These are your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, December 18.

Welsh star thankful after 'scary' health battle

Former Dragons back row Ollie Griffiths says he is proud of how he has dealt with the "scary" diagnosis that ultimately forced him to call time on his rugby career.

The 29-year-old announced his retirement from playing earlier this month, having not played for the Dragons since January after being diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. In September, it was revealed that he was taking a break from rugby due to a tumour on his spine, but this led to nerve issues that affects his mobility, leading him to call it a day from playing.

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Griffiths retires having played 105 times for the Dragons in what was an injury-hit career, while he earned a solitary cap for Wales as well as making an uncapped appearance against the Barbarians.

While he faced more than his fair share of bad luck throughout his career, however, the forward considers himself "lucky" after going through "the scariest time of my life". After undoing surgery, he is now showing signs of improvement, having regular check ups on his condition, while he is throwing himself into a new pursuit in retirement.

“It was the scariest time of my life," Griffiths told the South Wales Argus. "But those [injury] setbacks throughout my career, although nothing like as serious as this, did help me throughout the process.”

"From what we expected in the early days, it's not the terrible outcome that we had imagined. The prognosis is usually pretty good and it's not as aggressive as other forms. After being on some of the wards I have been on for treatment, I could myself as one of the lucky ones. It's scary what some have to go through," he added.

“I’m not in serious pain but there is no chance that I could play a game of rugby and get into the positions that I need to be in. The Dragons have been great and made a hard time a lot easier. A lot is said about how rugby clubs treat their players but the management and medical staff made such a big difference.

“It has put things into perspective and rugby is not the be all and end all. I’ve come out of this better than I had imagined and compared to what it could have been, I count myself lucky.”

After hanging up his boots, Griffiths is now getting to grips with online coaching for aspiring rugby players, while he also runs a property business through which he buys and renovates 'problem' properties. He is also focusing on being a father to his 18-month-old daughter Ava and spending time with wife Cassie.

"I've had a schedule to follow for the last 10-plus years so adapting can be difficult, but so far I am enjoying it,” he continued. “It has been a gradual phasing out of rugby and I have a few bits and bobs keeping me busy, so after [a planned family holiday to] Australia I will work out what route I want to take.

“I do miss seeing the boys and that camaraderie from being in a team, and a career really does go quickly. When 21 you think you have forever but it's unbelievable how fast it goes.”

Thomas decides future

Wales playmaker Ben Thomas has committed his future to Cardiff by signing a new contract.

The 26-year-old, who returned to the international stage with Wales earlier this year, has emerged as a key figure at the region since making his debut five years ago.

With 87 first-team appearances to his name, Thomas has also captained the side on several occasions this season and, while his current contract was due to expire in the summer, he will be staying put at Cardiff Arms Park after agreeing a new deal.

“I’m really happy to sign a new contract with Cardiff and have been really pleased with the way things are progressing here," said the eight-cap Wales international. “We have a good group and I believe we can build to achieve something really special together in the next few years.

“The style of play suits my own game and I believe it is getting the best out of me as an individual and us collectively as a group. We also have so much talent at the club, with younger players continually emerging, which is driving us all on and developing our game.

“As a Cardiff boy I also absolutely love playing at the Arms Park and we are all determined to deliver more special nights in front of our home support.”

Head coach Matt Sherratt added: “I have been really happy with the way Ben has progressed over the past couple of years and he is now a really consistent, mature performer for us. He fits into the style of play we want perfectly with his ball-playing ability at 12, while he also has also really developed the physical side of his game.

“We were all thrilled to see him get the opportunity to showcase his talents on the international stage and I think that experience has seen him develop his game even further.

“As someone who has grown up in Cardiff and progressed right through our pathway, he is part of a group of players, who are really important to build around. He is also a good person and professional and we are delighted to keep him at the Arms Park long term.”

Clark finds new club

Welsh-born centre Max Clark has signed for Newcastle Falcons on a short-term deal

The 29-year-old has joined the Premiership side on a three-month contract after leaving the Dragons at the end of last season. He had moved to Rodney Parade ahead of the 2022/23 campaign after spending 13 seasons with Bath and made 15 appearances for the Men of Gwent.

He spent last season on loan at Welsh rivals Cardiff, making four first-team appearances, before leaving Wales and training with Saracens over the summer. He played for them in the Premiership Rugby Cup last month, while he most recently appeared for Ampthill in the Championship.

Born in Bridgend to a Welsh mother and English father, Clark represented England at age-grade level, making six appearances for the U20s side and scoring for them in the final of the 2015 Junior World Cup. He was approached by Wales to be part of their 2017 summer tour, but turned it down.

He joins Newcastle as cover for first-choice centre Sammy Arnold, who is recovering from a knee injury, and will be available to face his former side Bath in the Premiership this weekend.

After the move was confirmed, Clark said: “I’m massively excited about the whole thing. The chance to come up to Newcastle and hopefully play some rugby is absolutely fantastic, and I love the kind of backs-against-the-wall mentality that the Falcons have. We’ve got a chance to do something quite special and prove a lot of people wrong, and that whole underdog mind-set can be really powerful.”

“I’m very thankful to Saracens because they’ve allowed me to train full-time with them since the start of their pre-season, and have a few run-outs in the Prem Cup and friendly games." he added. "Training there has been brilliant and I can’t thank them enough, but like any rugby player the thing you really want to do when the weekend comes round is get out there and play.

“I’m obviously taking nothing for granted in terms of selection at Newcastle and I know I’ll have to fight hard for a place, but when the call came in from Steve Diamond I just knew it was a great option.”

Ex-Wallabies coach denies charges

By Associated Press Reporter

Former Australian national rugby coach Alan Jones denied all allegations after he appeared in court on Wednesday charged with multiple sex crimes against 10 males over two decades.

The retired Sydney radio broadcaster, 83, made his first court appearance in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court following his arrest last month.

Jones was not asked to enter pleas to the 34 charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, sexually touching without consent and common assault. But he told media outside the court he would fight all charges in a jury trial.

"I am certainly not guilty and I'll be presenting my account to a jury," he said. "These allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth." He added: "I have never indecently assaulted these people. I am emphatic that I'll be defending every charge."

Two more alleged victims have come forward since police charged Jones on November 18 with 24 offences relating to eight complainants aged as young as 17. Police alleged the offences were committed from 2001 until 2019.

Jones hosted a popular Sydney morning radio show from 2002 until he retired in 2020. He was regarded as one of the most powerful people in Australian media. He was also a successful coach of the Australian national rugby team, the Wallabies, for four years from early 1984. The team won 86 of their 102 matches under his leadership.

Jones was also influential in conservative politics and was a speech writer for prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who was in power from 1975 until 1983. Mr Fraser died in 2015.

On Wednesday, defence lawyer Bryan Wrench told Judge Michael Allen that Jones would welcome a jury trial in the New South Wales state District Court to clear his name. "There have been many... untruths published by the media and the police in this matter," Mr Wrench said.

Jones has been free on bail since his arrest. He will not be required to appear in court for a brief administrative hearing on March 11 next year.