Today's rugby news as Welsh region sign 'fantastic' centre from ...

Here are your rugby morning headlines on Saturday July 29.

The Ospreys have captured Saracens centre Dom Morris on a season's loan for the 2023-24 campaign after losing a raft of key players.

Morris leaves the English champions for a year to help out an Ospreys team who have midfield men Keiran Williams and George North away on Wales World Cup duty and who saw young Joe Hawkins, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler and Michael Collins depart during the summer.

The 25-year-old, who can also play on the wing because of his searing pace, has made more than 50 Gallagher Premiership and European appearances for Sarries as he played with the likes of Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje.

The move from Saracens to the Welsh game where Morris will get greater game time will aid his development, according to the English aces, who want him back at the end of the coming campaign.

Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: "Dom is a fantastic talent and, as with any player, we feel game time is hugely important for his development.

"We are very much looking forward to seeing him make his mark in Wales and will be excited to welcome him back to StoneX Stadium."

Morris, who played a key role when England under-20s won the 2017 Six Nations, said: "I'm really looking forward to getting started with the Ospreys, they're a big team with an impressive legacy. It's a fresh opportunity for me to express my talent and contribute to making the team better wherever I can."

Ospreys boss Toby Booth said: "His presence will fortify our backline, offering a fresh set of pace and creativity to our options in the centre."

Morris' path to the star-studded Saracens team is blocked, with a number of players ahead of him in the midfield pecking order including Alex Lozowski, Nick Tompkins, Elliot Daly and Olly Hartley.

Wales' four regions have announced what are being dubbed 'exhilarating' derby friendly clashes as they prepare for the new season.

The sequence of games kicks off on Friday September 29 when Cardiff host the Scarlets at the Arms Park (7pm). The Blue and Blacks then travel to face the Ospreys the following Friday, the game taking place in Swansea with another 7pm kick-off time.

The Dragons will go head-to-head against the Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Saturday September 30 (3pm).

The men of Gwent will also make the trip to Llanelli to face the Scarlets on Friday October 6 (7pm).

Ospreys say fans should "brace yourselves for some exhilarating rugby matches."

Wales will have played three of their World Cup group games by the time of the first pre-season friendlies. Warren Gatland's men then clash with Georgia on Saturday October 7, hoping to book their place in the quarter-finals.

The regions kick off their United Rugby Championship campaigns on the weekend of the World Cup semi-finals, October 21 and 22. Cardiff host Benetton, the Dragons are at home to Edinburgh, while the Ospreys are at Connacht and Scarlets travel to South Africa to meet the Bulls.

The four teams will be without their Wales players for their own big kick-off, so will be looking to bed in their early sides in the pre-season derby clashes.

Australia boss Eddie Jones has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of today's big Bledisloe Cup clash by saying the New Zealand economy will crash with a Wallabies win.

The southern hemisphere foes lock horns when the Rugby Championship resumes this morning with a 10.45am kick-off in Melbourne.

New Zealand will be fired up for the game after Jones said there was nothing better than Australia beating them "because you feel the country sinking, right? It’s not just rugby sinks; the country sinks. The whole economy goes down. The prime minister is there with his fingers crossed."

Jones was sticking to his guns, even though his Wallaby team were crushed by South Africa in their opening game and then lost at home to Argentina.

New Zealand, by contrast, look in ominous form ahead of the World Cup with comfortable back-to-back victories over the Springboks and Pumas.

However Jones insisted: "Can we put the Kiwis under pressure? Yes. And I think some people are going to get a surprise."

South Africa legend Duane Vermeulen plays what looks certain to be be his final Test on Springbok soil in this afternoon's clash with Argentina.

Back-rower Vermeulen skippers the Springboks in the game and said: “As a team, we spoke about the fact that it’s probably my last game in the Springboks jersey in SA. It may be a bit emotional, but the important thing for me will be to channel that emotion into leading the team well.

“It’s also our last game on home soil before the World Cup, and we want to finish on a high note.

“If we play well and get a good result, it would be even more special.”