Here are your rugby headlines for Thursday, February 27.
Young star 'top of list' for Welsh regions
Wales under-20s star Sam Scott is at the "top of the list" for the WRU as they draw up plans to bring top talent back across the Severn Bridge.
That's according to the Daily Mail, who report that the Union are keen on implementing a long-term strategy which would see a number of their young prospects quit English clubs to come back to Wales.
READ MORE: Uncapped Welsh youngster trains with Wales under the radar
READ MORE: Tonight's rugby news as Wales shock predicted and Welsh starlet reveals why he said no to Gatland
Wales Under-20s pulled off a stunning win over their Irish counterparts last weekend, but nine of Richard Whiffin's matchday 23 are contracted to teams in England.
One of those is Scott, who has drawn huge praise following his man-of-the-match display against Ireland, with England prop and Bristol Bears clubmate Ellis Genge stating on X: "He’s a legend.
"Proper grounded young kid who knows the craic. [Wales] have got a good one there."
Exeter centre Joe Hawkins is also part of that plan, but he is already understood to be on the verge of signing for the Scarlets. The report adds that Wales have more than 90 Welsh-qualified players playing outside of Wales.
Tiatia hails 'awesome' re-signing
Dragons boss Filo Tiatia has hailed the "awesome" re-signing of back-row Harrison Keddie.
The 28-year-old is in his 10th season with the Rodney Parade outfit and has made 126 appearances for the club. The former Wales youth international has grown to become a vital player for the Gwent-based side and has been rewarded with a long-term deal.
Tiatia said of Keddie, who was captain between 2021 and 2023: “Harri is an awesome re-signing for us.
“He really captured my eye when I first came into the club during pre-season, and I’ve enjoyed working with him ever since.
“Harri is a man of few words, but when he does speak, he captures the room. He is incredibly valuable to us and hugely respected, someone who leads by his actions.
“He is currently working hard to get back from the niggly injury and we look forward to him being out on the field representing us.”
The former Wales under-20 international added: “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to continue to represent Dragons and am looking forward to staying at my home club for the next few years and what the future holds.
“I’m hoping to be back out on the pitch soon to repay the faith shown in me by the club.”
RFU ban player for nine matches for racist abuse
A rugby player from Hartpury College has been subjected to a nine-match suspension by the Rugby Football Union after directing racial abuse towards another player.
Joe Cooper, 20, was found guilty of "conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and the game" by an independent RFU disciplinary panel for targeting a University of Bristol athlete.
The judgement includes a nine-match ban, with three games suspended and mandates that Cooper partakes in an online programme called "Tackling Racism in Sport". The incident took place during a British Universities and Colleges Sport fixture in Bristol on 22 January.
They further stated: "We have remained in close communication with the University of Bristol throughout the disciplinary process and fully support the actions taken by the RFU, alongside our own internal disciplinary response."
Hartpury has reaffirmed its dedication to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment among its community, underscoring the importance of their values in every aspect of student life. .
A spokesperson from the University of Bristol stated: "We welcome the outcome of the disciplinary panel and would like to thank everyone involved for the robust and prompt way in which this has been dealt with.
"We have been supporting the affected student throughout this time."
England hit back at Baxter over Feyi-Waboso comments
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
England have rejected Exeter boss Rob Baxter's claim that Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's shoulder surgery was delayed because there were no Rugby Football Union medics on duty over Christmas.
Feyi-Waboso is in danger of missing the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia after only undergoing the operation last week, even though he had dislocated his shoulder in the Chiefs' fixture against Sale on December 21.
The 22-year-old wing is one of 17 players to have signed enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts, giving the RFU final say over medical matters under the terms of the new Professional Game Partnership (PGP).
Baxter stated that Feyi-Waboso had been booked in for surgery 10 days after the sustaining the injury but that there was no decision made on whether to proceed due to the absence of England medical staff over the festive period.
England head coach Steve Borthwick hit back on Wednesday night in an eruption of club v country hostilities.
"England medics in fact maintained regular communication with Exeter regarding Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, immediately after his injury, through the Christmas period and further into the new year," Borthwick said.
"As you would expect, this is all documented. It would therefore be unfair to question their work ethic, or the level of care provided to the player.
"We would have loved to have had Manny with us during the Six Nations and we're eager to see him back on the field as soon possible.
"Player welfare is our top priority. England have a world-class medical team that cares deeply about the players they look after."
Baxter is to hold talks with Borthwick and Conor O'Shea, the RFU's executive director of performance rugby, after the Six Nations in the hope of avoiding a similar scenario in the future.
"You don't need me to tell you that if someone gets injured before Christmas and has only had an operation now, something has gone wrong somewhere in the process," Baxter said.
"It's something we have to find a better way to do in the future. The frustration is that if things had moved more swiftly in the first 10 or 11 days - we had an operation booked for him about day 10, which would have made him fit now.
"My biggest frustration and England's was that it took a while for this process to get going because of the Christmas period. At that stage, England didn't really have any involvement.
"Initially there was not anyone available and that would be my argument - the first person who should see Manny is the RFU. That would be my interpretation of what the PGP means."
George Martin and Tom Willis remain doubts for England's round four fixture against Italy on Sunday week because of respective knee and concussion issues.
Tom Curry, Ollie Lawrence and Ben Earl have been omitted from Borthwick's 29-man squad for their training camp in York while they undergo modified training, but will be fit to take on the Azzurri.
