These are your rugby headlines on Saturday, October 12.
International arrest warrant issued for world star
An international arrest warrant has reportedly been issued for former Australian rugby star Rocky Elsom.
The 41-year-old former flanker has been found guilty of forgery, use of forgery and misuse of company property and sentenced to five years in prison, according to multiple reports in France, including AFP and sports daily L'Equipe. The alleged offenses relate to his time as chairman of RC Narbonne between 2015 and 2016, during which time the club fell into major financial difficulties, resulting in them being relegated to semi-professional status.
Elsom, who won 75 caps for the Wallabies and represented Leinster, Toulon and the Waratahs during his career, is said to have "completely disappeared" this week ahead of his trial at a Narbonne court. An international arrest warrant has now been issued against him.
According to a report from Midi Olympique, he is accused of embezzling almost €700,000 during his time at RCN for his own benefit and that of player friends. He was then said to have "completely disappeared" before this week and his trial at the Narbonne court.
Less than a week ago, Elsom gave an interview with the Times in which he revealed he had returned to Ireland and taken up a coaching role at the Catholic University School in Dublin.
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Wales have learned the identities of the officials who will take charge of their autumn tests against Fiji, Australia and South Africa next month.
Their opening match against the Fijians will be coached by France's Luc Ramos, while their third meeting of 2024 with the Wallabies will feature New Zealander James Doleman in the middle. Their clash with the Springboks, meanwhile, will be officiated by Karl Dickson.
Welsh referee Craig Evans is one of six officials appointed for two Test matches in the autumn, with the 32-year-old taking charge of Scotland against Fiji at Murrayfield and England's match with Japan at the Allianz Stadium. He will also referee the match between Bristol and Australia XV at Ashton Gate on Friday, November 8.
The Neath official will be busy as he will also serve as assistant referee for the Scotland-South Africa and Ireland-Argentina matches during the window. Elsewhere, Welsh referees Ben Whitehouse, Adam Jones and Tom Spurrier have also secured Television Match Official (TMO) duties during the autumn campaign.
WRU National Elite Performance Referee Ian Davies said: "Naturally I am delighted to see Craig Evans selected for a Tier 1 International, England v Japan and Scotland v Fiji.
"I have known Craig for a long time, and there are not many people who work as hard to succeed as Craig. He has had a difficult year on a personal level, and I know his late father Martyn will be watching over him. and prepare him further.
"Ben Whitehouse remains one of, if not one of, the best TMOs in the world. While it's always nice to see him recognized, the challenge for me is to convince those in power that he's just as capable with the whistle in his hand.
"On a personal level, I was delighted that Tom Spurrier was selected and included in World Rugby's plans," he added. "When I came into this role six months ago, I knew that no matter how good a referee Tom is, he would be a good referee. even better Television Match Official. Fortunately, Tom was willing to listen.
"To see him go from his URC debut in Round 18 last year to being recognized by World Rugby with someone with great potential is a testament to his composure and decisiveness when under pressure."
Wales stars return for Ospreys
Justin Tipuric is one of the big names returning to the Ospreys squad ahead of their clash with the Bulls on Saturday, with Gareth Thomas and Keiran Williams also back in the team.
Summer signing Kieran Hardy will also make his debut from the substitute bench alongside Will Greatbanks, while number eight Morgan Morse will make his 100th appearance for Toby Booth's side.
Toby Booth's side have won four of their last five matches against South African opponents in the URC, but the Bulls have come out on top in each of their last three matches against the Ospreys.
"When you play against South African teams, and I'm not going to generalize too much, you know that first and foremost you have a physical encounter coming your way," Booth said.
"You can't look too much past the physicality of the breakdown. We misunderstood that the last time we played them there and paid the price. I know we're ready, I know we're ready ." energetic, but you must have an end product. It will definitely be about the breakdown and the accuracy."
Ospreys: Max Nagy; Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Edwards, Ruben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (captain), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Lewis Jones, Will Greatbanks, Kieran Hardy, Luke Scully, Jack Walsh.
Four changes for Dragons
Wales pro Leon Brown returns to the Dragons' starting line-up as one of four substitutes ahead of their clash with the Lions on Sunday.
The 27-year-old was selected for last weekend's meeting with the Sharks but missed through illness, but is now in line to start in the front row alongside the returning Rodrigo Martinez. Harri Keddie returns in the back row, with Joe Westwood completing the changes as he starts in the centre.
Cameron Jones, on loan from the Ospreys following an injury crisis at Loosehead, starts on the bench. Dai Flanagan is without props Jordan Morris and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, while there are also injury concerns surrounding Rhodri Jones and Josh Reynolds.
The Dragons have not beaten a South African opponent since February 2020, when they won 13-10 against the Cheetahs, while the Lions have lost just two of their last 12 URC meetings with Welsh sides.
Head Coach Flanagan said: "The Lions are a very, very physical and strong team, you can see they are united and their coach Ivan van Rooyen has done a fantastic job. They are much more physical than the other South African teams - they want to take you to dark places and see if you can live with it.
"I enjoy watching them play because they pick up players you've never heard of and turn them into stars. I'm sure it has been really rewarding for them to see so many from the Lions go on to play for South Africa.
"We are back on Rodney Parade and hopefully we can continue to deliver as we have always done - get our processes right and get good results," he added. "There's nothing like playing in front of your own people and our attitude and how we stayed in contention last weekend was impressive. Now we have to build on that and get better."
Dragons: Angus O'Brien; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown, Ben Carter (captain), Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harri Keddie, Taine Basham.
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Cameron Jones, Chris Coleman, Ryan Woodman, Dan Lydiate, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Ewan Rosser.
