Tonight's rugby news as Wales duo and captain sign new deals and Gatland's youngsters make instant impact

These are your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, January 31.

Wales duo and captain sign new deals

Wales props Keiron Assiratti and Corey Domachowski have signed new deals with Cardiff Rugby, while skipper Liam Belcher has also agreed fresh terms in a triple boost for the region.

The front row trio had all signed one-year contracts in the summer amid the financial difficulties faced by the Welsh regions. But after Cardiff's takeover by Helford Capital, they have committed their futures to the club, with Domachowski turning down approaches from elsewhere.

All three have become key figures for Matt Sherratt's side, with Domachowski and Assiratti's performances in Blue and Black earning them their first Wales call-ups last year, while Belcher continues to lead from the front as captain.

“I’m very happy to sign a new contract at Cardiff," said Domachowski, who was named in this year's Six Nations squad alongside Assiratti. "This club means a huge amount to me and I am really encouraged by everything going on here. Obviously last year was not ideal, but it has always been my intention to stay long-term and it’s great to now have a deal in place.

“We have a great group of players here with a lot of youngsters coming through and exciting plans for the future. As one of the more senior players, I am really looking forward to playing my part and doing everything for this group and the supporters.”

Assiratti added: “I’m really pleased to have signed this new contract and very excited about the opportunity we have to keep building and growing as a young squad. We have shown a lot of potential and fight for the club this season, which has resonated with our supporters. They have been absolutely brilliant this year and the atmosphere at the Arms Park for some of those big games was unbelievable. That loyal support makes a huge difference for us and we are all determined to repay on the pitch.”

Meanwhile, Belcher said: “I’m very grateful for the continued opportunity to play at this level and owe a huge amount to my family and previous coaches, who have put so much time into helping me become better. Playing for this club means a huge amount to me and I am particularly pleased with the way this group has come through the adversity of last summer to get to where we are now. We have stuck together whether in highs or lows and fought for the badge.

“It is an exciting time at the club, I’ll continue to give my all and I’m really looking forward to seeing how much we can grow as a group. Ultimately we want to become a club that regularly competes in knockout rugby and I’m looking forward to playing my part. "

Gatland's youngsters make instant impact

Ryan Elias has hailed the impact of Wales' new kids on the block ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

The Scarlets hooker is in line to win his 39th cap this weekend and at 29 is one of the oldest members of Gatland's squad, which features five uncapped players. Gatland has put his faith in youth amid retirements and injuries to key players, with the likes of 20-year-old Mackenzie Martin, 21-year-old Cameron Winnett and 22-year-old Archie Griffin getting their first taste of Test action.

While the squad is lacking some experience, with two-thirds having less than 25 caps, Elias claims the camp has been energised by his new teammates and has backed them to impress on the international stage over the coming weeks.

"It has been good," he said. "Loads of energy, they are lapping it up. The reason they are in here is because we feel they can play international rugby, and their form with the clubs has shown that.

"They are super-keen, super-hungry and they will have experience of Test rugby during this campaign. For the next cycle of the next World Cup we are looking to get these boys being 25-40 caps under their belt.

"These boys are now playing (at regional level), which has been a massive bonus. You come through the academies and the under-20s, sometimes you don't need to play 60-70 games. You can get 10-11 games, and you play well and show that you have the athletic ability, and you are here."

With Wales facing what Elias describes as a "big physical battle" against Scotland, the hooker added that the level had been raised in training, with the new boys keeping the old guard on their toes.

"The boys are just excited and ripping into each other," he continued. "We know it is going to be a big physical battle against the Scots and you have to train the way you are going to play. There is a competitive and physical edge in training. If you are off your game for a day or a training session you get found out. These young lads are sharp, so you have to be on the ball."

Itoje ends England exit speculation

England have been handed a major boost after Maro Itoje signed a new deal with Saracens to end speculation over his future for club and country.

The 29-year-old had been linked with a move abroad after new salary cap regulations for Premiership clubs were confirmed. While it looked at one stage that Saracens would struggle to keep both Itoje and Owen Farrell without either taking a massive pay cap, Farrell's move to Racing 92 has seen the lock retain his status as a 'marquee player'.

If the five-time Premiership winner had elected to follow Farrell across the Channel, it would have ended his England career with RFU rules preventing players based abroad from being selected for the national team.

"Saracens is my home and I couldn't be happier to be staying here," said Itoje as he signed his new contract. "Looking back I am very proud of what we have achieved over the last 10 years and it is the best place for me to keep progressing.

"With the squad we have I really believe we have some massively exciting times ahead and I can't wait to be a part of it moving forward."

"Maro has gone from a promising academy prospect to a global figure in rugby," added Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall. "He is a world-class player, but what sets Maro apart is his dedication to his craft; the standard he sets, how he goes about his work on and off the field and how this expresses his love for the club and for the game. We know the best of Maro is yet to come."

First Six Nations sides selected

By Ed Elliot, PA

Munster wing Calvin Nash and Leinster lock Joe McCarthy will make their Guinness Six Nations debuts in Ireland's championship opener against France but centre Garry Ringrose misses out due to a shoulder issue. Jack Crowley has been selected at fly-half for Friday evening's curtain-raiser in Marseille following the retirement of former captain Johnny Sexton after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Andy Farrell's starting XV, led by flanker Peter O'Mahony, shows just four changes from Ireland's 28-24 quarter-final defeat to New Zealand on October 14, with Robbie Henshaw coming in for the sidelined Ringrose in the other alteration. Twenty-six-year-old Nash, who won his only previous cap as a replacement in a 33-17 World Cup warm-up win over Italy last August, will line up on the right flank in place of the injured Mack Hansen. McCarthy, 22, featured twice at the tournament in France and will partner Tadhg Beirne in the second row after being preferred to experienced duo James Ryan and Iain Henderson.

Meanwhile, scrum-half Maxime Lucu will start in place of the absent Antoine Dupont for France on Friday. Fabien Galthie's starting XV shows five changes from the team which began Les Bleus' 29-28 Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa on October 15.

With Dupont missing the tournament in order to focus on sevens ahead of this year's Paris Olympics, understudy Lucu will partner Bordeaux team-mate Matthieu Jalibert for the championship curtain-raiser in Marseille. Uncapped Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, 21, will provide cover for Lucu from the bench at Stade Velodrome. Yoram Moefana is preferred to Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the left wing, while Paul Gabrillagues and Paul Willemse are Galthie's new lock pairing. Francois Cros replaces the injured Anthony Jelonch at blindside flanker in the other alteration.

La Rochelle number eight Gregory Alldritt has taken on the captaincy from Dupont, who was named player of the championship in three of the past four years. Cyril Baille, hooker Peato Mauvaka and Uini Atonio continue in an unchanged front row, with new skipper Alldritt joined at the back of the pack by flankers Cros and Charles Ollivon. Behind the half-back pairing of Lucu and Jalibert are centres Jonathan Danty and Gael Fickou, while Damian Penaud, who scored six tries at the World Cup, lines up on the right wing and Thomas Ramos starts at full-back.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu; 1 Cyril Baille, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Charles Ollivon, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c).

Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris.

Replacements: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 James Ryan, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jack Conan, 22 Conor Murray, 23 Ciaran Frawley.