These are your rugby headlines on Monday, March 3.
Four Wales stars 'on the plane' for Lions
England internationals Dan Cole and Ben Youngs believe four Wales stars are deserving of a chance to go on this year's British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Given Wales' dismal run of 15 successive Test losses, it has long been suggested that Wales will struggle for representatives Down Under this summer, with Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams seen by many as the only two likely candidates after impressing so far this season.
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Discussing who they would pick in their Lions squad right now " target="_blank" class="link"> on their For The Love Of Rugby podcast, Cole and Youngs threw Morgan and Williams straight into the mix, judging both to be "on the plane" for Andy Farrell's side.
However, the English duo also believe two other Welshmen deserve to make the cut, with the "outstanding" Nicky Smith and the experienced Taulupe Faletau also earning a spot in their 41-man squad.
"Smith has come off the bench in the first two [Six Nations] games and he scrummaged really well," said Cole. "He started against Ireland at the weekend and won scrum penalties, so he's probably accelerated into that spot."
"Faletau's got the experience and has gone on Lions tours and knows that stuff," he added, while Youngs agreed and said: "He could play six or eight, I thought he was really impressive against Ireland. A fully firing Faletau is one hell of a player."
While hooker Dewi Lake was not included in their final squad, Cole admitted he could "skip ahead of everyone" if he impresses on his return from injury, having been called up into the Wales squad last week.
Tommy Reffell and Aaron Wainwright were seen as making it to "the departure lounge" but both narrowly missed out on the final squad, while six more Welsh players - WillGriff John, Will Rowlands, Nick Tompkins, Max Llewellyn, Liam Williams and Josh Adams - were seen as outside bets who Cole and Youngs dubbed as being "stuck at security".
Welsh coach set to bow out in style
Sean Lynn will be looking for a glorious farewell from Gloucester-Hartpury after his side made it through to another Premiership Women's Rugby final.
The Swansea-born coach will start his new job as Wales Women's new head coach ahead of the Women's Six Nations kicking off on March 22, but will bow out from the role he has held with Gloucester-Hartpury since 2019 just six days before.
Having transformed the club's fortunes over the last five years, he is now hoping to lead his side to a third successive league title win after they defeated Bristol Bears 36-20 in Sunday's semi-final.
In what proved to be US superstar Ilona Maher's final game for the Bears, Gloucester-Hartpury spoilt the party with tries from Zoe Aldcroft, Emma Sing, El Perry, Sarah Beckett and Wales captain Hannah Jones helping them to a 36-20 victory.
They will now face Saracens in the final at the StoneX Stadium on 16 March, in what is set to be an emotional occasion for Lynn and his players. The reigning champions will go into the final as slight favourites having finished top of the table, six points ahead of Sarries in second.
"That game was an outstanding advert for women's rugby," Lynn told BBC Radio Gloucestershire after Sunday's semi-final. "You had it all - ball in play, the physicality, the territorial, the tactical game, it was outstanding and I'm hoping that we keep people coming to watch these games."
Wales and Gloucester-Hartpury back row Bethan Lewis added: "We want to play for Lynny especially knowing two weeks' time will be his last game for us. That's the difference on the field, we put our bodies on the line for someone like Lynny who's brought in that family feeling."
Clubs pull out of top competition
Championship clubs have withdrawn from the Premiership Rugby Cup in protest at not being made equal partners in the competition, according to reports.
The Times reports that those sides won't participate in the development competition from next season, having decided at a recent Professional Rugby Board (PRB) meeting to leave and set up their own cup competition after being told they would not be granted partner status.
The publication also reports that the move suits the Premiership clubs, who "hardly fought" to persuade those departing clubs to stay in the competition, which they have played in for the last three years.
As a result of the reported withdrawals, next season’s competition is set to feature two five-team groups, guaranteeing each side four home fixtures.
The Times' report also claims that the Premiership "is moving towards becoming a stand-alone franchise competition" and "unofficially... already is", with only promotion and relegation keeping it connected to the rest of the English rugby pyramid.
The reported exits come after Championship side Ealing Trailfinders beat Northampton Saints at the weekend to reach the semi-finals of the cup for the second consecutive season. They will now face Exeter Chiefs in the final four and, if they progress, would play either Newcastle Falcons or Bath.
Following the game, Ealing wing Tom Collins said: "We want to prove a point. We want to prove we can play at this level and if we ever get an opportunity to go up in the next year or so then this can sow the seed.
“I can’t wait [for the semi-final]. We have so many young lads who want to prove themselves. The only way to do that is by winning knockout games in this competition."
