Here are your evening rugby headlines for Thursday, December 5.
Gatland reveals why he's balancing British and Irish Lions role with Chiefs job
Warren Gatland is up and running in New Zealand - having held his first press conference since starting his new job with Super Rugby outfit Chiefs on Tuesday.
And the former Wales coach has revealed how he will manage his new job with the role of British and Irish Lions coach for the 2021 tour to South Africa - explaining that his sole focus will be in Waikato until next August.
"My whole focus now is completely 100 per cent on the Chiefs," he told Stuff .
He also revealed that the job juggling was necessary in order to land a job back in his homeland.
"But it's what I wanted to do... if I didn't take that now then I probably wouldn't have been here in two years. And when I was finished with the Lions if there wasn't a job in New Zealand then I'd probably be somewhere else in the world, whether the northern hemisphere or Japan or something like that.
"So the chance to come back and be close to family and friends was really important about the decision.
"And knowing my way round, being able to know where to drive to and from training makes a difference too, not having to learn the roads."
Wales international undergoes neck surgery
Wales international Scott Baldwin has undergone neck surgery.
The hooker, who joined Harlequins in the summer, is expected to be out until the new year following the procedure.
In an Instagram post, Baldwin wrote: Well it’s not the way I wanted to start my time in the quarters @harlequins but Barry the bulge has to come out! It’s time to start the road to recovery and aiming to be back out at the stoop in a few months after a successful op yesterday."
Rory Best reveals why he turned down surprise Bristol offer
Former Ireland captain Rory Best has revealed why he turned down a surprise contract offer from Bristol.
Best had announced his retirement from rugby after the World Cup, only for the Bears to offer him a short-term deal as injury cover.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph , Best said: “Immediately post the World Cup, you’re full of (thoughts like) ‘I feel alright, I feel like I could keep playing and I want to keep playing.
“There was nothing really, and then Bristol came in and it was almost like a bit of a snowball effect. There were a couple of other options after that.
“I think if I was ever going to go anywhere, Bristol would probably have been the one.
“I think in the end, I looked at it and went ‘the family are ready to have me home.’
“When you tell the young kids something, that’s it. It’s hard to change. They are kind of going ‘we want to be at home.”
Former Scarlets scrum-half on the move again
Former Scarlets scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne has linked up with his fourth club this year.
The Scotland international started 2019 with the Llanelli region after joining the Scarlets in the summer of 2018. However, when the move wasn't working out, he joined Harlequins in March on a loan deal.
Once the season was over, he decided to end his contract with the Scarlets by mutual agreement, leaving him free to join Racing 92 as World Cup cover.
And now, following injury to Jean-Marc Doussain, he has joined Top 14 leaders Lyon as a medical joker.
Regional player forced to retire at just 25
Dragons prop Jack Cosgrove has been forced into retirement at the age of 25 after suffering an injury to his left eye in training.
The former Scotland Under-20s loosehead only arrived at the region in the summer from Gallagher Premiership Worcester Warriors.
The Coventry-born front-rower was in his second spell at Sixways having also played for Doncaster Knights, Edinburgh and Bristol Bears.
The former Hartpury College student sustained a serious eye injury while training with the Dragons at Ystrad Mynach in October and following specialist treatment has hung up his boots on medical advice.
"Everyone at the Dragons wishes Jack every success in his future and he will continue to receive professional help and support from the region as he makes the transition from playing," said a statement from the region.
