Here are your rugby evening headlines on Thursday, December 30.
Peel hopes Williams turns down Cardiff
The Scarlets hope Liam Williams decides to stay with them next season after the full-back held talks with Cardiff over a stunning switch.
WalesOnline first reported news of Williams' potential move east last month, with the Wales full-back now living in the capital city.
Head coach Dwayne Peel said at a press conference: "Obviously (we want him to stay). He's a quality player and any side would want him.
"I know there's a bit of speculation around things, but I don't really want to comment on that."
Peel added: "All I can say is that he's been committed and has been excellent with us over the last couple of weeks and he's looking forward as much as anyone to play a game of rugby.
"Personally, I haven't seen too much of him in the flesh in all honesty
"He got injured early in our season and our paths haven't really crossed during his and my career.
"I've not really had time with him on the field. He's obviously a quality player and he's been excellent with us and hopefully, he'll be good for this week."
The 30-year-old has remarkably made just four appearances for the Scarlets since his return to the region was announced two years ago after his stint at Saracens. He has been bedevilled by injury and, more recently, various Covid postponements.
The Scarlets announced Williams’ return to the region from Saracens in December 2019, with the move due to take effect at the start of the following season. The back-three man actually linked up with the west Walians in February 2020 but his reappearance on the pitch didn’t happen until the following October amid the Covid pandemic.
He’s reportedly on a three-year deal but how much his contractual arrangements changed during the health emergency isn’t clear.
Jiffy returns home
Jonathan Davies has finally returned home after being forced to spend Christmas in an isolation hotel thousands of miles from home.
Davies' pre-Christmas trip to Dubai with wife Jay turned into a "nightmare" after he was caught up in Covid regulations.
After finally arriving back in Wales, he tweeted: "So nice to be home. Absolute nightmare 12 days in isolation in Dubai over Xmas. Very tough. Thank you everyone who helped and supported me."
Lions star to spark scramble
Lions winger Anthony Watson is set to start a scramble for his signature after deciding to leave Bath at the end of the season, according to the Telegraph.
Watson, who is currently injured, is said to have decided he wants a new start and will follow Wales star Taulupe Faletau out of the exit door. Faletau, of course, is joining Cardiff next season, as revealed by WalesOnline last month.
It's a huge blow for Bath who are enduring a disastrous season on the back of 12 straight defeats.
Watson is reportedly undecided on his next destination but is certain to be a wanted man given his pedigree. He is bound to attract big money offers from France as well as England, but a move across the channel would effectively rule him out of England's 2023 World Cup squad on selection policy grounds.
Kinghorn signs new contract
Blair Kinghorn has targeted silverware after signing a new contract with Edinburgh.
The 24-year-old has been with Edinburgh since 2015 and has made more than 100 appearances as well as being capped 28 times for Scotland.
Mike Blair's side are a point behind leaders Leinster in the United Rugby Championship rankings this season and Kinghorn believes they are destined for big things if they continue their improvement.
"I'm really happy to be staying with Edinburgh for the future and looking forward to what it holds," he said.
"I feel you can see this season the boys and management, the whole club and fans are pulling as one in the same direction. I love the growth I can see in this club.
"I feel like we are starting to see it now and that I can really add something to that.
"You can see in our results we have been going really well and I feel there is so much more growth in the team. We have such an exciting squad, a lot of depth in our squad.
Former Wales hooker Rees dies
Much-loved Welsh rugby player and surgeon Brian Rees has died at the age of 79.
The former hooker, who won three caps for his country during the 1967 Five Nations Championship and went on to become a distinguished surgeon, passed away on December 29.
Born in Neath, Rees pursued a medical career at Cambridge, where he also featured for the Light Blues against New Zealand and Australia.
He played in four Varsity matches against Oxford, winning one, drawing one and losing two between 1963 and 1966.
Rees' three caps then came a year later, against Scotland, Ireland and France. His final cap, in Colombes, was the first of 53 for the great Gareth Edwards.
You can read all the tributes here.
