Today's rugby news as Dan Carter reveals drink-drive shame and ...

Here's your round-up of the latest rugby news for Saturday July 15.

Rugby superstar Dan Carter has opened up on his drink-drive shame and says to this day he is 'so grateful' he didn’t injure anyone on the roads.

The No.10 legend, for many the greatest player of the professional era, speaks about being busted by the police in a new book, which New Zealand media outlets have reported on overnight.

In The Art of Winning: Ten Lessons in Leadership, Purpose and Potential, he writes in detail about the 2017 incident in Paris when he was pulled over near the Champs-Elysees and shown to be almost twice over the legal limit.

New Zealand ace Carter had a lucrative contract at he time with Racing 92. He was banned from driving for five months and given a huge fine.

He concedes he 'might have even started to believe I was a little bit of a rock star' as he addresses the episode.

The world's record Test points scorer had to pull over after seeing a flashing blue light behind him and writes 'Stupid, stupid, stupid.'

"I already knew what would happen then. How could you be so stupid. From the high of winning the Top 14 to sitting in a cell in Paris. That’s the world bringing you back to earth."

Round two of the Rugby Championship gets underway this morning with what could be an Eden Park classic between New Zealand and South Africa.

The two sides won their opening games and the outcome of the Auckland clash will likely decide the destiny of who wins the southern hemisphere trophy in World Cup year.

New Zealand have returned to winning ways under Ian Foster after a troubled time last year, while the Springboks have picked a power-packed 23.

This year's shortened tournament means any victories are priceless.

The Eden Park game is followed by Australia versus Argentina.

Former Wales and Lions full-back Lee Byrne has become the latest high-profile figure to invest in Welsh football club Merthyr Town.

Wales midfielder Joe Morrell and Glamorgan Cricket's Chris Cooke are among those to have previously bought a stake in the club, which plays in the seventh tier of the English pyramid.

Merthyr have been fan-owned since re-forming in 2010, and have more than 180 co-owners. They have also earned backing from Line of Duty star Vicky McClure and her filmmaker fiance Jonny Owen, who is from the town.

The club are set to begin the new season with a home game against Dorchester Town at Penydarren Park on Saturday, 5 August.

Byrne was capped 46 times by Wales and once by the Lions, playing a pivotal role in the 2008 Grand Slam triumph under Warren Gatland.

During that period he was among the finest full-backs in the world, with dazzling speed, great running, security under the high ball and a kick like a mule. He lined up for club and country next to Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, James Hook and Mike Phillips in what was a stellar backline of talent.

Byrne eventually lost his place in the Wales team to Leigh Halfpenny. He is hoping his switch of sports proves successful as Merthyr look to climb the leagues.

Ospreys have confirmed the signing of scrum-half Luke Davies.

The three-time Wales under-20 international came through the Scarlets academy, making his professional debut against Benetton in the 2021/22 season, before moving on to Jersey Reds.

Davies said: “It’s brilliant to be signing for such a big club like the Ospreys. There’s a great group down here, the coaches and players have already made me feel welcome.

“This is a top opportunity for me to contribute my skills and passion to a club with such a rich history and dedicated fan base. I'm looking forward to working alongside my new teammates and pushing on with them to achieve as much as possible.”

Ospreys head Coach, Toby Booth, said: “He is a player with a lot of potential and one of our focuses will be working closely with him to help him achieve that. As a young scrum half, he’ll bring a fresh skillset and set of energy to the team."

France cruised to their way to a third consecutive World under-20s Championship title by demolishing Ireland 50-14 in a desperately one-sided final in Cape Town.

France will be hoping to follow this up by securing the World Cup at senior level too, when the tournament kicks off on home soil in September.