Bath have signed Wales and British & Irish Lions scrum-half Rhys Webb on a deal until the end of the season.

The 31-year-old left French side Toulon last month and has agreed a contract with Ospreys from next season, but will play in the Premiership for the next four months.

Director of Rugby Stuart Hooper told the Bath website: "We're very excited to bring in an international talent."

Webb could make his debut in the derby against Bristol on Sunday, 1 March.

Hooper said Webb, who has won 32 caps for Wales and played in the Six Nations game against Italy earlier this month, will add depth and quality at a "critical time of year" which has seen Max Green sidelined with a fractured leg.

"A signing of this calibre is something I know will be welcomed by the squad," he added.

"I'm sure he'll settle in quickly and I know he is looking for some game time as soon as possible."

Webb remains eligible to play for Wales in the Six Nations after being given a six-month dispensation by the Welsh Rugby Union in January 2020.

He had previously been ineligible for international selection since the WRU brought in a policy in October 2017 that meant players would not be picked if they had won fewer than 60 caps and opted to move away from Wales.

Scarlets have confirmed Wales full-back Liam Williams has joined the region for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

The region announced in December 2019 Williams would be returning from Saracens but he will link up with Scarlets sooner than expected.

"I would like to thank everyone involved for their support in making it happen," said Williams, 28.

Scarlets are waiting to see if Williams is released by Wales for the Pro14 trip to Munster on Saturday, 29 February.

Williams hasn't played since suffering an ankle injury at the World Cup in Japan in October 2019 and has been completing his rehab as part of Wayne Pivac's Wales Six Nations squad.

He is close to returning to full fitness and trained with the Wales squad before the defeat against France at the Principality Stadium.

Pivac has injury concerns over wing George North (head) and Josh Adams (ankle) after the pair were forced off against France.

Wales have two Six Nations matches remaining, with a trip to face England to Twickenham on 7 March before hosting Scotland seven days later.

Williams was initially due to return to Scarlets in the summer after three seasons in North London.

However, Scarlets, Williams and Saracens have since come to a mutual agreement that will allow the full-back to play for his former side earlier than initially anticipated.

English champions Saracens will be relegated from the Gallagher Premiership at the end of the season for persistent salary cap breaches.

Saracens had already been deducted 35 points and fined £5.4m for three seasons' spending above the cap.

'Happy Saracens memories'

"I've had a fantastic few years at Saracens and will take some very happy memories away with me," said Williams.

"I've been working hard on my recovery and can't wait to get back on the pitch."

Scarlets head coach Brad Mooar added: "Liam is a world-class player and man, a huge favourite at Parc y Scarlets and we are thrilled to welcome him back.

"To have Liam joining our exciting group of outside backs this season is superb. I'm also thrilled for Liam that his rehab is almost complete.

"His immediate availability for us will depend on how Wayne wants to play it during the Six Nations and we look forward to seeing Liam back at Parc y Scarlets in due course."

A Manchester United fans group has written a letter of complaint to the mayor of Brugge, describing local authorities' treatment of them as "deplorable" during their Europe League away clash to Club Brugge on Thursday.

United were held 1-1 with Brugge in the round of 32 European tie after striker Anthony Martial netted an equaliser midway through the first half.

In a letter from the Manchester United Supporters' Trust to Brugge mayor Dirk De fauw on Monday, fans said that they had a "genuine fear for their safety."

"Many of us who have travelled the world following MUFC are of the opinion that this was the worst experience of a European away game they'd had for many years -- and our previous recent visit to Brugge was a low point at the time," the fans group said.

"The deplorable treatment we were subjected to during our visit to Brugge, by the local police and stewards. It is not an exaggeration to say that many fans were in genuine fear for their safety at times throughout the evening.

"We returned home with an impression of Brugge that should shame all those responsible for our safety and security."

The letter said that fans were made to walk a long distance to the stadium, including supporters with mobility issues, despite difficult weather conditions. The group also questioned the deployment of a water cannon.

"We have numerous reports that the police instructed taxi drivers to stay away from the ground and not to pick up Manchester United fans," it added. "It was a long walk in horrendous weather conditions from the town to the stadium.

"We would be embarrassed if visitors to Manchester were treated as described above -- are you not ashamed of the way visitors to your city were treated?

"Poor treatment is one issue but the safety concerns go far beyond that and we will be sending a report to Uefa outlining the issues our supporters have sent to us."

ESPN has contacted the mayor's office for comment.

United will host Brugge in the return leg at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Big picture

As the action moves from the leafy surrounds of the SSC to the jungles of the southeast, both teams may ponder their shortcomings from the first game. Neither middle-order quite fired. West Indies lost five wickets for 68 runs while Sri Lanka might reflect they could have done better than lose their first four wickets within 57 runs after a century opening stand, then their next four for 61. Sri Lanka's spinners failed to produce wickets through the middle overs and West Indies' quicks were modest under the pressure of a tight finish.

But although these are clearly flawed teams, they also appeared to be evenly matched. Aside, perhaps, from Sri Lanka's 111-run opening stand, there was no sustained period of dominance from either side. A wicket would fall to clip a burgeoning stand short or a spate of boundaries would frequently break the shackles. Each side has promising young players - most notably Keemo Paul and Wanindu Hasaranga from the first match - and captains who took over in moments of crisis last year. Both sides have relatively settled XIs for now, but several players are only a few bad performances away from having their places questioned.

Given the similarities, it may be the side that best adapts to the Sooriyawewa ground's particular challenges that wins. There can sometimes be a fierce crosswind at the venue. Sri Lanka have occasionally used the wind to the advantage of their swing bowlers, but have more often found that it messes with bowlers' accuracy and flight. Batsmen, meanwhile, have had success largely targeting the downwind side of the ground, and hit aerially into the wind at their peril.

Form guide

West Indies LWWWL (completed matches, most recent first)

Sri Lanka WLLWW

In the spotlight

Sri Lanka's fielding has happily lent itself to comic comparisons in the past few years, but an outstanding all-round effort on Saturday has hinted that the age of slow-motion dives and slapstick fumbles may be over. It wasn't quite a flawless effort, but almost - no catches were dropped, two run outs were clinically affected and the ground fielding was reliable. Coach Mickey Arthur has spoken glowingly about the improvements in Sri Lanka's fielding standards over the last few months, and so far, his team seems to be proving him right.

Shai Hope, Saturday's only centurion, has been putting together quite a record in recent years. His overall ODI average is impressive enough at 51.90, but his average as an opener is 91.88 after 21 innings, and seven of his nine centuries have come from the top of the order. Perhaps even more consequential to this series is his average in Asia, which after 15 innings, is a whopping 123.66. With so many of his team-mates capable of making rapid runs, Hope is increasingly the trunk around which West Indies build their innings.

Team news

Kieron Pollard seemed averse to the idea of making many changes to the XI. They may toy with the idea of bringing in left-arm spinner Fabian Allen for Hayden Walsh Jr, who took two wickets, but conceded 38 runs from five overs.

West Indies (possible): 1 Sunil Ambris, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Fabian Allen, 9 Keemo Paul, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Sheldon Cottrell

With Thisara Perera's bowling in the Powerplay having proved successful in the first ODI, Sri Lanka may stick with the same XI.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Perera (wk), 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan Pradeep

Pitch and conditions

Generally, the Sooriyawewa pitch is one of the quicker tracks in the country though that is not to say it doesn't also take turn. It is also one of the hottest venues in the country, but if the wind is around, the players may get some relief.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies have never won an ODI series in Sri Lanka. Their best result came in December 1993, when they drew 1-1.

• Shai Hope averages over 60 in each of the last two calendar years, which is largely when he has opened the innings. Outside opening the innings, his best record is at No. 5, where he has batted three times and averages 42.5.

• Lakshan Sandakan has gone wicketless in seven of his last eight ODIs. Though he also has not been granted a consistent place in the XI through that period.

Virat Kohli is likely to be available for one match for the Asia XI side that will take on a World XI in the two-match T20I series in Dhaka next month as part of the nationwide celebrations to mark the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, often referred to as the father of the nation. Kohli is among six Indian players named in the Asia XI side, with KL Rahul also slated for a one-match appearance. Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami have been included for both the matches.

BCB president Nazmul Hassan announced the names of the players in Dhaka on Tuesday, naming Faf du Plessis, Chris Gayle, Rashid Khan and Jonny Bairstow among the members of the World XI side.

However, although BCB said Kohli would play one game, ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI is still waiting for the India captain to confirm his participation. Workload management remains an issue with Kohli in particular, with India having a packed schedule.

India's second Test against New Zealand is scheduled to end on March 4, and their three-match home ODI series against South Africa runs from March 12 to 18. The two matches in Dhaka are slated for March 21 and 22, and the IPL starts on March 29.

Hassan also explained that the squads didn't include any Pakistan players because they would be busy with the PSL, with the tournament final scheduled on March 22.

"We have already received four names from India," Hassan said. "We haven't signed contracts but Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Shikhar Dhawan and Mohammed Shami are supposed to come. They have said KL Rahul and Virat Kohli will play one game each, but that hasn't been finalised.

"Players like Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have finalised with us, from Afghanistan. Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane will play while from Sri Lanka, we will have Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera. From Bangladesh, we will have Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahmudullah and Liton Das."

"I don't remember all the names, but we will have three or four players from South Africa. Definitely, there will be the same number of players from West Indies. Australia and New Zealand will be playing but we will try to find some (players). Bairstow is definitely coming. Ngidi is coming. Chris Gayle is supposed to play. Faf du Plessis. We will have some of the best players around. We are uncertain about Pakistan since the PSL is will be ongoing. We will invite some of the cricketing greats."

While Hassan named all the players linked with the Asia XI, it has been learnt that the BCB is also contacting Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Brendan Taylor, Alex Hales, Andrew Tye and Mitchell McClenaghan, apart from the names mentioned already.

Tentative squads

Asia XI: KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mahmudullah

World XI: Alex Hales, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Nicholas Pooran, Brendan Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Kieron Pollard, Sheldon Cottrell, Lungi Ngidi, Andrew Tye, Mitchell McClenaghan

Corrie van Zyl will return to work at CSA after the completion of his disciplinary process, although his role within the organisation is yet to be announced.

Van Zyl was working as interim director of cricket before he was suspended in October last year on allegations of misconduct related to unpaid commercial rights fees to the South African Cricketers' Association during the 2018 Mzansi Super League. Graeme Smith has since taken over as director of cricket in an acting capacity until he begins an IPL commentary stint in late March.

Two other staff members, chief operating officer Naasei Appiah and commercial manager Clive Eksteen were suspended for the same reason. Their cases, along with that of four other members of staff including CEO Thabang Moroe, are expected to be decided by early March.

Smith has indicated his interest in taking on the role permanently, which, if confirmed, would leave van Zyl to fill a different role at CSA. Van Zyl has worked as interim national coach and took the team to the 2011 World Cup, as general manager of cricket and in high performance.

British number two Heather Watson came from a set down to beat American Coco Vandeweghe 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the first round of the Mexico Open.

Watson secured the win over the former world number nine on her fourth match point after two hours, 31 minutes.

Vandeweghe is now ranked 193rd as she returns from ankle and foot injuries.

"I was just pleased with how well I fought," said Watson, 27. "I wasn't playing my best, but I stuck in there. I'm just really enjoying my tennis."

It was Watson's first match for more than two weeks since Britain's Fed Cup loss to Slovakia, which followed her defeat in round two at the Australian Open.

"I didn't feel like I had much rest," said Watson, who faces Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko in the next round.

"From the Australian Open, I had a week at home, but then I went straight to Fed Cup and was there the whole week.

"Fed Cup is a very high-stress environment, and I feel like I'm just about recovered to be here now."

Kyle Edmund continued his good run of form with a straight-set win over Feliciano Lopez at the Mexican Open.

Edmund, 25, who won the New York Open earlier in February, beat the 38-year-old Spaniard 6-4 6-1 in Acapulco.

He came through an evenly balanced first set before an early break in the second set put him on his way to a comfortable victory in 68 minutes.

The British number two now faces Australia's Alex Bolt or Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last 16.

Meanwhile, Britain's wildcard Cameron Norrie, 24, could not sustain his dominant first-set form and fell to a 2-6 6-3 6-3 defeat by France's Adrian Mannarino.

Record entry heading to Hull for English Juniors
By DONNA HELMER – Squash Mad Correspondent

Former champions Max Forster and Katie Malliff have been named as Boys and Girls Under 19 top seeds respectively in the Dunlop English Junior Championships 2020 (EJC) in Hull from March 5-8.

This year’s championships will feature a record 324 juniors competing across ten age categories from the Girls and Boys Under 11s to the Under 19s.

Reigning champion Max Forster (Nbria) will be looking to defend the Steve Hubbard BU19 title but is likely to face a stern test from last year’s BU17 champion [2] Ben Smith (Lincs) who he’s seeded to meet in the final.

GU19 favourite Katie Malliff (Bucks) is seeded to lock horns with [2] Margot Prow (Middlesex) in the final. Malliff, 16 will first have to navigate past [3/4] Kiera Marshall (Worcs) who she’s predicted to meet in the semis in what could be a repeat of January’s British U23 Open final in which Malliff triumphed.

England No.1 Franklyn Smith (Sussex) is favourite to lift the BU17 title but will face fierce competition from Warwickshire’s [2] Hassan Khalil, the 2019 British National BU17 runner-up.

Meanwhile, GU17 reigning champion [1] Saran Nghiem (Lancs) will be striving to defend her crown but has a formidable trio of [2] Torrie Malik (Sussex), [3/4] Asia Harris (Yorks) and [3/4] Amy Royle (Yorks) standing in her way.

Last year’s champion [1] Jonah Bryant (Sussex) tops a highly competitive BU15 draw and is seeded to do battle with [2] Yusuf Sheikh (Essex) – the 2020 British Junior Open finalist – in the semi-finals. Looking to mount a serious challenge is last year’s BU13 champion [3/4] Alexander Broadbridge (Hants) and 3/4 seed Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) – the 2019 British Junior Open BU13 champion.

GU15 top seed Amelie Haworth (Hants), the England No.1, is predicted to square off with Pontefract Silver 2019 champion [2] Francesca Hall (Yorks) in the final.

Gunning for national glory in the BU13s is Kent duo [1] Dylan Roberts – the British National BU13 finalist – and second seed Jude Gibbins with Ronnie Hickling (Surrey) and James Lee (Warks) seeded 3/4.

British National GU13 winner Tala Abaza (Middlesex) tops the GU13 draw with defending champion Charlie McCrone (Lancs) seeded second.

Top seed George Griffiths (Hants) and [2] Mohamed Abaza (Middx) are predicted to contest the BU11 title.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire’s [1] Fearne Copley is in prime position to take the GU13 title and is seeded to meet [2] Harriet Broadbridge in the final.

The championships commence at 5pm on Thursday 5th March and will be played at the University of Hull, Hull and East Riding Squash Club, North Ferriby Squash Club and Haltemprice Leisure Centre with the finals scheduled for Sunday. All spectators wishing to see the country’s rising stars are welcome free of charge.

View the draws on the official website, and for news and reaction visit the official Twitter page. 

Pictures courtesy of England Squash

‘My team and I looked at every part of my game and I have come back stronger’
By NATHAN DUGAN – Squash Mad Correspondent

Amanda Sobhy may have had a January to forget on the PSA World Tour, but tonight she showed a packed house that 2020 could be a very good year for her in the final of the Gaynor Cup in Cincinatti.

It was an incredibly high level throughout the match with both players saving their best squash of the week for the final. Sarah-Jane Perry had not been in her best form in the early rounds but used her experience to find a way to win.

Tonight though she started the match with accurate hitting and looked to be moving freely as she controlled a relatively one sided first game.

Amanda’s response in the second was intense, as the world number 8 used more holds and moved SJ to all four corners with relentless pressure.

The pace quickened and the execution of each shot was severe as her opponent, ranked one place higher, could merely stay in the rallies and hope for errors that just never came.

The third was more of the same onslaught until Amanda completely missed the ball at 10-4. The distraction and humour created by her visions of grandeur of what was going to be the game winning shot, carried over for the next few rallies, as SJ crept closer and closer to 10-9.

The rally that followed essentially ended the English number one’s challenge, as SJ made a strange shot selection by flicking the ball crosscourt into the tin in maybe a desperate attempt due to the work Amanda had delivered to her tiring legs.

On paper it would be easy to presume that SJ quit in the fourth or didn’t fight to the death, but in reality it was quite the opposite.

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In certainly the longest 11-1 game I have ever witnessed, the play was as intense and physically brutal as the rest of the match.

The only difference was that Amanda kept hold of the serve. To think at 8-0 that a bagel was even on the cards seemed very wrong, and to see how hard SJ had to work to earn that single point was incredible.

The fact that Amanda was giving a pumped-up scream at the end of each rally as the game neared its conclusion, also showed how tough the squash was.

It was a high quality match worthy of two players in the world top 10, and the Cincinnati crowd loved every minute.

Sobhy’s is the first American name to be added to the Gaynor Cup trophy and Amanda vowed to be back next year to defend her title.

Afterwards she explained how she and her support team had looked at every aspect of her performance and said: “Thank you for reminding me about those poor results! My team and I looked  at every part of my game, on and off court, the training, diet, nutrition, everything, and I have come back stronger.

“When you have come back from a career-threatening injury as I did with my achilles, coming back from a few poor results is nothing.”

Certainly her phenomenal movement, speed around the court and attacking strategy paid off with a wonderful win on home soil. She will hope to take that form with her to Chicago for the Windy City Open, where she and SJ are in opposite halves of the draw for this blockbuster event. 

PSA World Tour Bronze $51,250 Women’s Bahl & Gaynor Cincinnati Cup 2020, Cincinnati Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA..

Final:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-1 (45m)

Semi-finals:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 11-7, 4-11, 12-10, 11-7 (48m)
[2] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [4] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (51m)

Quarter-finals:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [5] Nele Gilis (BEL) 11-5, 11-2, 11-3 (24m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (31m)
[4] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt [7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 11-8, 12-10, 11-6 (33m)
[2] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [8] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 (65m)
Full results on www.squashinfo.com

Pictures courtesy of Cincinatti Country Club