By Ben James,Glen Williams

Copyright walesonline

Here are your rugby morning headlines for Wednesday, September 24. Corniel van Zyl is eager to step up as Cardiff head coach following Matt Sherratt’s departure to join the Wales coaching setup. Sherratt was officially appointed as Steve Tandy’s attack coach on a permanent basis this Monday, just days before the Blue and Blacks kick off their United Rugby Championship campaign. Forwards coach Van Zyl will assume control for Saturday’s season opener against the Lions at the Arms Park alongside fellow assistant coaches Gethin Jenkins, Jonny Goodridge and Scott Andrews. WalesOnline understands players have been told Van Zyl will lead the team in the immediate future, with the South African keen on the job. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. “Every player in their career tries to go to the next level, it’s the same in coaching,” he said. “You try and do something new. “I have been doing what I am doing [as forwards coach] for a few years now, so it’s time to do something else. It’s a massive honour to be asked [to step up].” All of Cardiff’s coaches will shoulder increased responsibilities following Sherratt’s departure as the club look to “implement a longer-term plan”. “It happened quickly, so at the moment we are just preparing for the Lions and then the week after for the second game,” said Van Zyl. “That’s all that’s on the table now and we will find a way to make it work best for the club. “We have a good, experienced coaching set-up and there was a cake that was cut in five pieces, now it’s the same cake cut in four. We will take more responsibility in certain aspects of the game.” He added: “The players have been really positive, they just move on and project all of their energy forward. You look up to someone who is leading you and the next moment he is not there, so somebody else needs to step up and take the responsibility. “We just move on and it’s business as usual. There is no time in the game to look back and ask why, it’s just about projecting all our energy forward. “We all believe in the same vision that we had with Matt, so it will just continue and we will drive standards. We all learnt a lot from Matt and those experiences can help take us forward.” World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward says he is “intrigued” by the idea of Welsh clubs joining a future Anglo-Welsh league. Writing in his Daily Mail column , the former England boss called for the return of promotion and relegation to the Premiership and highlighted how reborn clubs such as Worcester could benefit. He also said that the likes of Welsh stars Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams signing for Bristol Bears and Newcastle Red Bulls respectively is a “mouth-watering” prospect. But Woodward added that incorporating Welsh teams could add an extra dimension to the competition, though he stressed it would likely be of greater benefit to regions across the Severn Bridge than to English sides. “I would still like to see promotion and relegation come back in, especially with the likes of Worcester now reborn,” he said, discussing this year’s PREM. “I’m also intrigued by the possibility of Welsh teams joining in the future – but that would do more for those over the Severn Bridge than those in England.” The debate over cross-border expansion has long divided opinion. Dragons second-row Barny Langton-Cryer says there is a “real buzz” around the region as they prepare for the new campaign. Dragons have confirmed several big-name signings for the upcoming campaign and Langton-Cryer believes there is a real optimism heading into the season. He told The Rugby Paper : “There’s a real buzz around the Dragons at the moment. With the new signings coming in, there’s a sense of momentum and belief building within the squad. “It’s exciting to be part of that and to know I can contribute to what we’re trying to build. The future looks really positive, and I’m just grateful to be involved in it.” While clearly it’s about getting his head down and getting ahead of the stiff competition for him this season, the 24-year-old does, of course, harbour ambitions of breaking into Steve Tandy’s Wales squad. “For me, it’s about continuing to develop and keep improving every single day,” he added. “I want to establish myself at the Dragons, contribute as much as I can to the team, and hopefully push on to higher honours in the future. “Long term, I’d love to represent Wales, but for now my focus is on working hard, learning, and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.”