Latest news with #Peel
RTÉ News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Leinster wary of a Scarlets side with nothing to lose
It may only be five weeks since the Scarlets last beat Leinster, but head coach Dwayne Peel says his team face the ultimate challenge if they're to pull off a repeat this afternoon. The Welsh side were 35-22 winners against Leinster in Round 16 of the URC in late April, a surprise win which ultimately proved the difference as they secured a spot in the play-offs, and next season's Champions Cup. As good as the Scarlets were in Llanelli that afternoon, the cavaet is that Leinster fielded a largely second string side, given it was a week before their Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton. Of this afternoon's team for the quarter-final, only five Leinster players started the corresponding game at Parc y Scarlets. And with his side now facing a wounded animal, Peel knows the size of the challenge against the Scarlets "There's no greater task than going to Dublin and we're looking forward to that challenge," Peel (below), a former assistant coach at Ulster, said this week. "We won't shy away from it, you've got to have confidence in your own group when you go there. "As much as they have some world-class names in their group, we've got some pretty good players and we're going to go there and give it the best we can." While Scarlets are significant underdogs, they do have history of pulling off some shocks in Dublin. In 2017 they became the first team to win a Pro12 semi-final away from home when they defeated Leinster at the RDS, and followed that up with another surprise win against Munster in the final at the Aviva Stadium. Eight years on from that incredible and unlikely title, the west Wales club have fallen from grace, and the prospect of them no longer being in the URC beyond 2026 is in play, with the Welsh Rugby Union reportedly considering dropping a professional side, or potentially merging two regions together. With all that going on, their achievement in getting back into play-off rugby is all the more impressive, and their return to Champions Cup rugby next season is a much-needed boost. With that secured, they travel to Dublin with absolutely nothing to lose. "It's going to be a great occasion and a case of embracing it," Peel added. "It's not about chasing five points, it's knockout rugby and it's all on the day. "We want to go further, we want to push a great team in Leinster as far as we can." With their Champions Cup defeat to Northampton still fresh in their memory, Leo Cullen insists there will be no complacency as they look to win three more games to end their four-year wait for silverware. Such is their fear of being seen to be complacent, the Leinster coach was reticent to go into details about whether or not Garry Ringrose would be fit for a potential semi-final next week. "Unfortunately Garry Ringrose is ruled out this week. We'll see what he'll be like if there is another week, but it's the here and now," he told RTÉ Sport. "We're only planning for now this weekend. We've already fallen into that trap, maybe looking too far ahead. "We are fully focused on Scarlets, and the medics will do what's best for Garry." And Cullen (above) says his side are determined to give their supporters something to celebrate this season. "This tournament will always have importance for us, regardless of what had happened up to this point. If we were in Cardiff [for the Champions Cup final], whether we were the winners or losers over there, we would still have the same mindset going into the quarter-final, because this is the bread and butter, the club. "This is, when we go to the fans, trying to sell the season tickets, this is what makes it up. "We feel a responsibility to the fans that have supported us unbelievably well over the course of the season, so hopefully they will see that in the performance of the team, because the team feel we need to put in a proper performance to reward the fans that turn up to watch us."
Wales Online
a day ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Leinster v Scarlets team news for huge URC quarter-final as Peel makes selection decision
Leinster v Scarlets team news for huge URC quarter-final as Peel makes selection decision Dwayne Peel has gone for continuity in selection for the date in Dublin It's a youthful Scarlets outfit, with Johnny Williams (centre) being the oldest player in the starting backs at 28. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Scarlets have named their team to face Leinster tomorrow afternoon. The two teams clash in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals this weekend, after Scarlets secured the last play-off place in the final round of regular season action. Dwayne Peel has opted for exactly the same XV that played Sharks on May 17. They lost 12-3 at Kings Park but had already qualified at that stage. The back three is comprised of Wales internationals Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Tom Rogers, with fellow internationals Joe Roberts and Johnny Williams linking up in the centres. Wales star Sam Costelow continues at fly-half and his half-back partner is 22-year-old Archie Hughes. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Josh Macleod skippers the side from openside flanker and is joined by Taine Plumtree and Vaea Fifita in the back row. Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias and Henry Thomas make up the front row, with Sam Lousi and Alex Craig packing down in the boiler house behind them. There is plenty of firepower on the bench, with Ioan Lloyd and Macs Page providing X-factor cover for the backline. Should Sam Wainwright come off the bench, he will make his 50th appearance for the west Walians. Star signing Marnus van der Merwe also provides support at hooker for Elias. "We have worked hard to get to the play-offs, now we have to embrace it, we have to make the most of it now we're here," explained Peel. "There is no greater task in club rugby than going to Dublin, but we're looking forward to it. "We won't shy away from it. We are confident in our own ability and we know we are going to have to be at our very, very best. "It is going to be a great occasion, it will be a new experience for a lot of our boys - we are going to have to be brave, we are going to have to be accurate and we are going to have to try and put our stamp on our game, play the Scarlets way." Leinster have a stacked match day 23 to face Scarlets, with All Blacks superstar Jordie Barrett lining up at inside centre alongside a whole host of Ireland stars. RG Snyman will make an impact off the bench with Dan Sheehan providing cover at hooker. Leinster XV: Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan. Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley. Scarlets XV: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Ellis Mee; Sam Costelow, Archie Hughes; Alec Hepburn, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Josh Macleod (C), Taine Plumtree. Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Dan Davis, Jarrod Taylor, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page. Article continues below Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday, May 31.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Finishing seven marathon challenge 'emotional' for Peel runner
A Peel runner who completed seven marathons in a week raising £3,700 for the RNLI said he felt a sense of "jubilation" on finishing the Rice ran a marathon each day between 17 and 23 May, racking up an overall distance of 183 miles (295km) and a combined elevation of 35,000 feet (10,668 metres).Completing the challenge in a total of 39 hours, with an average time of five and a half hours for each, which comprised five laps of Peel Hill ending at Peel Lifeboat 57-year-old gardener said completing the last marathon was "very emotional". With about 100 people cheering him on at the end, Geoff said: "As I was running down the hill I could see quite a few people gathering at the bottom, it was very emotional and just a good feeling to get it done.""The weather was not on my side as it was hot [and] I think the heat got to me." But he said aside from that, and picking up blisters on the third day, the week went "smoothly".He said he knew that physically and mentally he was strong enough as "a lot of it was down to discipline and keeping to the game plan".In the last few days of the challenge, about 20 people ran alongside him for portions of the course, which he said was a great help."You needed the support, there were a lot of times where I wish I had someone to talk to as the sheep weren't saying much," he said while it was "difficult to comprehend" the distance that he had run, he was "absolutely buzzing" and "still on cloud nine now".Having chosen to raise money for the RNLI he said he wanted to "put something back into the community"."I respect what the lifeboats have done," he added. RNLI community manager for the Isle of Man Dani Beckett said it was an "incredible achievement" and an "epic fundraising challenge".It was "inspiring that people believe in our mission and come up with such creative, and challenging ways to raise the vital funds we need to continue our work", she of Peel Lifeboat Station Stuart Blackley, who cheered Geoff on each day, said the funds would go towards safety equipment for the western branch of the RNLI. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on
The Welsh rugby team sending a clear message to the WRU after all that's gone on The Scarlets are taking on Leinster in the URC play-offs this weekend Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel with his players (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel says that his side can strengthen their position with a run in the United Rugby Championship play-offs amid all the uncertainty off the field in Welsh rugby. The west Walians are the only Welsh side in the URC play-offs, with a match against Leinster in Dublin this weekend. However, their run to the play-offs have been overshadowed by off-field events - with the Scarlets one of two teams, along with the Ospreys, not to have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement. That has seen the Welsh Rugby Union begin the process to implement the two-year option on the existing PRA, putting the futures of the two west Wales teams at risk. However, as the Scarlets - back in the play-offs for the first time since reaching the final in 2018 - head to Ireland, Peel says the players haven't been too concerned about what has been going on in boardrooms. "I think within these four walls obviously, it's not really overshadowed it," said Peel. "I think that, for ourselves, we focus a lot on the rugby. Conversations have been happening here as well above our heads and we're up to date and up to speed with everything that's been going on. "But we've concentrated on the game in hand. For ourselves and the region as a whole, I think it's a great week to be part of." Should Welsh rugby find itself in the position where four teams does go down to three, a number of different factors will likely decide who goes. Quite simply, with the two west Wales clubs on a different financial agreement to Cardiff and Dragons, merely who is able to survive the coming years could determine it. But, were it to come down to looking at the four sides equally, the fact that the Scarlets are the only team in the play-offs could, in theory, count for something. "Yes, I suppose there is an argument for that," admitted Peel. "I think that there's a lot of things that will come into that meritocracy argument, I'm sure. "For us, we're a proud region and rugby means a lot to the people of our community. And I think that if there's anything that we can do to improve our argument - to highlight it - that is performing on the field. "That undoubtedly carries weight. It's about us representing this great club and region, really doing it to the best of our ability, and putting our best foot forward. "That's all we can do as staff and players. For me, that has always been a big part of of our culture. That has always been a big part of why we play the game here. "For me, it was a big part of why I wanted to come back. I've I loved it as a player and I've loved being part of it as a coach as well. "So I think that it's about representing this region to the best of our ability. "If we can go as far as we can in this competition, then that highlights what it means to us as a group, and what it means to our fanbase and stakeholders." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. On whether on-field success should carry the most weight when it comes to deciding teams' fates, Peel added: "I can only speak from my perspective and I always want to be here as a successful rugby team. "I think that everything that carries off the back of that – the decisions – they are out of my hands. "All I can do, all we can do as a group, is put our best foot forward. "By us being successful, by us winning rugby games, that's the only currency we have as rugby players and rugby coaches." As for how the current situation would affect Peel in terms of building towards next season, the former Wales scrum-half was fairly relaxed as he kept his focus on the Irish province. "I think that those type of things will play out over the next couple of weeks and all we can do is concentrate on the here and now," he said. "The reality is that there are conversations going on above our heads at the minute and I know we're up to speed with everything. We have in our board to do the best best by this region. Article continues below "I think that all we can do as a group of players now is to continue playing as hard as we can and the other things will fall into place off the back of it. "As a group of players, we have an exciting weekend for us and the supporters. The board are obviously working hard on in the background."
BBC News
23-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Chris Garrett: Bomb expert killed in Ukraine to be repatriated to Isle of Man
The body of a bomb disposal specialist who was killed in Ukraine is due to be repatriated to the Isle of Man Garrett died in an incident in Izyum, in the east of the country, on 6 40-year-old was volunteering with the Ukraine National Guard, after previously helping in the country in both 2014 and 2017. He returned again when war broke out in February a cavalcade to escort Mr Garrett to his home town of Peel, veteran Jim Quinn said: "It was the very least we could do to bring this hero home to his family. Taking him down through his home town one last time is a privilege and an honour." Mr Garrett had been working to clear mines and train Ukrainian troops after co-founding a humanitarian and mine clearance charity called Prevail Together. 'An honour' Mr Quinn served in the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army for 14 years, including tours of Bosnia and said: "The respect and admiration that Chris has out in Ukraine is mirrored here within both the Ukrainian community and the Manx community."The veteran first met the bomb disposal specialist in 2014, later joining him in Ukraine for two missions delivering humanitarian aid in Garrett's remains will be met with a guard of honour, with members of his family also Moddey Dhoo Motorcycle Club will then lead the cavalcade from Ballasalla to Peel on the west coast of the Brian Corrie said: "It's an honour to be able to do something to help the family."He added that one of their members also served in Ukraine with Mr Garrett, and he would be among those taking convoy is due to leave at 15:30 BST. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
