Latest news with #JoshMacleod
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Scarlets prepared for 'different animal' Leinster
United Rugby Championship quarter-final: Leinster v Scarlets Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 31 May Kick-off: 15:00 BST Coverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, listen on BBC Radio Wales, follow live text on BBC Sport online. Captain Josh Macleod says Scarlets are prepared to face a fully loaded Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-final. Scarlets stunned Leinster with a 35-22 victory at Parc y Scarlets last month, although the runaway league leaders had made 11 changes for the visit to Llanelli. Leo Cullen rested a number of key players with one eye on the Champions Cup semi-final. But after losing out in Europe to Northampton Saints focus, the Irish side's focus now shifts back to the URC. "We're certainly expecting a bigger challenge this weekend with personnel," said Macleod. "Yes, they're going to be a different animal, we're preparing for that, but we've built nicely as well." Davies hits milestone as Scarlets stun Leinster Northampton stun Leinster in Dublin to reach final Scarlets are making their first appearance in the play-offs since 2018, when they were beaten 40-32 by Leinster in the final. Leinster, meanwhile, have made it to this stage in each of the past 10 seasons. And while Macleod recognises his side go to Dublin as underdogs, he believes they are more than capable of claiming another big scalp. "The confidence is good, there's no complacency, boys are still willing to turn up to work, train hard every day and continue to get better. At this stage of the season you can't really ask for more," said the back-rower. "We've got a changing room that are willing to fight for each other and when you get to the quarter-finals, who knows what can happen." Macleod says the Leinster game is a chance for Scarlets to repay some of their fans' faith after what has been a tumultuous period on and off the pitch. "They've had to endure some pretty tough results over the last couple of years," he said. "To be able to give back, with the opportunity to come over to Dublin, hopefully we can put out a performance they can be proud of." Macleod's fine form this season has seen him recalled to Wales' squad for this summer's tour of Japan. The 28-year-old will be looking to add to the two caps he won in the 2022 autumn internationals. "It's a massive honour and privilege to be able to get named," he said, while hoping the curtain will not fall on Scarlets' season this weekend. He is also looking forward to working with Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt, who will once again take interim charge as Wales continue to search for a permanent head coach. "I've only heard good words, so it's an exciting time and one that I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into," Macleod added.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Scarlets prepared for 'different animal' Leinster
United Rugby Championship quarter-final: Leinster v ScarletsVenue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Saturday, 31 May Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC One Wales, listen on BBC Radio Wales, follow live text on BBC Sport online. Captain Josh Macleod says Scarlets are prepared to face a fully loaded Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship (URC) stunned Leinster with a 35-22 victory at Parc y Scarlets last month, although the runaway league leaders had made 11 changes for the visit to Cullen rested a number of key players with one eye on the Champions Cup after losing out in Europe to Northampton Saints focus, the Irish side's focus now shifts back to the URC."We're certainly expecting a bigger challenge this weekend with personnel," said Macleod."Yes, they're going to be a different animal, we're preparing for that, but we've built nicely as well." Scarlets are making their first appearance in the play-offs since 2018, when they were beaten 40-32 by Leinster in the meanwhile, have made it to this stage in each of the past 10 while Macleod recognises his side go to Dublin as underdogs, he believes they are more than capable of claiming another big scalp."The confidence is good, there's no complacency, boys are still willing to turn up to work, train hard every day and continue to get better. At this stage of the season you can't really ask for more," said the back-rower."We've got a changing room that are willing to fight for each other and when you get to the quarter-finals, who knows what can happen."Macleod says the Leinster game is a chance for Scarlets to repay some of their fans' faith after what has been a tumultuous period on and off the pitch."They've had to endure some pretty tough results over the last couple of years," he said."To be able to give back, with the opportunity to come over to Dublin, hopefully we can put out a performance they can be proud of." Macleod's fine form this season has seen him recalled to Wales' squad for this summer's tour of 28-year-old will be looking to add to the two caps he won in the 2022 autumn internationals."It's a massive honour and privilege to be able to get named," he said, while hoping the curtain will not fall on Scarlets' season this weekend. He is also looking forward to working with Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt, who will once again take interim charge as Wales continue to search for a permanent head coach. "I've only heard good words, so it's an exciting time and one that I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into," Macleod added.
Wales Online
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Judgement Day event scrapped in new Welsh rugby twist
Judgement Day event scrapped in new Welsh rugby twist The Welsh club double-header won't return next season as the URC's fixtures were revealed Judgement Day will not be held next season (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Welsh rugby bosses have announced there will be no Judgement Day next season, as the United Rugby Championship fixtures were released. The Professional Rugby Board has decided to put the Principality Stadium event on hiatus, deciding there is no room in next season's calendar for the double-header. This year's event, which saw Cardiff beat the Ospreys before the Scarlets edged past the Dragons, drew in the smallest crowd for the event at the Principality Stadium. Today's announcement comes days after the WRU announced seismic change is coming to the game, with a move away from four evenly funded times. Indeed, the union are strongly considering cutting down to three sides having decided to walk away from talks over a new Professional Rugby Agreement following the Scarlets' and Ospreys' refusal to sign. You can read the latest on that situation here. The attendance was 28,328 for this season's Judgement Day, held in April - with the event, which was first introduced in 2013, having previously pulled in crowds of over 60,000 during its peak between 2016 and 2018. However, having been held at Cardiff City Stadium last year in front of 20,167, the return to the national stadium didn't deliver a massive audience. Just weeks later, Bristol Bears held a Gallagher Premiership match at the Principality Stadium - bringing in more than 50,000 fans for the clash with Bath. Article continues below The Bears will host another match in Cardiff next season, likely to be against Gloucester, as part of a double-header with their women's team. 'We will rethink the product we are offering and bring back an event to showcase Welsh professional rugby in the future,' said a PRB spokesperson on the decision to not put on Judgement Day next season. 'The concept has huge potential and its early incarnations were a proven success, but we think it is time to re-imagine it. 'Instead, this season will see Welsh rugby concentrate on attracting maximum crowds for the respective derby days and other showcase fixtures at our home venues.' Prior to this season's event, there had been eight other Judgement Days at the Principality Stadium - as well as the one at the Cardiff City Stadium in 2024. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. There was also a set of derbies held at Rodney Parade during Covid which were billed as Judgement Day, although they happened on consecutive days and no fans were able to attend. Despite the reduced crowds this year, those involved had remained keen for the event to continue in the coming seasons. "It is always a special occasion," said Scarlets captain Josh Macleod recently. "This was the first time in a while we have had three sides battling it out for a top eight place and play-offs. "It is vital for Welsh rugby to have a spectacle like this with four sides going against each other in back-to-back games. "We need to get fans through the door. This is one way we can do it." Ospreys head coach Mark Jones had also spoken about the importance of keeping Judgement Day going. "The concept is the right one where you have a day where everyone comes together and celebrates Welsh rugby with the talent we have and way we can perform," said Jones after his side's defeat to Cardiff at the Principality Stadium in April. "We need to work out how we get 60,000 in there like we used to, that's the challenge. The selfish side of me says open it up, make tickets £1, fill the place out and get them in love with rugby. "But I know electric is not free and you have to pay people to staff it and make money, so I get it. At some point we have to get people back in love with Welsh rugby, get them in the stadiums and cheering on the teams. "We have got to create heroes out of players. We should definitely try and keep it going and here at the Principality Stadium. Article continues below "Everybody is aligned around the fact it needs to be a big spectacle from a visual point of view also."
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scarlets' achievement 'should not be overshadowed'
Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod says their achievement of reaching the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs for the first time in seven years should not be overshadowed by Welsh rugby's off-field Welsh region finished eighth at the end of the regular season, despite defeat in their final game at Sharks in Durban, to set up a quarter-final away to top side Leinster on Saturday, 31 while the players and coaches were celebrating in South Africa, so another saga was unfolding back and Ospreys have not signed up to the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) and have been served notice on their current deal which expires in means they will both receive smaller budgets compared to Cardiff and Dragons - who have signed - as a result of a new two-tier funding WRU has also neither confirmed or denied it intends to cut a region. "We were obviously out in South Africa, come back and headlines have broke," Macleod told the Scrum V podcast."There's obviously a couple of conversations that go on in camp, but from my perspective, as captain, we've just been focused on one, the games out in South Africa and two, a massive opportunity in a quarter-final."Scarlets' play-off qualification was boosted by consecutive bonus-point wins against Ospreys, Dragons, Leinster and Lions."We haven't been involved in this stage of the competition since 2018, which is a fair old stint, as a squad. Where we've come from in comparison to last season, the growth that we've shown, I think that's something that needs to be recognised as a massive achievement," said Macleod. Scarlets travel to Dublin having stunned Leinster in their 35-22 victory in Llanelli just a few weeks had rested a raft of front-line stars for their Champions Cup semi-final and Macleod knows they will be a different animal come the quarter-final."It's going to be interesting, they're probably going to have a slightly stronger squad than previously," said the back row, "but who knows?"Reflecting on the season as a whole, Macleod added: "At the start we set out as a team to compete in every facet in every game and for large parts we've done that. We've been there or thereabouts throughout the season and something has obviously clicked towards the tail end."Can I put a finger on it? No. Is it luck? I don't know. Is it a lot of hard work? Most definitely. "We've got a tough group at the moment that are willing to fight for each other and you can't really go too wrong with that."
BBC News
21-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scarlets' Macleod returns from injury for Stormers test
United Rugby Championship: Scarlets v StormersVenue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Saturday, 22 March Kick off: 15:00 GMTCoverage: Live in S4C & via BBC iPlayer. Updates on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, followed by report and reaction Captain Josh Macleod returns from injury to start for Scarlets in their United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture against 28, was ruled out of his side's past two matches with a hamstring injury but will lead his side at Parc y Scarlets on internationals Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Taine Plumtree, Kemsley Mathias and Henry Thomas are all included in the matchday squad as head coach Dwayne Peel makes six changes from the side that took the field against will feature in a back three that includes Ioan Nicholas and Macs Page against the South African and Joe Roberts form the midfield as Ioan Lloyd and Gareth Davies continue at half-back. Marnus van der Merwe is recalled at hooker to pack down in the front row between Alec Hepburn and Sam Craig and Sam Lousi form the second row as Scarlets go for a new-look back row, with Macleod 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."Ryan Elias, Mathias and Thomas provide back row cover on the bench - with former Stormer Jarrod Taylor and Dan Davis also among the forward replacements. Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe and Tomi Lewis cover the Murray and Johnny Williams are both ruled out due to calf injuries. Scarlets sit 10th in the URC table following defeats in Ulster and side boast a strong record on home soil though, winning their past six matches at Parc y are 12th in the league standings but are level with Scarlets on 28 narrow win at Bulls on 1 March ended a run of four successive defeats across all director of rugby John Dobson said: "Scarlets have been impressive this season and we know that it will have to be an 80-minute performance to get the result that we need from this one." 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 Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Henry Thomas, Jarrod Taylor, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Tomi Warrick Gelant; Ben Loader, Wandisile Simelane, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Herschel Jantjies; Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (capt), Ruben van Heerden, Deon Fourie, Marcel Theunissen, Evan André-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Sazi Sandi, Gary Porter, Willie Engelbrecht, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jurie Matthee, Damian Eoghan Cross (IRFU)Assistant referees: Mike English (WRU), Tom Spurrier (WRU)TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
