Latest news with #CarmarthenQuins
Wales Online
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Welsh team forced to fly out semi-pro players from rival region amid late crisis in South Africa
Welsh team forced to fly out semi-pro players from rival region amid late crisis in South Africa The Dragons' miserable season could still plumb new depths as they head into the final game without 22 players Lewis Morgan in action for Carmarthen Quins (Image: Ian WIlliams/Huw Evans Agency ) The injury-hit Dragons have been forced to borrow players from Super Rygbi Cymru ahead of their final United Rugby Championship fixture against the Bulls in Pretoria. Filo Tiatia's side end a nightmare campaign at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, having lost the last 16 matches in a row in the league. And things aren't about to get any easier, with the Bulls having been described as the toughest away trip in the competition by Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt last week. To make matters worse for the Dragons, they are without a staggering 22 players as they prepare to face the Bulls, who currently sit second in the league. With an all-Gwent final in Super Rygbi Cymru this Sunday, the Dragons have had to look beyond Newport and Ebbw Vale for support. At short notice, they've flown out Carmarthen Quins hooker Lewis Morgan and Llandovery loosehead Jamie Hughes to take up places on the replacements' bench. As well as being limited to who they could call up because of the maiden SRC final, they also had to contend with finding players who could get time off work to fly out to South Africa. Article continues below 21-year-old Morgan offers coverage at hooker, with Tiatia's side without Wales international Elliot Dee - whose wife is expecting their second baby - as well as the injured Oli Burrows and Sam Scarfe. James Benjamin also picked up a chest injury last week, resulting in the call-up for former Scarlets and Wales U20s hooker Morgan to back up Brodie Coughlan. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free 28-year-old loosehead Hughes has been a leading figure for Llandovery and answers the call following injuries to Rhodri Jones, Rodrigo Martinez and Josh Reynolds. Defeat without a bonus point would see the Dragons - whose only win came on the opening day of the season against the Ospreys - equal the worst-ever finish in the league in terms of points gained. In fact, were they to lose by a margin of 108 points or more, they would stand outright as the worst season in the United Rugby Championship on that metric - going beyond Zebre's 2021/22 campaign. Were the match not difficult enough, the Bulls will be determined to pay a fitting tribute to former Springboks winger Cornal Hendricks, who died at the age of 37 this week. Article continues below Dragons: Angus O'Brien; Harry Rees-Weldon, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Huw Anderson; Lloyd Evans, Rhodri Williams; Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ben Carter, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Lewis Morgan, Jamie Hughes, Paula Latu, Barny Langton-Cryer, Evan Minto, Che Hope, Ewan Rosser, Ashton Hewitt. Unavailable (22): Harri Ackerman (arm), Dmitri Arhip (knee), Taine Basham (leg), James Benjamin (shoulder), Oli Burrows (shoulder), Steve Cummins (arm), Elliot Dee (personal), Rio Dyer (ankle), Cai Evans (leg), Solomone Funaki (knee), Rhodri Jones (calf), Harrison Keddie (leg), Dan Lydiate (knock), Rodrigo Martinez (leg), George Nott (knee), Josh Reynolds (shoulder), Jared Rosser (pec), Sam Scarfe (shoulder), Matthew Screech (knock), Josh Thomas (leg), Scott Williams (leg), Luke Yendle (knee).
South Wales Guardian
29-04-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Chance of Llandovery RFC drawing Quins in semi-final
Long odds perhaps but an in-form Quins could be the surprise packet at the quarter-final stages of the first ever running of the SRC competition. The Carmarthen side's outstanding 15-12 win over RGC at Colwyn Bay last Saturday at the so called 'wild card' stage , pitting eighth-placed RGC against ninth-placed Carmarthen Quins, now gives the West Walians a place in the quarter finals on May 3. They face a difficult trip to Ebbw Vale in the realisation that a win at Eugene Cross Park would secure a place in the semi finals. If they were indeed to get to the last four, they would proceed to play the winners of this Saturday's S4C televised Llandovery-Pontypool quarter final. A Llandovery victory over Pooler on May 3 would guarantee a semi final spot for the Drovers against Ebbw Vale or Carmarthen Quins on May 10. If it were to be an all West Walian semi final, the venue would be at Church Bank by dint of Llandovery having finished the higher of the two sides at the end of the regular season. Were Ebbw Vale to beat the Quins and Llandovery beat Pontypool in the quarter finals, then the Steelmen would have home advantage over the Drovers through the same reasoning. So what might happen in the quarter finals this Saturday? Ebbw Vale are undefeated at home so the challenge for the Quins is huge but they will take confidence from an excellent win at RGC, through tries from wing Louis Rees, fly half Ifan Davies and replacement prop James Newnian. If skipper and lock Lee Taylor can galvanise his pack to stand up to the aggressive power play of the Ebbw eight and get parity of possession, then a shock could be on the cards. At Church Bank, the Drovers will have to be at their best against in-form Pooler who recently beat top of the league Cardiff 47-27. Shorn of their top players, Llandovery slipped up 34-33 at Bridgend in their last game of the regular season but, even with the return of the likes of Lee Rees, Adam Warren and Joe Powell, they will have it all to do. All West Wales rugby men will be keeping their fingers crossed that Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins can record a famous double over Gwent opponents, to set up a prospectively momentous Church Bank clash on May 10. Wild card results: Bridgend 33 - 30 Swansea; RGC 12 - 15 Carmarthen Quins. Quarter finals - May 3 Cardiff v Bridgend; Llandovery v Pontypool; Ebbw Vale v Carmarthen Quins; Newport v Aberavon All kick off at 2.30pm except the televised Llandovery v Pontypool (5.15pm). Semi finals - May 10 Cardiff or Bridgend v Newport or Aberavon; Ebbw Vale or Carmarthen Quins v Llandovery or Pontypool. Final – May 17 Sides with highest regular season placing have home advantage at the semi-final and final stage.
South Wales Argus
23-04-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ex-Welsh international Rhodri Jones signs new Dragons deal
Jones, who has won 24 caps for his country, joined the Dragons ahead of the 2022-2023 campaign and has become a key figure in the front row. The 33-year-old, who has also represented Llandovery, Carmarthen Quins, Scarlets and Ospreys, has so far made a total of 37 appearances for Dragons. Jones made 13 appearances in his first season with Dragons, earning a Wales call-up and three more caps under Wayne Pivac. He has played on both sides of the scrum and was an ever-present last season, making 19 appearances. 'It is great that Rhodri has decided to continue playing for Dragons RFC,' said forwards coach Sam Hobbs. 'As a Welsh international, he brings crucial experience to a young forward pack and has made a big impact in his first couple of seasons here with his work rate and set-piece experience before being unlucky with injury. 'We look forward to him finishing this season well and kicking on next season, competing with an exciting group of front rowers.' Jones is delighted to have agreed a new contract to stay at Rodney Parade. 'I've really enjoyed my time with Dragons and felt like I was playing my best rugby last season,' he said. 'This season I haven't been able to play as much as I would have liked due to injury but I'm looking forward to pushing hard towards the end of the season. "I'm excited to continue working with Filo [Tiatia] and the other coaches as we look ahead to next season.'
