Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, December 14.
Double red card brandished after testicle grabbing incident
Two players were red carded following an apparent testicle grabbing incident during the European Rugby Challenge Cup contest between Benetton and Stade Français.
Benetton secured a convincing 44-20 victory, although the game at Stade Jean Bouin was marred in the 43rd minute.
Stade's Charlie Rorke appeared to be the instigator as he grabbed the front of Benetton winger Leonardo Sarto’s shorts.
In response, Sarto lashed out and swung a fist as the face of Rorke.
Referee Ben Blain issued red cards to both players, although Sarto is likely to face a lengthy ban, potentially one similar to the 12-week ban Joe Marler received for grabbing the genitals of Alun Wyn Jones during this year's Six Nations.
Wales to learn 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage opponents
Al eyes will be on Paris on Monday morning (December 14) as the draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup takes place.
We will learn the make-up of the four pools, and head coaches will discover who they'll have to get past to make it to the knockout stages at the tournament in France in three years. The draw takes place at 11.30am UK time.
World Rugby decided that the seedings would be based on how the world rankings looked at the start of the year, when Wales were still reigning Six Nations Grand Slam champions and were ranked fourth in the world.
The rankings at the end of the autumn campaign were due to be housed to calculate the seedings, but this was changed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The changes means Wales are top seeds for the draw.
They have since slipped to ninth in the rankings and had the autumn campaign counted towards the seedings, they'd be in band three.
You can read more about how the Rugby World Cup draw works here, and follow live updates here.
Players have "less than 50:50 chance" of winning brain injury legal battle
Sports law experts believe the rugby players set to enter a lawsuit due to the brain injuries suffered during their careers have less than a 50:50 chance of succeeding.
Ex-Wales flanker Alix Popham and England's 2003 World Cup winner Steve Thompson are among those to open up on their struggles with early-onset dementia since retiring, and at least 10 stars of the game are now set to take action against World Rugby, the WRU and RFU.
However, two experts have told the Guardian a settlement would be the most likely outcome given the vast number of legal complexities which will be involved in any impending legal tussles.
Professor Jack Anderson, who serves as a mediator and arbitrator at the court of arbitration for sport, said the issues "related to breach of duty and causation; to statute of limitations and access to medical records; and even to applicable defences".
He added: "At the same time, having very popular former players up the steps of court, giving direct evidence about their medical status, is probably something that is in the best interest of the authorities to avoid. That is why a settlement makes sense for all sides."
He also said the players were "odds against" to win the case.
Irish sports barrister Tim O’Connor said there would be a significant debate about where responsibility lies while also stating "there is going to be an element of voluntary assumption of risk among the players".
Springboks star to be banned for four years
Aphiwe Dyantyi has been told he has lost his case against a four-year suspension for a doping offence, according to reports.
The winger - who was named 2018 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year - tested positive for multiple banned substances during a national training camp in 2019.
The 13-cap South Africa international missed out on a place at last year's Rugby World Cup in Japan as a result of the positive tests.
Despite maintaining his innocence throughout legal proceedings, reports state the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) have informed the player that his ban remains.
Khalid Galant, the player's spokesperson, confirmed Dyantyi is banned until August 12, 2023.
"The decision makes no sense," his agent Gert Van der Merwe told a local newspaper.
"My legal team and I plan on analysing the decision next week and we will decide whether to appeal.
"I can’t give any details, since the case has not yet been finalised. If it were up to me, we would definitely appeal. The problem is that there are costs associated with it.
"Aphiwe has not received a salary for the last 18 months (he is no longer contracted to the Lions) and we’re trying to see what we can do.
"I believe the decision is wrong. Aphiwe can’t believe it. We were starting to get ready to play again."
The man who epitomised Scarlets victory
Glenn Delaney believes Gareth Davies' display epitomised that of the Scarlets as they opened up their European Champions Cup campaign with a stunning 23-19 triumph over Bath.
The Welsh region came from 14-13 down to take the lead before a heroic rearguard effort late on ensured they claimed victory at The Rec on Saturday.
Wales international Davies scored one of his side's two tries on what was his 200th appearance for the Scarlets.
Boss Delaney could not hide his delight with the endeavour of his players, particularly that of Davies after his landmark outing.
"That match had something for everyone didn’t it?" said Delaney.
"We had a chance to score just before those final minutes and then the commitment and effort at the end was massive, we were under so so much pressure, that was about character.
"For me, it was epitomised by Gareth Davies, the boys wanted to play for him on his 200th and it was really special the way they finished it off to get the job done for him.
"Those final minutes were all about commitment and heart. There were bits about the defence in the first half I wasn’t so happy with, I was frustrated we weren’t as aggressive as we would have liked, but that character comes through in the big moments.
"These are big game players. We are learning as a group what it is like to be in this contest and that was a big European game for us."
