Rhys Webb, the Wales No 9, has been declared fit for a return to the national shirt to play England at Twickenham in the RBS Six Nations Championship next weekend after six months on the sidelines.
Webb had established himself as the best scrum half in Wales before the World Cup but he missed the tournament due to a foot injury sustained in Wales’s last warm-up game before it began, against Italy, at the start of September.
In Webb’s absence, Gareth Davies has thrived and established himself as one of Wales’s main attacking threats. Now that Webb is back, the pair face a big battle for the shirt.
Whether Webb is considered for the game against England remains to be seen. However Steve Tandy, his Ospreys coach, yesterday declared him fit for purpose. In his second game back, against Connacht, he scored a try and was made man of the match.
“I have no doubt if he were going into the Twickenham game off the bench he would do a real good job for Wales,” Tandy said.
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“He’s an international now and has matured a lot over the years. Not only does he know his body and what he needs to do, he is also ultra-confident in his ability. Physically he is in great shape.”
Webb will play for Ospreys against Leinster in Dublin tomorrow. The Wales selectors will debate his challenge next week.
Bill Beaumont, the chairman of the RFU, confirmed yesterday that he will run for the post of chairman of World Rugby when it becomes available in May.