These are your rugby headlines on Friday, December 20.

Welsh star decides future amid interest from England

Wales international Sam Davies is set to sign a new deal with French second-tier side Grenoble.

The fly-half has lit up the Pro D2 with some phenomenal displays since making the move from Wales last year and was named as the league's player of the season at the end of the last campaign.

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Those impressive performances meant that several English sides, as well as some high-profile Top 14 clubs, had been keeping tabs on the former Ospreys and Dragons playmaker, with Davies meeting with Leicester Tigers as he weighed up his next move.

The Premiership side are in the marker for a new fly-half as a replacement for South Africa star Handre Pollard, who seems likely to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the current season.

However, WalesOnline understands 31-year-old Davies is close to formally committing his future to Grenoble by signing a new three-year deal to stay in France.

The eight-cap international has previously spoken about how much he loves life in France, adding that he was "thankful" to have left the "mess and negativity" of Welsh rugby behind.

Player banned after 'vulgar' incident

Black Lion flanker Giorgi Tsutskiridze has been banned for two matches after clashing with the referee following his side's defeat 36-18 to the Scarlets.

The Challenge Cup clash was dominated by endless TMO replays, with the Georgian side losing Lado Chachanidze in the 40th minute as he was sent off for a dangerous tackle.

At the full-time whistle, Tsutskiridze was seen interacting with referee Kevin Bralley. While what he said to the official has not been revealed, he was found by the EPCR to have “disrespected the authority of the referee by using vulgar language towards him” and has now been banned for two matches.

A statement read: “EPCR received a citing complaint from match Citing Commissioner Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe (South Africa) against Tsutskiridze, alleging the player disrespected the authority of the Referee by using vulgar language towards him at the end of the game in contravention of Law 9.28.

“Law 9.28 A player must not disrespect the authority of a Match Official. Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.28 carries the following sanction entry points – Low-end: 2 weeks; Mid-range: 4 weeks; Top-end: 6-52 weeks.

“Law 9.28 A player must not verbally abuse a Match Official. Verbal abuse includes, but is not limited to, abuse based on: religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. Under World Rugby’s Sanctions for Foul Play, Law 9.28 carries the following sanction entry points – Low-end: 6 weeks; Mid-range: 12 weeks; Top-end: 18-52 weeks.

“The independent Disciplinary Panel of Philippe Cavalieros (France, Chair), Valeriu Toma (Romania) and Marcello d’Orey (Portugal) heard the Citing Complaint on the morning of Wednesday 18 December 2024.

“The player accepted he had disrespected the authority of the Referee and the independent Disciplinary Panel decided the offending was at the mid-range of the scale of seriousness, imposing an entry point of four weeks’ suspension.

“The player received a 2-week deduction in the length of his sanction due to his good disciplinary record and timely acceptance of the charge and has therefore been suspended for two weeks. Taking into account the playing schedule over the festive period, he will be free to play from 13 January 2025. Both the player and EPCR have the right to appeal the decision.”

It comes as his teammate Chachanidze had his red card rescinded following his disciplinary hearing, with the committee deciding that while he had committed an act of foul play, it did not warrant a sending-off.

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Archie Griffin injury latest

Wales prop Archie Griffin is expected to be sidelined for a "considerable" period following a shoulder injury he sustained earlier in the month. The 23-year-old Bath man was injured during the 24-20 Champions Cup loss to La Rochelle on 10 December and has undergone surgery since.

Bath's head of rugby, Johann van Graan, said: "He'll be out for a considerable amount of time," He added, "He's had a bit of bad luck over the last few months since he made his Welsh debut so we'll look after him in the coming months.

"It'll be a longish process but with Rory Murray [head of medical] and his team here at the club they'll look after him very well and hopefully we'll see an even better player than he is right now."

Griffin, who made his international debut for Wales during the Six Nations in the spring, has earned six caps and played against Fiji, Australia, and South Africa this autumn. With the 2025 Six Nations campaign starting in six weeks, Wales will face France away on 31 January without Griffin.

Cardiff man rewarded with new deal

Cardiff Rugby back-rower Alun Lawrence has signed a new long-term contract at the club.

Lawrence returned to the Blue & Blacks after Jersey Reds folded, initially on a short-term contract. He signed a permanent deal at the end of last season and has now extended that contract following an impressive start to the campaign.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: "I’m really pleased to extend Alun’s stay at the club with a new longer-term deal - it is something he thoroughly deserves. " He praised Lawrence as a player who has seized his second opportunity at the club and become an invaluable asset.

"His performances so far this season speak for themselves. As I’ve said previously, what you get with Al on game-day is exactly what you see each and every day in training. He is extremely professional and diligent, he knows his role inside out and he works tirelessly. He is the perfect role model for the youngsters coming through.

"Like Liam (Belcher) and Ben (Thomas) who we have also announced in recent days, Al is the kind of homegrown player that is the foundation of the squad and can continue to grow."

Lawrence, who played his junior rugby at Llantrisant, has made 38 first-team appearances. Now, the 26-year-old wants to build on that.

"I am incredibly happy to be staying at Cardiff, having signed a new long-term contract," he added. "It is no secret how turbulent rugby can be and as someone who has experienced that in the past, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to do what I love, at the team I supported as a youngster and came through.

"Over the next couple of years, I just want to keep learning, keep getting better as an individual and keep developing as a team. I want to be involved in as many match-day 23s as possible and contribute to more Cardiff success."

Dragons hunt new signings

Filo Tiatia is actively involved in crafting the Dragons’ squad for next season while deliberating on whether to pursue the head coach position.

After Dai Flanagan's departure, Tiatia stepped up from defence coach to interim head coach and the Dragons have confirmed that the ex-All Blacks player will take charge for the rest of the season. A decision on the permanent coach for next year is set to be concluded at the end of next month.

Even though Tiatia is seen as a potential favourite for the head coaching role, his future at the club is secure given his three-year contract as a defence coach.

And Tiatia is collaborating with head of recruitment Jonathan Westwood on prospective signings for next term. Dragons CEO Rhys Blumberg highlighted the critical nature of recruitment, previously a secondary task shared among four people, but now recognised as a demanding full-time role that requires daily engagement with agents and continuous scouting for new talent.

"Nobody was responsible for recruitment, it was almost a secondary part of four peoples’ jobs," Blumberg told The Argus. "Recruitment is an intense job and every day agents are getting contact about potential signings and you are seeking new players."

"Jonathan has made contact with agents all over the word and is doing a great job in building relationships and having conversations with players and agents, selling the club to them."