Headlines from your rugby night on Friday 5th January 2024.

Biggar: Gatland should give youngsters a chance

Welsh legend Dan Biggar says the Six Nations is the perfect opportunity for Warren Gatland to test a raw talent.

With plenty of Test match experience after dismissing Wales, Gatland may have to look to some of his younger players for inspiration.

Talismanic captain Jack Morgan, 23, has been ruled out of the Six Nations, while Taulupe Faletau is yet to return from a broken arm he suffered against Georgia in the Rugby World Cup.

Biggar was a guest on Mark Chapman’s 2024 Guest List program for BBC Radio 5 Live this week. The iconic flyhalf gave his opinion on what Gatland should do in the upcoming tournament.

“From a Welsh point of view we are at a stage where we need to know a bit more about the players,” he said. “Because we have a lot of players who start their careers with maybe a few caps and a lot of players end their careers with a lot of caps. .

“From a Welsh point of view, it’s difficult to know what’s going to happen on the pitch because there are a lot of unfamiliar combinations and a lot of players who will be part of your first team.

“So I can’t say what the Six Nations will be like, but I think there are a lot of talented young Welsh players playing in the regions at the moment and if you want to put youth and inexperience into it, it’s probably the perfect time. opportunity at the beginning of the four-year cycle before the World Cup, and you can create what you want to develop over the next three and a half years.”

Wales host Scotland in the first round of the Six Nations on Saturday 3 February.

Dragons Wing suffered a knee injury

“Dragons” winger Ashton Hewitt suffered a serious knee injury. The 29-year-old injured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ahead of the New Year’s Eve match against the Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship.

Hewitt underwent successful surgery on Wednesday and will now begin the rehabilitation process. Coach Dai Flanagan expressed his dismay at the news. “We are all devastated for Ashton and it is cruel that a player who previously suffered such an injury is now being ruled out again,” Flanagan said.

“Ashton has been impressive for us this season, returning to the level we know he can reach and has been a real catalyst for some of our best performances. He underwent surgery and now begins his journey surrounded by our medical team and physiotherapists, and supported by all of us at the Dragons.

“I’m sure our fans will join us in sending our best wishes to Ashton and wishing him a speedy recovery.”

During his 10-year career, Hewitt played 125 times for the Dragons and scored 35 tries.

Former Wales star is putting in an epic performance for the French club

Former Welsh midfielder Sam Davies put in a brilliant performance for French Pro D2 side Grenoble on Thursday night.

The Welshman signed for the club from the Dragons last summer and became one of the first names in the team’s squad, playing regularly in midfield. Davies has made eight appearances for Wales and is therefore unable to represent his country while playing abroad. The minimum requirement for this is 25 cap.

Last night, Davies’ Grenoble faced Provence, the team where his fellow Welshman Thomas Francis plays. George North has also signed a deal with the club for next season. However, it was not Wales against Wales as Francis was not called up for matchday 23.

Davis, 30, led his team to a 45-10 victory, scoring five points. Davies dismissed Bautista Ezcurra with an exceptional display and left accompanied by a clever offload reminiscent of Finn Russell’s recent antics with Bath. The moment was clipped and posted on Pro D2’s Instagram account with the caption: “Les Harlem Grenoble Trotters. Grenoble Festival with this wonderful screening sequence of one of the day’s plays.

One Grenoble fan commented: “Perfect score! We love it and Sam Davies is on fire. Well done”.

Irish star ruled out of Six Nations

Irish star Dave Kilcoyne has been ruled out of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. The 35-year-old has 56 caps for Ireland but will not be able to add to that number this year as he requires shoulder surgery which will rule him out for six months. .

Kilcoyne played in the Rugby World Cup in France for his country, coming off the bench four times to help the team reach the quarter-finals. The Munster icon won his 50th cap in an epic 32-19 victory over France in the 2023 Six Nations. Andy Farrell’s side would go on to win the Grand Slam.

It’s a huge blow for the Munsters themselves, who are looking to defend their Rugby United Championship title and are preparing for a big clash against Dan Biggar’s Toulon in the Champions Cup next week.

Mike Brown re-signed with Leicester Tigers

Former England star Mike Brown has re-signed with Leicester Tigers for next season. Brown spent most of his playing career at Twickenham Stoop for Harlequins and was England’s first-choice defender in the 2016 Six Nations-winning team.

Despite speculation over his rugby future, the Tigers confirmed on Thursday that Brown, 38, will extend his stay at the club beyond the 2023/24 season.

A statement from the Tigers read: “Leicester Tigers are delighted to announce that Mike Brown has re-signed with the club following the end of the 2023/24 season.

Brown, 38, joined the Tigers for an initial two-week trial in 2023, signing as cover during the Guinness Six Nations before securing a contract until the end of December last year. “Brown, a veteran of 272 Gallagher Premier League appearances, has been in excellent form this season, scoring three tries in his 11 appearances to date.”

Brown himself is very interested in continuing his business in the Midlands. He said: “Firstly, I just want to thank the club for being so welcoming during my stay and for us seeing the value I can bring to the team and our environment here at Leicester Tigers. The Tigers community and our fans have been brilliant to me since day one and I hope they can understand what it means to me to pull on the jersey and represent them.

“I still feel like I have a lot to offer on the pitch, so being able to continue working at a club surrounded by world-class players and great people is a privilege and I will continue to contribute in any way I can. “