays with rib injury

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

Alex Dombrandt defied a rib injury to spearhead Harlequins’ 53-16 Investec Champions Cup victory over the Stormers with a man-of-the-match performance at the Stoop.

England number eight Dombrandt ran in a hat-trick of tries, with wing Cadan Murley also crossing three times as a Stormers side missing seven Springboks were overwhelmed.

“I actually gave Alex the option of taking the week off because he had sore ribs,” Quins head coach Danny Wilson said.

“But he said to me that he desperately wanted to play, that this is a game back at the Stoop and that he wanted to play. So he did that with a man-of-the-match performance!

“It was good for him because he’s been playing really well in a back row where we have some serious competition.”

Dombrandt had already pounced for his hat-trick when he sent Murley over for his third, although there was a suspicion the Quins captain could have finished a sweeping counter-attack himself.

“I’ve been managing an oblique problem, but I managed to get through the week and I felt all right out there. I’ll have an ice bath and be ready for next week,” Dombrandt said.

“I wouldn’t have heard the end of it from Cadan if I hadn’t passed to him, but we can’t have a number eight scoring more than a wing so I thought I’d even it up a bit!”

The eight-try demolition of the Stormers completed a successful week for Quins, who are also celebrating the decision of their England fly-half Marcus Smith to sign a contract extension lasting until 2028.

“It’s brilliant news. It shows the club have been good for Marcus and Marcus has been good for the club,” Wilson said.

"He’s not going to be short of an offer so the fact he’s committed to here tells you a lot. There are always twists and turns in any deal, but in the end it was straightforward enough.

“We’re over the moon and I’ve really enjoyed working with him. He’s an amazing bloke as well as an amazing player, and he’s going to be a Harlequin for lot longer, which is good news.”

Manie Libbok, Damian Willemse and Frans Malherbe were among the Springboks missing for the Stormers, but head coach John Dobson still viewed it as a sub-standard display.

“This was a poor performance by us. Two yellow cards last week, three this week,” Dobson said.

“We pride ourselves on our defence, we think we’ve got one of the best in world club rugby, but Harlequins undid us here. A very disappointing performance.”