Today's rugby news as new captain named with immediate effect after shock news and WRU deal reached
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, September 11.
Wales players reach WRU deal
Wales Women's captain Hannah Jones has revealed players have finally reached agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union over contracts after protracted negotiations.
Jones has led a group of players in talks with the WRU for several months amid contention over pay. She was among a number of senior players left out of last week's heavy 40-14 defeat to Scotland. More than 30 women's players have now been contracted by the WRU.
Jones told the BBC: “Fortunately we’ve come to the end. There has been a group of us leading forward the contracts.
“It’s important to get it right now so it’s right for the future and current players.
“We’re all happy with our contracts, so we can focus on the rugby moving forward, going into WXV and start building for that World Cup.”
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New Ospreys captain named
Jac Morgan has replaced Justin Tipuric as Ospreys captain with immediate effect.
Morgan takes on the role following the shock news Tipuric will retire at the end of the season to become the region's defence coach. That move is part of a wider re-shuffle in Swansea, with Mark Jones to become head coach and Toby Booth to leave after five years.
Morgan was Wales' co-captain at last year's Rugby World Cup and has been identified as someone who has similar leadership qualities to Tipuric. The veteran is said to have been the one who made the decision to relinquish the captaincy in his final season. Morgan is out of contract at the end of this campaign but the Ospreys are certain to offer him a new deal in the hope he commits his long term future to the region.
"Part of this whole thing is passing the baton on," said Booth. "We've got a lot of young leaders who can do that job. But you need a figurehead and a player that's going to represent the group and Jac is a person that does that.
"We know we have to cover him in international windows, but that's why it's a multi-leadership model that we try and promote."
Booth outlines Tipuric challenge
Booth has outlined the challenge Tipuric will face as he looks to transition from playing into coaching.
The 94 times capped Tipuric is one of the Ospreys' greatest ever players but the move into coaching will no doubt be a big change.
"You never know because coaching and playing are completely different and requires a different set of skills," said Booth when asked if he thought Tipuric would be a success as a coach.
"Coaches are often selfless and have to put the team first and Justin's attributes and personality reflect that. He will get the buy-in for who he is and what he has got.
"The challenge for any player that becomes a coach is with his idea, how to articulate them, his presentation skills, choosing the right club at the right time, those are the sort of things you have to learn.
"The only way you do that is by time in the saddle. He has experience around him and the head coach Mark who has that defensive emphasis will support him in that way.
"We are hopeful it won't all be dumped onto Justin as the defence coach. Modern coaching is about a team approach and hopefully he will be in an environment that will allow him to grow at the right tempo."
RFU make redundancies
The English Rugby Football Union is to make more than 40 staff redundant in a bid to stem "unsustainable" losses.
The significant job losses are part of a restructuring process that will put 64 roles at risk, with 22 new posts created.
The RFU said it would "protect headcount and investment" in the community game and also vowed the changes will not negatively impact the England's men's, women's or age-grade teams.
The union recently sold the naming rights to Twickenham to insurance giant Allianz in a deal believed to be worth about £100m over 10 years.
However, its most recent financial report forecast an ongoing operating deficit of £5m which it described as "unsustainable in the long term".