Tonight's rugby news as tribute planned for tragic player and top young talent on way to Wales

These are your evening rugby headlines on Tuesday, December 10.

Tribute planned for tragic player

Toulouse are set to pay tribute to 17-year-old Medhi Narjissi after the fly-half was swept out to sea earlier this year.

The son of former Morocco and Agen hooker Djalil Narjissi, the teenager had travelled to South Africa with the France U18s team for an age-grade tournament in August, but went missing during a recovery session in the water at Dias Beach, near the Cape of Good Hope.

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Despite extensive search efforts, his body has never been found, with an involuntary manslaughter investigation since opened by the Agen prosecutor's office.

Toulouse are now planning to pay tribute to their former apprentice Narjissi by visiting the beach where he went missing. The defending Top 14 champions are set to face the Sharks in a Champions Cup clash in Durban on January 11 but plan to take time out to pay their respects during their time in South Africa.

“We plan to stay the whole week in South Africa," Toulouse president Didier Lacroix told Sud Radio. "This will allow us to pay tribute to a country that touched us and that touched one of us last summer. We will go and spend some time there.”

Top young talent heading to Wales

The UK's top university rugby talent will be heading to Wales next year, with Rodney Parade set to play host to the BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship Finals.

The event has been held at the StoneX, home of Saracens, for the last two seasons but the men's and women's finals will be held at the home of the Dragons on Wednesday, April 16, next year. Ticket information is set to be released soon.

Wales internationals Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Ben Thomas have all previously played in the competition before going on to represent their country at Test level. Loughborough University won the 2023/24 men's title, while Hartpury defended their title in the women's competition.

Will Roberts, BUCS CEO, said: “We’re extremely excited to be taking the BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship Finals to Rodney Parade. Thank you to Dragons RFC, Newport RFC, Newport County and the WRU for the opportunity to host the finals at an incredible stadium.

“And also thank you to AHDB for their ongoing support with the BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship Finals. Their ongoing support for BUCS sport and BSR has ensured this season is the biggest and best we’ve ever had. The finals are always a fantastic occasion, and this year will be no different.”

Dragons RFC chief Rhys Blumberg added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen to host the BUCs Super Rugby Milk Championship Finals at Rodney Parade and to bring this prestigious event to Wales for the very first time.

"It’s a huge privilege for Rodney Parade to be chosen, after a rigorous and competitive tender process from clubs right across England and Wales. We look forward to welcoming the teams and supporters to home for a truly special day of rugby.

“Top-flight university rugby has been grabbing a lot of positive attention in recent seasons with the BUCs finals, the pinnacle of university rugby, growing year on year," he continued. “We are delighted that a fantastic crop of incredible talent, that will all hope to go on to achieve great things in our sport following their time at university, will be on show at Rodney Parade and encourage our fans and the Welsh rugby public to get right behind the event.”

Rape charges against France rugby players dismissed

A court has dismissed rape charges against two French internationals accused of assaulting a woman in Argentina.

Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, both 21, were arrested two days after winning their first caps for France against the Pumas in Mendoza on July 6. On the night of that match, they met a 39-year-old woman in a nightclub who later accused them of repeatedly sexually assaulting her in a hotel room.

Both Auradou and Jegou denied the allegations, insisting they had consensual sex with the woman.

Following their arrest in Buenos Aires, the two men were placed under house arrest in Mendoza in mid-July, while their team-mates continued their summer tour in Uruguay. Auradou and Jegou remained under house arrest for a month until the court ordered their release and they were allowed to return home while the investigation continued.

Both have since played for their club sides after returning to France, with lock Auradou making eight appearances for Pau and flanker Jegou playing four matches for La Rochelle and scoring a try in their Champions Cup victory over Bath last week.

On Tuesday, the charges against the two men were dropped following a hearing in Mendoza, with the French Rugby Federation welcoming the decision with "relief and satisfaction". Both men will now be eligible to play for the national side again.

"The judge has just ordered the players to be acquitted, arguing that the act was not a crime," lawyer Rafael Cuneo Libarona told Reuters. The players' defence attorney German Hnatow added: "As we expected, the French players have been acquitted because the sexual act was consensual, meaning there was no crime and no doubt that they are innocent."

Record crowds expected after Maher arrival

A record-breaking crowd is expected to watch Bristol Bears Women's clash with Gloucester-Hartpury next month, following the arrival of USA star Ilona Maher.

The West Country derby has been moved from Shaftesbury Park to Ashton Gate following "unprecedented demand" for tickets after the Olympic sevens bronze medallist signed for the Bears on a short-term contract earlier this month. Maher, who is the most followed rugby player in the world on social media, is widely expected to make her debut in the match on January 5.

The Bears have now revealed that ticket sales for the clash are "flying" and, with a month still to go, have already surpassed the previous record attendance for a Bears Women fixture at Ashton Gate.

That previous record was set in May 2022 when 4,101 fans watched them play Harlequins.

The January clash will be a repeat of last season's PWR final, with both sides boasting several Wales internationals. The likes of Alisha and Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Keira Bevan and Jenny Hesketh representing Bristol, while Gloucester-Hartpury count Gwen Crabb, Lleucu George, Hannah Jones, Bethan Lewis and Sisilia Tuipulotu among their Welsh contingent.