Tonight's rugby news as Wales wing nears exit from sport and Lions star's rise continues
The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond
Grace is mobbed after scoring a try on his Wales debut
(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Monday, August 11.
Wales star nearing rugby league return
Wales wing Regan Grace is nearing a return to rugby league, with ambitious Championship outfit York Knights leading the chase for the 28-year-old. Reports suggest the Port Talbot product, who was released by Cardiff at the end of last season, has been actively pursuing a return to the 13-a-side code in recent weeks.
All Out Rugby League are reporting that Grace has been made available to Championship clubs, including league leaders Knights - who are in the midst of a high-profile recruitment drive as they bid to reach Super League.
Warrington Wolves prop Paul Vaughan has already signed, with York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth saying recently they are "an ambitious club", although there was nothing official to add on Grace. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
Grace had admitted back in April that he was exploring his options, with a return to league certainly an option.
The wing had made his name with St Helens, before switching codes to try his hand at rugby union. Injury stopped him making an appearance for Racing 92, before short spells with Bath and Cardiff.
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He did tour Australia last summer with Wales, featuring in the uncapped match against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
England star's rapid rise continues
England back-row Henry Pollock has been named as one of the 25 players to gain an Enhanced Elite Player Squad contract for the 2025/26 season.
The British and Irish Lions tourist, who was first capped by England earlier this year, has enjoyed a rapid rise. As such, he's been rewarded with one of the special deals, which provide a guaranteed annual salary in place of match fees.
Flanker Ben Curry is another of the new additions, joining his brother Tom, while Tom Willis has also been included.
Others to get a central contract who missed out when the first batch were handed out last October include Fin Baxter, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daly, Joe Heyes, Tom Roebuck and Will Stuart.
Saracens hooker Theo Dan is the only player out of the original 17 to miss out.
'I am pleased to name the players who will receive an enhanced EPS contract this season,' said England head coach Steve Borthwick.
'These contracts, together with our strong relationship with the Premiership clubs, will continue to play an important role in the ongoing development of England Rugby.'
Welsh rugby game moved
The Scarlets' second match of the United Rugby Championship season has been shifted back a day due to stadium redevelopments in Galway.
Dwayne Peel's side start their season at home to Munster on September 27 before travelling to Ireland the following week to take on Connacht.
Initially, that was scheduled to be played on Friday October 3.
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However, with Connacht's Dexcom Stadium being redeveloped, the match will instead take place on Saturday, October 4 at 1.45pm.
The reason for the move is to "support on-going work at the venue and provide the best possible experience for fans of both teams attending the game".
Springboks explain surprise selection
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has revealed his thinking behind putting captain Siya Kolisi at No. 8 for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with Australia.
The two-time World Cup-winning skipper will start in the unfamiliar position for South Africa - although he does play a lot of his domestic rugby for the Sharks at the back of the scrum.
With Jasper Wiese, Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw all suspended or injured, Erasmus has turned to Kolisi to fill in against the Wallabies - with the selection allowing him to target Joe Schmidt's side. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
'We actually changed our mind there," said Erasmus. "The more we practise and prepare we realise that the only position the guy already plays at eight is at scrums.
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"Scrums is probably a thing that happens 13 or 14 times in a game,' said Erasmus at the team announcement in Sandton on Monday.
'But general play is probably the thing that happens the most when we're having a guy like Pieter-Steph [Du Toit] and Marco [Van Staden] and Siya on the field at the same time. We really feel Australia is a big threat at the breakdown. They really bind hard at the breakdown and all three of those guys are really good.'
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