These are your evening rugby headlines on Friday, March 21. Wales coach candidate in major bust-up Leicester Tigers coach Michael Cheika has reportedly sparked controversy at Welford Road by allegedly removing one of his coaching staff without consulting club bosses. It was reported last month that Matt Everard had been stood down as the Tigers' defence coach, with MailOnline reporting that he and Cheika - who has recently been linked with the vacant Wales head coach role - disagreed over defensive "systems and principles". However, the publication also reports that Cheika told Everard not to return to work at all last month, with the former Tigers player not returning to the club since, despite still remaining under contract. It is alleged that the dismissal was made without the approval of Leicester’s chief executive Andrea Pinchen and general manager Richard Wilks, with the move "causing tension and frustration" amongst players and the club hierarchy. Cheika is set to depart Welford Road himself at the end of the season and has emerged as a candidate for not only the Wales job but a role with French side Racing 92 and a potential return as Australia head coach. MailOnline also reports that Everard has been asked to return to the Tigers next season following Cheika's expected exit. However, such a move currently looks unlikely with the defence coach also of interest to a reforming Worcester Warriors side. Dragons make emergency signing The Dragons have announced the signing of fly-half Josh Thomas from Cardiff RFC. The 24-year-old former Ospreys man has joined the Rodney Parade side until the end of season, following injuries to outside-halves Angus O'Brien, Lloyd Evans and recent debutant Harri Ford. A product of Pontarddulais RFC, Thomas has previously represented Wales at U18s and U20s level as well as Newcastle Falcons. He is now set to make his Dragons debut off the bench against Ulster on Saturday evening. “I’m excited for the opportunity to make my debut on the weekend against Ulster,” said Thomas. “I’d like to thank [head coach Filo Tiatia] for the opportunity he’s given me and Matt O’Brein who’s helped me come in this week to get up to date with everything. “All the boys have been great welcoming me in this week and helping me learn as fast as I can. It’s an exciting opportunity to play in front of a home crowd down at Rodney Parade, especially for the last time this season so the boys want to give them something to cheer about.” Tiatia has welcomed Wales trio Aaron Wainwright, Elliot Dee and Rhodri Williams back to his side this weekend, with Harri Keddie also returning from five months on the sidelines to make his 100th URC appearance for the Dragons. "Ulster have a good set piece with big ball carriers like (Stuart) McCloskey," said the head coach. "They have threats across the park so it will be a test. "We've lost a lot of players since the first game with the Ospreys. It is totally different to what we've been playing the last six or seven weeks. "It's given opportunities to some of the players at this level," he added. "Some have never played at this level, so they got exposed a bit earlier, which is not a bad thing, but we have opportunities to keep growing." Dragons: Huw Anderson, Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (capt), Ashton Hewitt, Will Reed, Rhodri Williams; Rodrigo Martinez, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, George Nott, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harrison Keddie, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Steve Cummins, Taine Basham, Dane Blacker, Josh Thomas, Jared Rosser. Scarlets captain returns Josh Macleod has returned from injury to lead the Scarlets in their URC clash with the Stormers on Saturday. The 28-year-old has missed his side's last two matches with a hamstring issue but will captain the team at Parc y Scarlets this weekend as Dwayne Peel makes six changes from their last game against Ulster. Wales internationals Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Taine Plumtree, Kemsley Mathias and Henry Thomas are all included in the matchday squad, with Joe Roberts starting at centre. However, Blair Murray has been ruled out with a calf injury, as has Johnny Williams. The back three sees Mee line up with Ioan Nicholas and Macs Page, with James Roberts also named in midfield and Ioan Lloyd and Gareth Davies forming the half-back partnership. In the forwards, Marnus van der Merwe returns alongside Alec Hepburn and Sam Wainwright in the front row, with Alex Craig and Sam Lousi behind them at lock. In the back row, Macloed is joined by Vaea Fifita and Taine Plumtree. "You look at how tight the league is at the moment and it is clear it is going to go down to the wire in terms of the play-off race," said Peel. "Our form here in Llanelli has been excellent this season with the supporters really getting behind the boys. "We are going to need that again against a Stormers side who have come here with pretty much a full crew with a couple of Springboks back from injury." Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree. Replacements: Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Henry Thomas, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Tomi Lewis. Beard back for Ospreys Wales lock Adam Beard will make his return for the Ospreys against Connacht on Saturday after four months on the sidelines. The 29-year-old suffered a knee injury during the autumn Test against Australia but will now line up alongside James Ratti in the second row for the URC clash in Swansea. Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Gareth Thomas are all absent from the matchday squad after featuring against England in last weekend's Six Nations defeat, but Wales squad members Dan Edwards, Sam Parry and Ben Warren will all be involved. Parry captains the side as he starts alongside Garyn Phillips and Tom Botha in the front row, with Morgan Morris, Morgan Morse and Justin Tipuric featuring at the base of the scrum. Kieran Hardy and Edwards make up the half-back pairing, with Keiran Williams and Evardi Boshoff in midfield and Keelan Giles, Daniel Kasende and Jack Walsh all starting in the back three. Hooker George McGuigan is in line to make his debut off the bench following his arrival on a short term deal from Gloucester earlier this week. "It sounds a cliché but every game is really important from here on in," said Ospreys first team coach Duncan Jones. "I can't remember a league ever being so tight from third all the way down to 12th. "Any results that doesn't go your way doesn't go your way doesn't mean you are out of it, but it certainly makes it more difficult." Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Garyn Phillips, Sam Parry (capt), Tom Botha, James Ratti, Adam Beard, Morgan Morse, Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris. Replacements: George McGuigan, Steffan Thomas, Ben Warren, James Fender, Tristan Davies, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Phil Cokanasiga, Iestyn Hopkins