Premiership
Williams Leaves Saracens Earlier than Expected
Wales full-back Liam Williams will depart the Saracens set-up earlier than first thought it has been confirmed
Wales full-back Liam Williams will leave Saracens and rejoin the Scarlets with immediate effect it has been announced.
The 28-year-old has been on the books at Sarries for the past two and a half years but it was confirmed in December that he would leave the club at the end of the season to link-up with his former employers as Saracens attempt to trip their wage bill following their breach of the salary cap rules.
However, it has now been confirmed that Williams will join Scarlets straight after the conclusion of the Six Nations, where he is currently training with Wales.
Speaking on the move the back-liner admitted he is looking forward to a return to the PRO14 club.
“I’m really excited about returning to the Scarlets and would like to thank everyone involved for their support in making it happen. I’ve had a fantastic few years at Saracens and will take some very happy memories away with me. I’ve been working hard on my recovery and can’t wait to get back on the pitch,” he said.
Williams has been out of action since October when he picked up an injury at the Rugby World Cup and is yet to feature for Wales in this year’s Six Nations, but it is hoped a return to play is near.
Scarlets head coach Brad Mooar is delighted to have a player of Williams’ quality come in to his squad.
“Liam is a world-class player and man, a huge favourite at Parc y Scarlets and we are thrilled to welcome Liam and Sophie back to the Scarlets. To have Liam joining our exciting group of outside backs this season is superb. I’m also thrilled for Liam that his rehab is almost complete. Obviously, his immediate availability for us will depend on how Wayne wants to play it during the Six Nations and we look forward to seeing Liam back at Parc y Scarlets in due course,” he said.
During his time at Allianz Park Williams picked up two Premiership titles and a Champions Cup medal to add to his Grand Slam with Wales last year.
His return to the Scarlets is a massive boost as he is one of the best players on the planet when fully fit and will add huge experience and quality to their team as they look to the future.
Gloucester Rugby can regrettably confirm that Albert Tuisue, Val Rapava-Ruskin and Giorgi Kveseladze have all suffered season-ending injuries.
Albert Tuisue sustained a significant hamstring injury in the Cherry & Whites game against Leicester Tigers on Sunday 12 March, whilst Giorgi Kveseladze suffered a similar injury on international duty with Georgia.
In-form prop, Val Rapava-Ruskin, will undergo surgery following a knee injury.
Chief Operating Officer, Alex Brown, spoke of his disappointment to lose more key players.
“We’ve been hugely unfortunate this season with the injuries we’ve sustained and losing three more players in such a short space of time is another significant blow to the squad.
“Albert, Val and Giorgi have all played key parts in our season and they’re equally disappointed to be ruled out for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.
“They’ve all already started their respective returns with our on-site medical team, and we’re wishing them all a speedy recovery.”
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George Ford and Raffi Quirke return to the Sharks starting XV while Dan du Preez is named as a replacement after missing the last ten matches, as Alex Sanderson makes two changes to his side to face in-form London Irish at the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday (KO 1pm, live on PRTV).
Ford’s return from England duty means Rob du Preez shifts to outside centre while Quirke replaces Gus Warr, who had started the last ten Premiership games.
After beating Saracens in front of a full house at the AJ Bell Stadium, the Sharks Director of Rugby has picked an unchanged pack for the crucial clash with Declan Kidney’s men.
That means Bevan Rodd and Coenie Oosthuizen will line up either side of Ewan Ashman once again in the front-row.
Cobus Wiese and Jonny Hill continue their formidable partnership in the second-row and with Ben Curry still on England duty, in-form Sam Dugdale retains his starting spot at openside flanker alongside Jono Ross and Jean-Luc du Preez.
It’s all change at half-back with Ford returning from England duty to partner scrum-half Quirke.
Ryan Mills retains his starting spot at 12 and he’ll partner Rob du Preez in the centres.
And in an unchanged back three, Tom Roebuck will line up alongside Tom O’Flaherty and Joe Carpenter, who made six line breaks against Sarries. That was the most by a single player in a Premiership match this season and the most by a Sharks player since Opta began recording stats in 2008.
Tommy Taylor, Nick Schonert and Simon McIntyre make up the front row replacements, while Dan du Preez and Josh Beaumont cover the rest of the forwards.
Luke James, Warr and Arron Reed are the backs replacements.
Speaking ahead of the game, Alex said he’s expecting another big test against London Irish after last week’s nailbiter against his former club.
He said: “Irish are just a really good team. They’ve won five of their last six and they probably should have won the other one too. They’re dangerous when teams get loose and ragged in terms of their defensive shape.
“We’ll have to work hard in defence so we don’t give them anything in the wide channels.”
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Ryan Mills, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Jono Ross ©, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Tommy Taylor, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Nick Schonert, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Dan du Preez, 21. Gus Warr, 22. Luke James, 23. Arron Reed.
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Gloucester Rugby return to action with an away clash against Newcastle Falcons tomorrow evening.
George Skivington has been boosted by the return of his international contingent, as the Cherry & Whites look to bounce back from defeat to Leicester Tigers last time out.
Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit returns to the side after featuring for Wales in the last three rounds of the Guinness Six Nations.
Rees-Zammit joins Ollie Thorley, who penned a fresh deal at Kingsholm last week, and Lloyd Evans in the back three.
Former Falcon, Chris Harris, partners Seb Atkinson in midfield.
Stephen Varney has also been on international duty, he played all-bar-one of Italy’s Six Nations fixtures. He starts inside Santi Carreras in the half-backs.
There is just one singular change in the pack from the fixture against Leicester two weeks ago.
Harry Elrington replaces Val Rapava-Ruskin at loosehead, joining Seb Blake and Kirill Gotovtsev in the front row, with Freddie Clarke and Matias Alemanno slotting in behind them in the second row.
Jordy Reid, Ruan Ackermann and captain Lewis Ludlow form the back row once more.
Argentinian international, Mayco Vivas, is set for his Cherry & Whites debut from the bench.
Vivas joins Henry Walker, Jamal Ford-Robsinon, Cam Jordan and Jack Clement as cover for the forward positions, with Charlie Chapman, Billy Twelvetrees and Tom Seabrook in reserve for the backs.
The match kicks off at 7.45pm at Kingston Park and will be broadcast live on BT Sport.
Gloucester Rugby |
Starting XV
15. Lloyd Evans*
14. Louis Rees-Zammit*
13. Chris Harris
12. Seb Atkinson
11. Ollie Thorley*
10. Santi Carreras
9. Stephen Varney*
1. Harry Elrington
2. Seb Blake*
3. Kirill Gotovtsev
4. Freddie Clarke*
5. Matias Alemanno
6. Jordy Reid
7. Lewis Ludlow (c)*
8. Ruan Ackermann
Replacements
16. Henry Walker*
17. Mayco Vivas
18. Jamal Ford-Robinson
19. Cam Jordan*
20. Jack Clement*
21. Charlie Chapman*
22. Billy Twelvetrees
23. Tom Seabrook*
*Denotes academy graduate.
Content & Images from – Gloucester Rugby
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