Today's rugby news as Welsh star to leave for France and Gatland linked with Wales' rivals
These are your rugby headlines on Friday, February 14.
Wales star to leave for France
Ospreys back Owen Williams has reportedly agreed a move to France this summer, with the Wales international set to join Stade Niçois on a two-year deal.
Williams, who has eight international caps, has spent the last three seasons with the Ospreys after returning to Wales in 2022. Having started his career with the Scarlets, he spent nearly a decade in England, representing Leicester Tigers, Gloucester and Worcester Warriors either side of a short stint in Japan with the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
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Now, the 32-year-old is set to move abroad again with Midi Olympique reporting that he has agreed to move to Nice ahead of next season.
Stade Niçois are currently rock bottom of the Pro D2 having won just three out of 19 league games so far this campaign, with a drop to the third tier of French rugby next season looking inevitable.
But that has not stopped them from making signings, with Williams the latest international to be added to their squad. He will join Spanish scrum-half Guillaume Rouet, Romanian centre Atila Septar, and Fijian legend Waisea Nayacalevu in the south of France, with more arrivals expected in the coming months.
Williams made his Wales debut against Tonga in the summer of 2017 before taking his tally to three that autumn with starts against Australia and New Zealand. However, he would go more than five years before taking to the field in a red jersey again, as he made his international return during the 2023 Six Nations.
Gatland linked with new international job
Warren Gatland has been linked with a new international rugby job, days after his second spell as Wales head coach came to an end.
After much speculation surrounding his future - amid an utterly dismal run of 14 straight Test defeats and a losing start to the Six Nations - Gatland agreed with WRU CEO Abi Tierney earlier this week that his departure was in the best interests of Welsh rugby.
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt has since agreed to take the reins for the remainder of the Six Nations, while the likes of Simon Easterby, Franco Smith and Michael Cheika have emerged as frontrunners to take on the job on a permanent basis.
But while those at the top of Welsh rugby decide where to go next, Gatland has himself emerged as a potential candidate for another top international job.
Nine.com report that the New Zealander could now enter the frame for the Australia job, as the Wallabies look for a new head coach to replace Joe Schmidt, who is stepping down in October following the Rugby Championship.
As well as two very different stints with Wales, Gatland has also coached Ireland and the British & Irish Lions on the international stage.
Other potential candidates to become the new Australia head coach include La Rochelle boss Ronan O'Gara, who also ruled himself out of the running for Wales, as well as Cheika, former Scotland coach Vern Cotter and Queensland Reds boss Les Kiss.
Farrell sets date to name Lions coaches
British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell will wait until the end of the Six Nations to confirm his coaching team for this summer's tour of Australia.
Farrell is currently on sabbatical from his job as head coach of Ireland, in order to prepare for the Lions tour and has already revealed his first additions to his backroom team.
Last month, it was confirmed that David Nucifora, Aled Walters and Vinny Hammond had all been added to the coaching ticket for the tour Down Under. Nucifora, Scottish Rugby's performance director, has been appointed to the same role with the Lions, with former England and Springboks coach Walters named as head of athletic performance and Hammond as head of analysis.
It has now been confirmed that Farrell will reveal his assistant coaches for the tour on Wednesday, March 26 in an announcement in London, 11 days after the Six Nations draws to a close.
Exactly who he will name remains to be seen, with Ireland's interim head coach and regular defence guru Simon Easterby tipped to be included. However, France's defence coach Shaun Edwards has also put his hand up for a place in Farrell's backroom team, admitting he would "swim it to Australia" if asked to join the Lions.
International wing back after 10 months
By PA Sport Staff
Argentina winger Emiliano Boffelli will make his first appearance in 10 months when Edinburgh host Zebre on Friday.
The 30-year-old returns from back surgery for the BKT United Rugby Championship encounter at the Hive Stadium.
Fellow winger Ross McCann also returns, from a calf injury, while forwards D’Arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes and Luke Crosbie have been released from Scotland duty to start.
Tom Currie will make his first professional start at number eight following his debut off the bench in Llanelli.
Head coach Sean Everitt said: “We’re delighted to welcome Emiliano back to the team. He has worked incredibly hard to return to full fitness and I know how proud he is to be pulling on the Edinburgh jersey once again.
“Zebre Parma are a team we have a huge amount of respect for and we know they’ll be travelling with confidence after winning in Belfast last time out.
“However, we’re really excited about the team we’ve got out and we’ll be going hell for leather to get a win for our home support.”
