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The Welsh Rugby Union has responded to Anthony Buchanan’s comments(Image: Gruffydd Thomas\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\nThe latest rugby news stories from wales and beyondThe Welsh Rugby Union has responded to Anthony Buchanan’s comments(Image: Gruffydd Thomas\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n
Here are the latest rugby headlines on the evening of Thursday, December 18.<\/p>\n
WRU: ‘We are making positive changes’<\/p>\n
The Welsh Rugby Union has issued a statement in response to comments made by former Wales international Anthony Buchanan, who has quit the union’s council saying he has no confidence in the executive’s plan to cut to three regions.<\/a><\/p>\n WalesOnline reported news of Buchanan’s decision earlier this week<\/a>, with the man himself going on live radio on Thursday to explain the full reasons he could not continue. Buchanan said he was “heartbroken” Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan have quit Welsh rugby and hit out at the WRU’s current direction of travel.<\/p>\n “I haven’t taken this decision lightly,” he said. “I was hoping to use my experiences and knowledge of the game to perhaps influence the direction of travel. I feel very uncomfortable now. Rugby has been in the heart of Wales for many years, but It’s on the brink of losing our culture and identity.”<\/p>\n In response, the WRU said: “We are making positive changes to the structure of the professional game in Wales.<\/p>\n “We know this process will present challenges, but the Board has confidence in the decisions it has made and in our plans for the future. Our role is to implement a change for the good of the whole system in Wales for the long term and we remain dedicated to this aim.”<\/p>\n Farrell calls out rising English star in training<\/p>\n Owen Farrell delivered a timely reality check to one of Saracens\u2019 brightest young prospects after the former England captain pulled the winger aside during a first-team training session.Saracens legend Alex Goode has revealed how Farrell confronted teenage speedster Noah Calouri when the 19-year-old was left out of a matchday squad and appeared to be struggling with the disappointment.Speaking on the Stick to Rugby podcast, Goode recalled a \u201cstern\u201d exchange which he says proved a defining moment in Calouri\u2019s early professional career.\u201cHe\u2019s in training, moping around a bit like an 18-year-old probably does,\u201d Goode said of the wing who has since turned 19.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in a first-team session, but he\u2019s only been a professional player for a couple of months at that point, so he doesn\u2019t really know what it\u2019s like.\u201dFarrell, renowned for his uncompromising standards, quickly stepped in.\u201cOwen just goes to him and says, \u2018Are you injured?\u2019\u201d Goode explained. \u201cHe says he\u2019s got a bit of a sore calf. Owen asks again, \u2018Are you injured?\u2019 He says he\u2019s got a bit of a cold.\u201cOwen just says, \u2018Train properly. Just train properly. That\u2019s all we ask.\u2019 Just stern.\u201dAccording to Goode, the impact was immediate. \u201cHe trained the house down that day,\u201d he added.Calouri, a rapid and highly-rated wing who came through Saracens\u2019 academy system, was sent to Championship side Ampthill on loan to gain senior experience and responded emphatically.\u201cHe went to Ampthill that week, got man of the match, then got picked for Sarries again and scored five tries on his first start,\u201d Goode said.After a blistering start to the season, Caluori was called up to Steve Borthwick’s 36-man squad for the Autumn Nations Series, but didn’t earn his first Test cap, instead playing for the England A team.<\/p>\n Dragons signing leaves<\/p>\n Hooker Wills Austin has left the Dragons following the conclusion of his emergency loan move from Sale Sharks.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old made his first Dragons appearance in the narrow defeat at home to Leinster, while he marked his European debut against Perpignan with a brace of tries.<\/p>\n