The headlines from Christmas Eve Rugby Night.

Liam Williams debuts in Japan

Liam Williams made his Japanese Premier League debut with his new club, Kubota Spears.

Williams bowed to Spears alongside New Zealand legend Dane Coles. Also playing on Saturday was veteran Wallaby Bernard Foley, who played in midfield.

Unfortunately, the Spears lost the game 23-19 to the Shizuoka Blue Revs, captained by South African World Cup winner Quagga Smith. Former All Black Charles Piutau played in midfield for his team.

Spears led 16-19 after 82 minutes, but Blue Revs midfielder Kent Iyemura somehow managed to fight his way through a sea of ​​Spears players. Yemura also won the best player of the match award.

Due to commitments in Japan, Williams will not be able to represent Wales in next year’s Six Nations tournament.



Black veteran Dane Coles and Wales legend Williams make their debut together

The Welsh star on the giants’ radar

River Dier is reportedly on Saracens’ radar.

The Dragons team has impressed club and country over the last 12 months and could swap the Rugby United Championship for the Gallagher Premiership.

Dyer is now 11 matches away from reaching the minimum 25 caps to play club rugby outside of Wales and still be selected for international rugby, meaning he will have to put his international career on hold if he decides to make the move.

This is reported by Rugby Paper. that Saracens held “informal conversations” with Gloucester’s Jonny May and Bath’s Joe Cockanasiga. Sarris will lose Scottish stars Sean Maitland, Alex Lewington and Ben Harris next season if their contracts are not extended, so they are looking to strengthen their back three options.

Rugby Paper believes Saracens will look for a cheaper option and that could come in the form of Dragons player Dyer. Reports say he is in talks with several Premier League clubs.

Gloucester to sign half amid huge interest

Gloucester Rugby have signed Charlie Atkinson, who plays for Leicester Tigers.

The English club were initially linked with signing Welsh international Callum Sheedy from Bristol Bears, but it appears they have now found their man. Atkinson was previously at Wasps but secured a move to the East Midlands club when the club went bankrupt. The Tigers’ starting defender is World Cup winner Handre Pollard.

The 22-year-old is excited to get started. He said: “It’s a great opportunity to join a good group of players and staff and I’m excited to make my mark.

“I enjoyed my time at Leicester last year but Kingsholm is somewhere I have always loved playing because the fans create an incredible atmosphere, so it will be great to have them by my side now.

“I can’t wait to hang out with the Cherries and Whites.”

Atkinson will compete with Adam Hastings, George Barton and Lloyd Evans for the number 10 jersey at Gloucester.

Shane Williams praises Dragons duo

Wales legend Shane Williams has praised Dragons duo Aaron Wainwright and Rio Dyer.

Both have been in good standing for Wales, particularly at the World Cup. However, both have been linked with significant departures, with Wainwright being touted as a possible replacement for Jasper Wiese, who has left number 8 at Leicester Tigers.

The Dragons made it clear recently that they will fight to keep their star duo. Manager Dai Flanagan explained that “fair and honest offers” would be offered to keep them at Newport.

Williams, a former Ospreys winger, was impressed by the pair. “Rio is playing particularly well,” he told Argos.

“He made fantastic tries, gets involved in the game and you can tell he enjoyed his time at the World Cup. He learned that and became a bigger and better player because of it.

“Aaron is becoming a leader who puts his team ahead. He is big, physical and a good transporter and distributor. “He just seems to do the right things and not make mistakes.”