Biarritz, a Pro D2 side, made a significant last-minute impact on the player market by securing the signings of three international players: Rhys Webb, Jonathan Joseph, and Mohamed Haouas.
Following the unexpected collapse of the team’s sale on Thursday, the club was faced with a time-sensitive situation, leaving them with only 24 hours to swiftly assemble their squad for the upcoming 2023/24 season.
With the pressure mounting, Biarritz acted promptly to secure the services of Webb, Joseph, and Haouas, bolstering their roster and injecting a new level of talent into the team.
While awaiting official confirmation from the club, multiple French outlets have reported that Webb and Joseph have inked two-year contracts with the side.
Both players, who previously toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2017, bring a wealth of experience to the squad, with a combined total of nearly 100 Test caps.
At 34 years old, Webb recently represented Wales during the 2023 Six Nations and was included in their training squad for the Rugby World Cup. However, he decided to retire from international rugby at the end of May. In a social media announcement, he cited the “uncertainty and difficulties in Welsh rugby” as well as the “opportunity to play abroad” as significant factors in his retirement choice.
On the other hand, Joseph bids farewell to Bath after a remarkable ten-year tenure with the club. Despite having one year remaining on his contract, the center with 54 Test caps departs the Premiership club to embark on a new chapter in his career.
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“More expansive rugby” – Nigel Owens wants five law changes for Rugby World Cup
Popular referee Nigel Owens says rugby’s new Laws are NOT working to improve the game.
Owens, who hung up his whistle two years ago, has come up with five possible changes to encourage expansive rugby.
#1. Scrap the goal-line dropout
Owens wrote: “As for goal-line dropouts, I was a big fan initially because I felt it would prevent attacking teams from numerous pick-and-gos near the try line, with teams instead attempting to move the ball wide to avoid being held up and losing possession. But I’m not sure it has worked as planned. We still see plenty of pick-and-gos until teams get over, we still see plenty of mauls and the number of collisions hasn’t decreased.
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“We are also seeing fewer scrums near the goal line, and to be honest I’m not sure that is a good thing. The scrum needs to be an important part of the game, and right now we are not seeing the benefits of it. Rugby must continue to be a game for all shapes and sizes, and at all levels, too.
Attacking teams are also kicking longer knowing that if the ball rolls dead, the defending team has to do a goal-line dropout and they can get the ball back. We’ve also lost the short dropouts we used to see from the 22-metre line where teams would compete to win the ball back, or a quick dropout would be taken, because teams now backed up on their goal line just kick the ball long to escape and what happens? The opposition kick it back.
“From initially believing it would work, I would now like the goal-line dropout law to go to be honest. If anything it is having a negative effect.”