Wales' Six Nations clash with England will go ahead this weekend after strike action was avoided following crunch talks on Wednesday.
Professional Rugby Board (PRB) chair Malcolm Wall confirmed an agreement had been reached with Welsh Rugby Players' Association (WRPA) chief executive officer Gareth Lewis over a series of key issues that had led to a realistic threat of the fixture not taking place.
The settlement of a significant contract dispute came after the PRB agreed a reduction to the 60-cap rule that governs international selection and revised the fixed-and-variable contract offer for players.
Only 25 international caps will be required for players before being able to play freely outside of Wales, and still be available for the national side, while Lewis will attend all PRB meetings.
A new contract agreement, under the newly proposed new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA), will contain a fixed-only option, as well as a fixed-variable deal that Wales' professional sides will work under.
"We have listened to our players and have been able to resolve the three issues presented, quickly and efficiently," said Wall after the announcement.
"The six-year framework we have agreed has always had the players' best interests at heart and we have been happy to allay their understandable concerns with the adjustments described.
"Negotiations at PRB will continue in earnest as we seek to sign our new six-year PRA as soon as possible and we continue to be grateful to our professional players for their understanding and patience at this most critical time for the game in Wales."
Warren Gatland delayed his squad announcement on Tuesday amid ongoing discussions, with Wales players reportedly keen to have matters sorted by the following day.
Those plans came to fruition after negotiations between the four Wales professional sides and WRPA representatives at Principality Stadium, and a further meeting among international and club players.
"I'm grateful to PRB members for the meaningful consultation that has taken place over the past days and weeks and for the compromises they have made in getting to this point," said WRPA's Lewis.
"The impasse that was reached this week is of course regrettable for all parties but, having now been granted a place within PRB, the players' voices can now be heard which will avoid any repeat of situations like this in the future.
"The players are now keen to put this matter behind them and concentrate on preparations for one of the biggest matches in the international sporting calendar in Cardiff on Saturday."
Welsh Rugby Union interim chief executive officer Nigel Walker added: "The PRB has been agile and receptive to the players' requests and the players have, equally, been responsible and reasonable in their dealings with the PRB which is a credit to all parties.
"We will all now put this matter behind us and I know the nation will also unite as one behind the team when they face England.
"The game is on and, whilst there is still some detail to discuss and some fine tuning to be done in our negotiations at PRB, this is undoubtedly been a linchpin moment from which we can build."
Wales are bottom of the table after losing to Ireland and Scotland at the start of Gatland's second spell as head coach.
Romelu Lukaku was decisive off the bench with a late winner as Inter scraped a 1-0 victory over Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at San Siro.
Simone Inzaghi's men appeared to be heading for a disappointing goalless draw that would have arguably put Porto in the driving seat for the second leg, but Lukaku came to Inter's rescue.
The Nerazzurri had been wasteful during a tense first half, with Lautaro Martinez spurning a great opportunity and Alessandro Bastoni forcing Diogo Costa into a brilliant save.
They then struggled to make the most of their dominance in the second half, but shortly after Porto midfielder Otavio was sent off, Lukaku turned home to score for the second time in less than a week.
Manchester City failed to capitalise on their early dominance as Josko Gvardiol salvaged a 1-1 home draw for RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16.
Pep Guardiola's side piled the pressure on in the first half of the first leg at Red Bull Arena and Riyad Mahrez fired City into a deserved 27th-minute lead on Wednesday.
But City's control wavered in the second period as substitute Benjamin Henrichs missed two great chances before Gvardiol earned a share of the spoils with a thumping header after 70 minutes.
Guardiola will be left rueing what could have been after an impressive display in the opening half, leaving it all to play for in the March 14 return leg at Etihad Stadium.
City monopolised possession in the opening stages but created little without absent chief creator Kevin De Bruyne, who missed the Germany trip through illness.
That pressure soon told, though, as Ilkay Gundogan punished a wayward Xaver Schlager pass to find Mahrez, who arrowed into the bottom-right corner from outside the area.
Rodri headed narrowly wide and Jack Grealish blazed over as City threatened to further their advantage, with Leipzig fortunate to go in at half-time just a goal down.
Henrichs should have levelled after the interval, first wastefully heading over before dragging a glorious opportunity wide to the right of Ederson, who denied a fizzing Dominik Szoboszlai strike soon after.
The much-improved Leipzig grabbed a deserved equaliser from Marcel Halstenberg's resulting corner as Gvardiol powered home, with City's appeals for a foul falling on deaf ears.
Janis Blaswich then denied a whipped Gundogan effort destined for the bottom-right corner, ensuring it remains all to play for in the return leg in England.
Massimiliano Allegri explained injuries were to be expected for Federico Chiesa this season and the issue that will keep him out this week is "nothing serious".
Chiesa will not play for Juventus against Nantes in the second leg of their Europa League knockout round play-off.
His absence is a blow having impressed in a first leg the Bianconeri dominated before drawing 1-1 in Turin.
Any lay-off for Chiesa is likely to cause concern given he missed almost a year with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
However, Allegri was able to reassure Juve supporters ahead of the match at Stade de la Beaujoire, suggesting such setbacks were natural after a major injury.
"Unfortunately, tomorrow we don't have him, but we knew this," Allegri said.
"When a player is 10 months without playing, he comes back and when he makes two games in a row, some issues can occur that are nothing serious but affect the possibility of having him available."
Juve would have hoped not to be playing in the Europa League, but Allegri still sees an opportunity to take a rare step.
In each of the previous three campaigns, the Serie A giants were beaten in their first knockout tie in the Champions League, meaning they are looking to end a long wait for a two-legged triumph.
"This year Juventus has an important goal," Allegri said. "It is to pass the first qualifying round, even if these are the 'sixteenth-finals', given that in the last three years we have always gone out in the first knockout round in the Champions League.
"Tomorrow is a final, a unique game, since away goals no longer count double. We know that tomorrow we play a game at [Nantes'] home, and we play for the passage through this round."
Xavi believes Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Al Thani would be "a good fit" as Manchester United owner.
Al Thani fronted one of two public bids for United ahead of last week's 'soft' deadline.
Relatively little is known of the Qatari banker, who hopes to purchase 100 per cent of the club after the Glazer family put their stake up for sale.
But Xavi, the Barcelona coach facing United this week, spent two and a half years coaching Al Sadd in Qatar.
The 43-year-old was also previously a player at Al Sadd and is familiar with Al Thani, he said on Wednesday.
"He is a responsible, serious person, a good fit for United," Xavi said. "I worked in Qatar for six years and I know the sheikh."
Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS has launched a rival bid to that led by Al Thani, planning an offer only for the Glazers' stake.
Xavi challenged Barcelona to match "the best [Manchester] United in recent years" on Thursday and show they too are ready to be contenders again.
Barca and United, who drew 2-2 at Camp Nou in last week's first leg, are two of Europe's biggest clubs but are meeting in a Europa League knockout round play-off.
For both, however, there is optimism they may be able to return to former glories in the near future.
United will follow up the match at Old Trafford by playing for their first trophy in six years in the EFL Cup final, while a Premier League title may also yet be within reach.
Barca are eight points clear at the top of LaLiga, meanwhile, but coach Xavi believes their display at United will go a long way to proving their credentials.
"First of all, it's a very difficult match," he said. "At the moment, Manchester United is one of the best teams in Europe, the best United in recent years, and they're showing it.
"It's a good job by [Erik] Ten Hag. They have mentality, rhythm, passion, they showed it at Camp Nou, and we have to match them.
"We have to have personality and a lot of intensity, as well as the mentality of beating a big team in Europe. It's the perfect scene.
"United can say that they are back, but it is the stage to show that Barca can also compete.
"We'll see tomorrow if we've changed [since exiting the Champions League]. We'll see if we're up to the Europa League; we weren't [up to it] in the Champions League.
"We competed very well at home, but we cannot say that we are back, not at the moment. Tomorrow is an opportunity to do it."
Jules Kounde also appeared before the media and was asked if Barca, who lost three Champions League group games but have been beaten only once in LaLiga, feel more pressure playing in Europe.
"Yes," he replied, "but we all like it. It's positive pressure, everyone likes it. I have a lot of confidence in the team."
Xavi is prepared to take on that burden, adding: "I tell them the pressure is for me as a coach.
"I would give anything to play this game. Everyone would want to play in this environment. But I tell them to be calm and control their emotions."
Conor Benn will be reinstated to the WBC rankings after the organisation accepted his explanation that "highly-elevated" egg consumption could have been behind his failed drugs test.
The Briton was due to fight Chris Eurbank Jr in a high-profile contest last October, only for the bout to be pulled at short notice after he tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene.
A fight between the two was prohibited by the British Boxing Board of Control and eventually cancelled by promoters, with Benn subsequently struck from the WBC rankings.
But following an appeal, the WBC confirmed he would be reinstated on Wednesday after they did not find enough data to further support his suspension.
"The WBC found that there was no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of clomiphene," said an official statement.
"[In addition,] there were no failures in the procedures related to sample collection, sample analysis, or violations of Mr. Benn’s B Sample rights that would justify questioning or invalidating the adverse finding.
"[Furthermore,] Mr. Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding."
Though Benn will return to the WBC rankings, he remains under investigation by the BBFoC and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and therefore is not licensed to box in the UK while those processes are ongoing.
However, he could now seek another country and a different jurisdiction in which to fight if he so chooses.
Eubank Jr suffered a third career loss last month in Manchester against Liam Smith, following the cancellation of his match with Benn.
Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka fought back from a set down to end the title defence of Jelena Ostapenko at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Sabalenka, playing in her first event since claiming a maiden grand slam title in Melbourne, recovered from falling behind in style to win 2-6 6-1 6-1 on Wednesday.
Ostapenko won the tournament last year and looked to be in with a chance of extending her winning streak in Dubai to seven matches.
But Sabalenka launched a strong recovery to reach the quarter-finals and extend a stunning run to start the season to 13 consecutive wins.
The second seed tightened up her game in the second and third sets and will face either Petra Kvitova or Barbora Krejcikova in the last eight.
Sabalenka had been broken three times by Ostapenko in the opening set, but she only had to fend off one break point from there.
"In the first set, she played unbelievable tennis and I couldn't do anything," Sabalenka said.
"I was looking at my team asking like, 'What can I do?', but somehow, I turned around this game and started playing really incredible tennis.
"She plays really fast, deep balls, and I tried to stay super low, stay focused, and try to put more balls in than she did. I'm so happy that I did it."
A lower back injury for Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina robbed supporters of what had looked like being a thrilling matchup against Coco Gauff.
The withdrawal of Rybakina meant Gauff progressed via a walkover and will face fellow American Madison Keys next.
Keys and Gauff have played twice before, winning one match apiece.
It was Gauff who won their most recent encounter in the third round of the US Open last year.
Top seed Iga Swiatek had earlier booked her place in the last eight, with the Pole's latest dominant showing in Dubai earning praise on social media from Andy Murray.
And news followed that Karolina Pliskova, her semi-final opponent, had been forced to withdraw.
Swiatek benefited from a walkover in the quarter-finals en route to winning the Qatar Open last week and is now only two wins away from another title.
Tom Curry will not return before the end of the Six Nations due to another hamstring injury.
Curry had been in line to return for England against Wales this week after missing time with a tear to his right hamstring.
But after making his comeback for Sale Sharks on Saturday, he injured the same muscle in his left leg.
On Tuesday, England confirmed Curry would be replaced in the squad by brother Ben.
An update followed from Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson, who ruled the back rower out for the remainder of the tournament.
"It's a grade 2c hamstring injury on the opposite side to the one that he did six weeks ago," Sanderson said.
"It's a soft muscle injury that extends into the tendon. It's four to six weeks."
Sanderson explained the injury had been sustained after linking up with England this week rather than in the club match against Northampton Saints.
He attributed the setback to "something to do with the loading and the physical demands of an international camp compared to your club".
Defending the decision to involve Curry against Northampton, Sanderson said: "Tom knows his body and his mind better.
"This is not a guy who needs two or three games to warm up. He can just go straight in and be at the top of his game."
Ireland second row James Ryan will captain the side in the absence of Johnny Sexton when they face Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday.
Andy Farrell's team head to Rome looking to preserve their perfect start to this year's championship, having so far picked up wins over Wales and France.
Fly-half and regular skipper Sexton suffered a groin injury against Les Bleus in week two however and has been ruled out of the trip to Stadio Olimpico.
In his place, Leinster forward Ryan will take charge for the visitors, with the 26-year-old acknowledging he must live up to the responsibility.
"It's obviously a huge honour," he said. "It’s very cool. It’s a great moment for me and my family to captain my country this week. It still hasn’t sunk in.
"We've got a good group, a core leadership group that has been there for the last couple of years. I have big shoes to fill.
"Being named captain is a huge honour, but I've still got to bring the best version of myself."
Ireland are favourites to take the championship crown after defeating France last time out, with the world number one side looking to push on in a World Cup year.
A much-improved Italy are still winless in 2023, but Ryan expects a sterner test than in encounters gone by from the Azzurri.
"They are at home, so they will play with plenty of emotion," he added.
"They are obviously an improved team, particularly in attack. They seem to be playing with a lot of ambition.
"They've got some genuinely world-class players there. They are a very dangerous side with ball in hand. They are also strong up front.
"We saw them drive the England pack back a few times, which is no easy task. I think it will be a big challenge for us."
Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has been sidelined for an unspecified period with a thigh injury ahead of this weekend's derby with Real Madrid.
The Argentina international, who started his side's LaLiga victory over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, was forced from the field just before the hour mark.
De Paul, a member of La Albiceleste's World Cup-winning squad at Qatar 2022, has now been confirmed to have suffered a thigh issue.
"Rodrigo De Paul is suffering from a thigh injury, according to the medical tests he has undergone after ended up with muscular problems the match against Athletic Bilbao," read an official statement.
"The midfielder will begin to receive physiotherapy sessions, rehabilitation training and is pending evolution."
Though no timeframe has been given for De Paul's potential return, Atletico will hope he is not sidelined for a prolonged period as Diego Simeone's side fight for a top-four finish in LaLiga.
However, it would seem unlikely De Paul will be fit for Saturday's trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Novak Djokovic says his participation at the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open is "out of his control".
Djokovic, who last month won the Australian Open to move level with Rafael Nadal on 22 grand slam titles, has not played since claiming the title in Melbourne.
The world number one was nursing a hamstring issue throughout the season's first major, but he confirmed at a press conference in Belgrade on Wednesday that he will return to action at the Dubai Tennis Championships next week.
Djokovic could not compete in the United States last season due to his COVID-19 vaccination status, though his brother Djordje has claimed the 35-year-old has applied for a "special permit" to enter the country.
He has received clearance from the tournament organisers to play at the two Masters 1000 events at Indian Wells and in Miami but now faces a wait to find out if the U.S. government will grant him entry.
"The process for that has started. It is out of my control now," Djokovic said.
"I'd love to play and I'm glad I received the approval of directors in Miami and Indian Wells. I hope the decision makers will give the approval."
On his progress on the injury front, Djokovic explained: "As for the injury I sustained at the Australian Open, it's healed, but I'm not 100 per cent yet.
"Things are looking very good. As a team, we made the decision to go to Dubai."
Djokovic has won the Dubai Tennis Championships five times, though the last of those titles came in 2020.
He was knocked out by Jiri Vesely in the quarter-finals last year.
Djokovic this week tied Steffi Graf on 377 weeks spent as world number one.
The outright record is set to become his next week, with Carlos Alcaraz unable to surpass him even if the young Spaniard wins the Rio Open.
Ben Stokes has revealed he will miss the conclusion of the Indian Premier League season in order to lead England in their Test against Ireland in June.
The four-day match starts on June 1 at Lord's, four days after the IPL final, and provides Brendon McCullum's side with their final warm-up fixture before the Ashes.
Stokes, who was bought by Chennai Super Kings for £1.6m in December's auction, leads a selection of England stars including Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow at the IPL this year.
But speaking ahead of his side's second Test with New Zealand this week, the captain has vowed to ensure he is available, though he will leave others to decide for themselves.
"Yes, I'll play [against Ireland]. I'll be making sure I give myself enough time to get back and play the Ireland game," he said.
"I think it's a little bit too far ahead to say [for others], but one thing I've got to look at is we've got the Ashes after the Ireland Test.
"I'll probably get round the individuals and ask them what they want to be ready for the Ashes.
"Those five [Ashes] games are obviously the big ones of the summer, and you've got to think about what the lads want.
"You also have to think about is if something was to happen in the Ireland game, and we lose someone for the Ashes.
"It's just one of those where you have to weigh up the options of what the individual person actually wants out of that week versus do we really need to play that one? Because I'm obviously right in saying that series is bigger than that game against Ireland."
Stokes sat out the 2022 edition of the IPL, having suffered a broken finger in his most recent game there for Rajasthan Royals, which contributed to what became a break from cricket.
After a 267-run win in Mount Maunganui, England are out to seal a clean sweep of their two-Test series against New Zealand, starting in Wellington on Friday.
Under the tutelage of New Zealand great Brendon McCullum's coaching and Stokes' captaincy, England have won 10 of their last 11 Tests while playing a thrilling brand of cricket dubbed 'Bazball'.
Iga Swiatek stormed into the last eight at the Dubai Tennis Championships with an emphatic victory over Liudmila Samsonova.
It only took 76 minutes for the number one seed to record a 6-1 6-0 triumph on Wednesday, continuing a fine run after her triumph in Qatar last week.
Swiatek had only narrowly beaten Samsonova in an epic three-set encounter in the Stuttgart semi-finals last year, but was completely dominant this time around at the WTA 1000 event.
Samsonova struggled in recording a first-serve percentage of just 58.5, and Swiatek was ruthless in winning 19 of 22 points on the Russian's second serve.
Swiatek did not even have to fend off a break point in cruising to victory and will play Karolina Pliskova in the quarters.
Pliskova, the two-time grand slam finalist, battled to a 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 6-2 win over Anhelina Kalinina to reach the last eight in Dubai for the fifth time in her career.
There were also two American successes, with Madison Keys needing only 57 minutes to beat Victoria Azarenka, who appeared to be struggling with her movement.
Keys had lost all of her previous four meetings with Azarenka but triumphed 6-2 6-1 in routine fashion.
And Jessica Pegula joined her compatriot in progressing, winning her first career meeting with Ana Bogdan in straight sets.
Elsewhere, 2019 winner Belinda Bencic crashed out, with Karolina Muchova, who also knocked out Maria Sakkari this week, triumphing 6-1 6-4 to book a quarter-final date with Pegula.
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