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• Government appoints independent advisers to aid rugby union rescue effort

  The Government has appointed independent advisers to support rugby union chiefs as they attempt to preserve the future of the professional game.

  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has announced former Rugby Football League CEO Ralph Rimmer and UK Sport’s Chris Pilling will support the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby Limited in their efforts to reshape the game’s “future strategic financial and sporting direction”.

  The move comes with London Irish facing suspension from the Gallagher Premiership unless a takeover has been completed or they can demonstrate they have the funding needed to operate for the entirety of the 2023-24 season by June 6, following the recent failures of Worcester and Wasps.

  A DCMS statement said: “The issues at Worcester, Wasps and London Irish have laid bare the challenges facing the sport of rugby union.

  “The inability of rugby clubs to raise capital investment and the financial challenges at various levels within the game have contributed to the need for urgent work to help secure rugby union’s immediate future and advise on its future direction.”

  The Government stepped in to support rugby at elite and grassroots levels during the Covid-19 pandemic, but many clubs are still dealing with the impact.

  Sports Minister Stuart Andrew added: “This is a challenging time for rugby union and Ralph and Chris have agreed to utilise their experience to help the game develop a clear path for the future.

  “We have seen several high-profile clubs and their fans left devastated in recent times and this additional independent advice will be of huge benefit to the RFU and PRL as they look to implement a new strategic direction for rugby.”

  RFU CEO Bill Sweeney welcomed further Government backing and called upon those involved in the game to set aside “self-interest” in the quest for a sustainable future.

  He said: “The restructuring of the Professional Game Agreement into a strategic partnership provides a great opportunity for all stakeholders to set aside self-interest and collaborate to reset and secure the future long-term sustainable growth of the professional game including developing the strongest possible second tier.”

• I won’t be back with the Ospreys – Alun Wyn Jones

  Alun Wyn Jones has confirmed he will not be an Ospreys player next season.

  The former Wales and British and Irish Lions captain announced his retirement from international rugby last month after making a world-record 170 Test match appearances.

  There had been no indication about whether he intended to play on for the Ospreys or join another team, although Jones has now hinted he could continue on the domestic stage next term.

  Since announcing his Test retirement, Jones captained the Barbarians against a World XV and then his first club Swansea.

  “Whatever’s next, if something pops up, there might be something domestic. I won’t be back with the Ospreys,” Jones told The Barbarians Show podcast.

  “But if nothing does, I can be pretty happy with my innings anyway, but we will see what comes in the next few months.”

  Jones, 37, made his Ospreys debut in 2005 and went on to captain the region, making more than 250 appearances.

  He was named in named Wales’ preliminary World Cup training squad by head coach Warren Gatland, but subsequently announced his international retirement along with Ospreys colleagues Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb.

  Second-row forward Jones set a new Wales cap record when he overtook former prop Gethin Jenkins during the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

  And he then moved past New Zealand World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw’s mark of 148 caps, maintaining incredible consistency of performance in one of the sport’s toughest playing positions.

  He was part of five Six Nations title-winning campaigns, including three Grand Slams, and played in four World Cups helping Wales reach two semi-finals.

  His 12 Lions Tests is a figure bettered only by Willie John McBride and Dickie Jeeps.

• Rhys Carre released from Wales training squad for missing performance targets

  Cardiff prop Rhys Carre has been released from Wales’ preliminary Rugby World Cup training squad after failing to meet individual performance targets.

  The Welsh Rugby Union said in a statement: “Rhys Carre has been released from the Wales senior men’s preliminary training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023.

  “Following ongoing discussions between the player and the Wales coaching team, Carre has failed to meet individual performance targets set at the end of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.”

  Carre was one of 10 props selected in the training squad alongside Nicky Smith, Corey Domachowski, Gareth Thomas, Kemsley Mathias, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Keiron Assiratti, Henry Thomas and Will Davies-King.

  Domachowski, Mathias, Assiratti, Thomas and Davies-King are all uncapped, while Carre has made 20 Test match appearances.

  His Wales debut came in 2019, and he was also part of the World Cup squad in Japan later that year.

  Carre, 25, has become the fourth player to depart head coach Warren Gatland’s 54-man group that he announced last month.

  Ospreys trio Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb all announced their international retirements ahead of the World Cup in France later this year after being named in the squad.

  Wales play three World Cup warm-up games in August, with their tournament opener being against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.