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Tonight's rugby news as coaching saga finally ends and Wales international returns after 20 months
These are your evening rugby headlines on Friday, December 13.
England coaching saga finally ends
Felix Jones has officially stepped down from his role as England's defence coach with immediate effect.
The 37-year-old resigned from Steve Borthwick's coaching staff back in August but was reportedly being held to a 12-month notice period.
READ MORE: Ken Owens lands new job and immediately deals with major incident
Jones was said to be doing 'remote analysis' during the Autumn Nations Series, but it was later revealed that he was not in contact with any other of the assistant coaches in Borthwick's backroom team.
Joe El-Abd took over from Jones during the autumn, with the aggressive blitz defence system introduced by the Irishman now very much under the microscope.
A short statement from the RFU issued on Friday read: "The RFU can confirm that England Rugby men's assistant coach Felix Jones will step down from his role today."
Wales international returns after 20 months out
Wales Women scrum-half Ffion Lewis is set to make her return after spending 20 months on the sidelines.
The 28-year-old has not played in the 15-a-side game since the final match of the 2023 Women's Six Nations, when she was forced off the field with a knee injury against Italy. However, after missing over a year-and-a-half of rugby, she is back in the game, having joined Bristol Bears on a short-term deal.
Lewis has been drafted into the Bears squad as injury cover for her Wales teammate Keira Bevan, who has been ruled out until the New Year after suffering a broken arm.
She is set to make her return to action this weekend, having been named among the replacements for her new side's clash with Sale Sharks on Sunday afternoon.
The scrum-half shared her delight at being back in action, as she wrote on X: "20 months later and back on a 15s team sheet".
Lewis had previously shared a post that read: "If there’s anything that I’m taking away from this journey, it’s that it doesn’t matter who chooses to give up on you along the way, as long as you don’t give up on yourself."
Wales legend reaches major milestone
Dan Lydiate will reach a century of appearances for the Dragons this weekend having been named in the starting side to face Newcastle Falcons in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.
The 72-cap Wales international will become the 38th player to hit the milestone for the region as one of nine changes made by interim boss Filo Tiatia.
A new look front row sees prop Rodrigo Martinez and hooker Brodie Coghlan return, with Steve Cummins and George Nott partnering each other in the second row.
In the backs, full-back Huw Anderson and scrum-half Che Hope will make their first senior starts for the club, with centre Joe Westwood also returning. Wing Oli Andrew also makes his first start of the season, while new signing Paula Latu could make his debut from the bench having been named among the replacements.
“Newcastle Falcons are a good team," said Tiatia. "They are hard-working, blue collar and play the percentages well. They played well out in Pau and have a good strong maul, which led to two tries, so we know what is in front of us.
“They are well coached, hunt for the ball and don’t give away too many opportunities, so we have to take them when they come. It will be tough, but every game is an opportunity to stamp your authority on it and impose yourself.”
Dragons RFC: 15. Huw Anderson, 14. Ewan Rosser, 13. Joe Westwood, 12. Aneurin Owen, 11. Oli Andrew, 10. Angus O’Brien (capt), 9. Che Hope; 1. Rodrigo Martinez, 2. Brodie Coghlan, 3. Chris Coleman, 4. Steve Cummins, 5. George Nott, 6. Ryan Woodman, 7. Dan Lydiate, 8. Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: 16. Oli Burrows, 17. Josh Reynolds, 18. Paula Latu, 19. Nick Thomas, 20. Evan Minto, 21. Rhodri Williams, 22. Cai Evans, 23. Harry Wilson
Nine return for Scarlets as Wales prop has surgery
The Scarlets have welcomed nine players back to their starting line-up ahead of their Challenge Cup clash with Black Lion on Sunday.
Skipper Josh Macleod returns to the side, along with Johnny Williams, Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas and Taine Plumtree, who all sat out the region's narrow loss in Bayonne last weekend. Max Douglas and Sam Lousi have also been promoted from the bench to partner each other in the second row.
Thomas and van der Merwe - back from a hamstring issue - join Kemsley Mathias in the front row, with Thomas replacing four-cap Wales prop Sam Wainwright, who is to undergo surgery after picking up an ankle injury last weekend. Plumtree and Macleod link up with Vaea Fifita in the back row.
In the backs, Davies and Costelow are half-back partners, with Williams partnering Joe Roberts in midfield. Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee are on the wings, with Ioan Nicholas at full-back, while Alec Hepburn returns to the matchday 23 as he's named on the bench.
“Black Lion showed last year they are a good, well-coached team with that Georgia coaching group in there and have serious players and power as well," said Scarlets contact area and scrum coach Emyr Phillips. "We realise that home wins are important and they have already picked up a home win so their confidence will be high.
"But we are in a good place, the squad is excited, the boys have trained well and are looking forward to a European game at home. It is a Sunday afternoon kick-off so hopefully we can get a good crowd down here and build on the positives we have had over the last few weeks.”
Scarlets: 15. Ioan Nicholas; 14. Tom Rogers, 13. Joe Roberts, 12. Johnny Williams, 11. Ellis Mee; 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Gareth Davies; 1. Kemsley Mathias, 2. Marnus van der Merwe, 3. Henry Thomas, 4. Max Douglas 5. Sam Lousi, 6. Taine Plumtree, 7. Josh Macleod (capt), 8. Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: 16. Shaun Evans, 17. Alec Hepburn, 18. Archer Holz, 19. Alex Craig, 20. Jarrod Taylor, 21. Archie Hughes, 22. Ioan Lloyd, 23. Eddie James.
Ospreys hand debut to giant lock
Will Spencer will make his Ospreys debut this weekend after being drafted in as injury cover for Wales star Adam Beard.
The 6ft 7in lock, who started the season with Northampton Saints, has joined the region until the end of the season, after it was confirmed that Beard faces three months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Spencer has been thrown straight into the starting line-up ahead of his new side's Challenge Cup clash with Montpellier tomorrow afternoon, as Toby Booth's men look to follow up their convincing 30-14 win over the Lions last weekend.
Jac Morgan captains the side, with Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake and Ben Warren all starting in an unchanged front row. Lewis Jones joins Will Spencer in the second row, with Morgan, Tristan Davies and Morgan Morris making up the back row.
In the backs, Kieran Hardy starts at scrum-half, with Dan Edwards in the 10 jersey, while Owen Williams and Owen Watkin is the chosen centre partnership.
Jack Walsh starts at full back, with Dan Kasende and Keelan Giles on the wings, while Will Griffiths, Rhys Henry and Reuben Morgan-Williams all return on the bench.
“Europe has always been an important focus for us," said Booth. "We’ve had some strong campaigns in the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup in recent years and have had some memorable wins on the way. This game is a great opportunity for us to build some momentum as we look ahead to the rest of the season.”
Ospreys: 15. Jack Walsh, 14. Dan Kasende, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Owen Williams, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Kieran Hardy; 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Dewi Lake, 3. Ben Warren, 4. Will Spencer, 5. Lewis Jones, 6. Tristan Davies, 7. Jac Morgan (c), 8. Morgan Morris
Replacements: 16. Sam Parry, 17. Steffan Thomas, 18. Rhys Henry, 19. Will Griffiths, 20. William Greatbanks, 21. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22. Evardi Boshoff, 23. Iestyn Hopkins
