Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Tuesday, September 7.
Eddie calls for swift action on Rassie
England boss Eddie Jones has called on World Rugby to take swift action against South Africa's Rassie Erasmus, and has warned that his video rant against officials could set a dangerous precedent for the game.
The Springboks boss posted an hour-long critique of officials during a tense Test series with the British and Irish Lions, and now faces a disciplinary process, which is currently ongoing.
However, Jones believes action should have already been taken.
READ MORE: The full list of 13 players who are definitely unavailable to Wales for New Zealand Test
"It should be dealt with quickly," Jones told the BBC.
"We need to make sure that we have respect in the game because we are asking kids to be respectful to the referee, and if they see examples of players or coaches being disrespectful to the referee it gives them an excuse to do it at their level."
But while critical of Erasmus' approach, Jones admits there are problems in the way game is currently being officiated.
"I think the game is in a good place but we have to be careful and I think there are some issues in the game we need to look at very carefully and I think one of them is the diligence of the referees to referee the important part of the game well," he said.
"Rassie made his famous video and I don't think that is correct, but we need to make sure the referees work as a three a lot harder than they do at the moment to ensure that particularly at the breakdown we get what we need to get, which is a fair contest between contest and continuity.
"But there is an appropriate way to do it, and that is being respectful to the referee."
New Zealand steadfast on Barrett red card
New Zealand defence coach Scott McLeod says the team are still backing full-back Jordie Barrett following his red card during Sunday's Rugby Championship clash with Australia in Perth.
Barrett was dismissed in the 28th minute of the game after catching the face of Marika Koribete with his boot, and is now awaiting the verdict of a SANZAAR disciplinary hearing, which took place on Monday.
And McLeod says his team will fight whatever charge happens to come their way.
“We believe we do have a defence,” he said.
“There are some mitigating circumstances from our side, so we will put forward a case.”
“Being in the air. He won the space in the air, and in previous cases the person that’s done that, everyone else underneath has to look after that person there, or be aware of that.”
Flood announces retirement
Former England fly-half Toby Flood has retired from rugby at the age of 36.
Flood, who earned 60 Test caps for his country, won three Premiership titles at Leicester Tigers, and also enjoyed successful stints at Newcastle Falcons and French giants Toulouse.
He is now set to take up a coaching role with the Falcons, after calling time on his playing career.
"It's still good to be around the boys," Flood said of his new role.
"We had a conversation at the club about how best to move forward and we decided to go down the route of me working as a kicking and skills coach.
"It's nice to have that transfer within the club and the other good thing is I've still got the university stuff going on in the background."
Director of rugby Dean Richards added: "Toby can look back with great pride on an outstanding playing career for club and country.
"He has been in the very top bracket of English fly-halves for well over a decade, and will now add enormous value to us from a coaching perspective.
"He's a very intelligent guy who understands the game incredibly well, so it's fantastic news that he will remain at the club and be part of the exciting future that we're all working towards."
Taylor keen on Wales return
Former Wales Women skills coach Rachel Taylor admits she would like to return to the national set-up.
Taylor became the WRU's first ever professional female coach back in November 2020, but resigned ahead of the 2021 Six Nations campaign in mysterious circumstances and was recently appointed women's performance coach at Sale Sharks.
But she clearly feels she still has unfinished business back in her homeland.
"My dream aspiration would be to take Wales on as a head coach role at some point in the future," she said.
"My passion and heart was always to be with Wales and to have the opportunity to coach with them was super special as well.
"I'll probably only look back on it now and try and take a lot of learnings from that time.
"I've tried to stay true to myself and my own beliefs and values around the game.
"Hopefully in time that will hold me in good place. I feel better for it, I've tried to do the right thing in terms of the programme.
"And obviously with the performance review still to be published, hopefully the direction of the game in Wales will go the right way.
"Hopefully the changes that are happening at the moment will put it in the right direction, in order that they can compete at the level they should be with the talented players that we've got."
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