Wales loosehead prop Rhys Carre has been linked with a move from Saracens to Gallagher Premiership rivals Bath, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Carre linked with Bath switch
The Rec club are currently in the market for a prop, with Beno Obano having signed a two-year deal with French outfit Pau for next season. The Daily Mail report that Carre is the front-runner for the move.
The 28-year-old reportedly has a break clause in his contract with Saracens. A move to Bath would allow him to be closer to his family in Cardiff. Carre joined Saracens for the second time two years ago, going on to earn a Test recall last year.
Wallabies prop Angus Bell has also been mentioned as an option for Premiership clubs.
Referees named for autumn
Wales have learned who will take charge of their Nations Championship matches next month. New Zealand's Paul Williams will referee their opening match against Japan on November 7, with England's Christophe Ridley and fellow Kiwi Angus Mabey as his assistants.
France's Pierre Brousset will then look after Wales' match against the All Blacks, with Australian Nic Berry and French official Luc Ramos supporting him. There's another Frenchman in charge for Wales' third match against Australia, with Luc Ramos as the man in the middle, and Englishman Karl Dickson and France's Jeremy Rozier as assistants.
The only Welsh officials involved are assistant referee Craig Evans and TMO Aled Griffiths, who have been allocated Japan's matches against England and Scotland.
Steve Tandy recently added former Test referee Ben Whitehouse to his coaching staff, having worked with the official over the last year to improve his side's discipline. "He's added loads of value," said Tandy. "Our discipline in that first campaign was nowhere near where it needed to be, as well as probably the first round of the Six Nations, but then there's been a massive uptick."
"We've got to be even more consistent. I think there's lots about on-field, but how you upskill yourself off the field as well, whether it be how you communicate to referees, how to interpret certain laws, what are the things that are in vogue with World Rugby now, and how can you squeeze anything more out of anything to accelerate us faster."
Cardiff make changes after five-day turnaround
Cardiff have made 11 changes from their Champions Cup defeat to Northampton Saints, as they take on the Sharks at the Arms Park on Friday. Following a five-day turnaround that saw the Blue and Blacks forced to rotate heavily for their return to Europe's top tier, Corniel van Zyl welcomes back a number of frontline stars.
Wales squad members Liam Belcher, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, James Botham, Taine Basham and Josh Adams all start. Full-back Cam Winnett is back from injury, as is former Wallabies prop and current Samoa international Scott Sio.
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Le Roux Malan, Steff Emanuel, Harri Millard, Jarrod Evans, Johan Mulder; Scott Sio, Liam Belcher (capt), Javan Sebastian, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, James Botham, Taine Basham. Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Keiron Assiratti, Tom Manz, Semisi Paea, Aled Davies, Callum Sheedy, Tom Bowen.
Wales duo start in South Africa
Wales internationals Taine Plumtree and Joe Hawkins start for the Scarlets in Cape Town on Saturday, just days after being named in Steve Tandy's squad. The west Walians take on the Stormers on Saturday, with Plumtree and Hawkins the only two of the Scarlets' Welsh contingent to travel to South Africa.
Blair Murray, Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Sam Costelow and Ryan Elias have stayed at home ahead of joining Wales camp next week. Plumtree makes his first start of the season after shoulder surgery in the summer.
Teenage fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones makes his first appearance of the season, starting opposite Springboks star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Uncapped wing Macs Page starts for the fifth straight time, having missed out on the Wales squad. New signing Isaac Murray-Macgregor, a Welsh-qualified back from New Zealand, could make his debut as a replacement.
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Ioan Jones, Joe Roberts, Joe Hawkins, Macs Page; Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, John McKee, Harri O'Connor, Alex Groves, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (capt), Fletcher Anderson. Replacements: George Roberts, Sam O'Connor, Gabe Hawley, Harvey Cuckson, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Gareth Anscombe, Isaac Murray-Macgregor.
