Rugby in brief

England have named uncapped Wasps duo Jack Willis and Jacob Umaga in their squad for the Six Nations finale against Italy and Autumn Nations Cup.

Willis was expected to be picked in the 36-man party following a blockbusting season in which he emerged as the Gallagher Premiership’s foremost breakdown specialist, but Umaga’s inclusion is a surprise.

The 22-year-old is chosen ahead of Exeter’s Joe Simmonds and could win his first cap in Rome on Saturday due to being only one of two fly-halves present alongside Owen Farrell.

Wales will play all three of their Autumn Nations Cup home games – including against England – at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

The Welsh Rugby Union had contingency plans in place to maximise potential revenue from attendances by hosting matches at a London venue – believed to be the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Those fixtures would potentially have been against England on November 28 and a Nations Cup play-off encounter seven days later.

But with no immediate prospect of crowds returning to grounds because of the coronavirus pandemic, the WRU confirmed the England and play-off games for Parc y Scarlets.

Next Saturday’s delayed Guinness Six Nations appointment with Scotland and a Nations Cup game against Georgia on November 21 had already been announced as taking place in Llanelli.

Ulster’s John Cooney has been called into the Ireland squad for the Guinness Six Nations finale against France in Paris on Saturday. Cooney will provide additional cover at scrum-half with a fitness concern over Jamison GibsonPark.