Rugby evening headlines amid support for Phil Bennett and former WRU chief's brutal claim about players

The latest rugby evening headlines on Friday, May 6.

The rugby community has rallied to send its best wishes to Wales rugby legend Phil Bennett, who is unwell and being cared for by his family. The Scarlets released a statement on Friday to say: "Phil is battling like the true Scarlet he's always been and our thoughts and prayers are with him. We would ask everyone to respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time."

Many well wishes have been sent the Lions great's way, with the Scarlets Supporters Club saying: "Our prayers are with Phil and his family at this tough time". The Ospreys expressed similar sentiments, saying: "Our thoughts and best wishes are with Phil and his family at this difficult time" and both the Ospreys and Cardiff Supporters Club said: "Thinking of Phil and his family at this difficult time."

Former WRU chief David Moffett, the man at the helm when Wales' rugby regions were formed, claims the union has neglected the professional game for a number of years and believes there's only enough money to now sustain three regions.

He believes the region to face the axe, should there have to be one, must be the Dragons as they are owned by the WRU, and doesn't believe Wales' player pool would suffer.

“I don’t think they would be cutting the number of professional players, what they would be doing is cutting all the journeymen in Welsh rugby,” Moffett told The Times. “You are cutting out a lot of so-called professional players who will never come close to making the national side.

“Many of these players haven’t got a right to call themselves professional rugby players. Wales have really been scraping the barrel in that regard. If you had three teams, you’d be increasing the quality of rugby, and