Here are the latest rugby headlines for Wednesday, May 17:
Wales international signs new contract after year of hell
Samson Lee has signed a new contract with the Scarlets. The 30-year-old tighthead has been at the Welsh region for 11 years and recently made his comeback from a serious Achilles injury which had kept him out for over a year, making a return with a 40-minute cameo for Llandovery in the Indigo Premiership.
Lee, who has played 164 matches for the Scarlets and won 45 caps for Wales, is now set to compete with fellow Wales international Sam Wainwright and Harri O’Connor for the No.3 jersey at Parc Y Scarlets next season. While he knows he won't represent Wales at this year's World Cup, the front row insists he has "a lot to offer" his club and country as he put pen to paper to sign the new deal.
“It has been a challenging period for me, lots of ups and downs getting back to full fitness, so it was great to finally get out there for those 40 minutes for Llandovery a couple of weeks ago. Scarlets is my home club, I came through the Academy here and have some fantastic memories in the jersey. I’m grateful for the faith the club has shown in me, I’m only 30 and feel I still have a lot to offer.
“There is a big summer ahead now, working hard towards the new season, individually and as a squad to build on what we have achieved over the last couple of months," he added. With a lot of young players having put their hands up this season, it is an exciting time to be involved.”
Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said it was "fantastic" to see Lee return from his career-threatening injury, adding: "He is someone who has put in a huge amount of work to get back to fitness. Sams is an experienced international, which is invaluable in helping bring through the crop of young front-rowers we have at the club.
"He is also a player who has proven himself against the best in the game and at 30, there is a lot more to come from him. We are delighted he has agreed a new deal.”
World Rugby member nation suspended
Sri Lanka have been suspended from World Rugby membership with immediate effect over concerns were raised over how the union was governed, as well as an alleged breach of the governing body's bye-laws on political interference.
The suspension comes less than a year after the national team, ranked 46th in the world ahead of Mexico, Singapore and the UAE, competed in the 7s competition at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. That tournament saw them score a memorable try against the All Blacks in a 63-5 defeat.
A statement from World Rugby on Wednesday read: "In response to concerns about the governance of Sri Lanka Rugby and a breach of the World Rugby Bye-Laws relating to political interference, the World Rugby Council has suspended Sri Lanka Rugby from World Rugby membership with immediate effect.
"The World Rugby Council and Asia Rugby agreed that the international federation and regional association would work together with all stakeholders to ensure the least possible disruption of rugby in Sri Lanka.
"The immediate priority is to work with all of the relevant stakeholders to resolve the governance issues. A resolution of these issues will enable Sri Lankan athletes and officials to participate in upcoming matches and tournaments in Asia. World Rugby and Asia Rugby will urgently work with all stakeholders to put in place a programme of meetings to be held in Sri Lanka to hopefully resolve the current impasse".
Team full of Welsh rugby exiles 'should get English Premiership chance'
The coach of Jersey Reds has argued that his side should be allowed to compete in the English Premiership after their historic Championship title win. The Channel Islanders, featuring several exiles from Welsh rugby, beat hot favourites Ealing Trailfinders to top the table earlier this month, clinching the league with an emphatic 43-15 win against Ampthill.
But despite becoming second tier champions for a second time, neither they or second-placed Ealing will be allowed to compete in the top flight next season as their grounds do not meet the minimum Premiership standards. Jersey's stadium in St Peter does not have the capacity for 10,000 fans, equivalent to around 10 percent of the island's population, with this figure required for entry to the league.
Despite this, boss Harvey Biljon has argued that his side should be allowed to test themselves in the top league, having "done everything right" throughout the season which has seen them move out of the Championship after 11 years.
"We may not be 100% ready, but you've got to give us the opportunity to step up and grow our own game," he told BBC Radio Jersey. "The most growth comes when you're right up against it, and I think if you give us that opportunity to make the step up don't be surprised, a lot of the Championship teams will embrace that and go with it."
He added: "We've done everything right haven't we? We've won the games, I think we deserve it. We've stayed in the green around the finances and we've worked within our Championship budgets and when you get everything right it's a tough thing not to get that opportunity to step up."
Qatar could host Rugby League World Cup
Qatar is one of a handful of countries that have expressed interest in hosting the Rugby League World Cup in 2005. The tournament was set to be held in France but those plans collapsed after the French government warned it was not financially viable and organisers pulled out.
With plans up in the air, Qatar, along with Fiji, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, have all emerged as contenders to host the tournament. The Gulf nation - which has never played an international rugby league match but hosted last year's football World Cup - has reportedly made "a couple of approaches" about staging the event.
Currently, the preferred option is for New Zealand and Australia to co-host the tournament, although all possibilities, including cancelling or pushing it back a year, are being considered. A government-backed bid from Fiji as well as an approach from South Africa have also been received.
Troy Grant of the International Rugby League (IRL) said no assessments had yet been made about the viability of these approaches, but added that it was a "comfort" to know there was still the possibility that the tournament could go ahead as planned.
"We're only 24 hours into this," he said when questioned about the potential bids. "I'm just being honest and open about who has reached out to us."
"We've done no due diligence at this stage on any of those expressions of interes. It gives me comfort that there is interest in our sport, our tournament, our World Cup. That's a positive. How real or viable any or all of those options are... we've yet to make those assessments."
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