Latest news with #Tipuric
Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Ospreys announce player departure list as Wales legend's career officially over
Ospreys announce player departure list as Wales legend's career officially over Justin Tipuric's playing career is over, but there are still plans to give him a fitting farewell Tipuric will become the Ospreys' defence coach from next season (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency ) The Ospreys have confirmed the four players who will leave at the end of this season, with Justin Tipuric's playing career officially at an end as he prepares to take up coaching. The openside - who has enjoyed a remarkable career for club and country - missed the Ospreys' final matches of the season after picking up an injury against Lyon in the Challenge Cup quarter-final, denying him a fitting goodbye. However, in a statement confirming this season's departures, the club confirmed their plans to honour his retirement as he takes up the role of defence coach. As well as Tipuric, the Ospreys confirmed that Tristan Davies, Adam Beard and Owen Williams would be leaving. Wales lock Beard, who has been rested for this summer's tour of Japan, is moving to France - with Montpellier understood to be the likely destination. Between them, Tipuric and Beard have played 370 times for the Ospreys. Article continues below Only Alun Wyn Jones and Paul James having managed more than Tipuric's 229 appearances. Tipuric made his Ospreys debut in 2009, with Beard first turning out for the club in 2014 as they both became mainstays. Tipuric will now take up a place on Mark Jones' coaching ticket for next season. The plan had originally been for former Wales wing Jones to replace Toby Booth as head coach ahead of next season, with Tipuric then taking on the role of defence coach once hanging up his boots. However, Booth's early exit in December meant Jones was promoted early, but the mid Walian was keen on Tipuric enjoying his final season of playing. The other leavers from the Ospreys are fly-half Williams and back-row Davies. Wales international Williams, who earned a Wales recall in 2023 on the back of joining the Ospreys, is set to move to Nice next season. No destination for flanker Davies, who played seven times for the Ospreys this season, has been confirmed. "Everyone at the club would like to take this opportunity to thank all the players for their time at the Ospreys and wish them the best in their future endeavours," said the Ospreys in a statement. Article continues below "The club also wishes to assure our supporters that Justin will receive a fitting farewell at an appropriate time, as he concludes his remarkable rugby career and transitions to his role as a first team coach at the Ospreys."
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Justin Tipuric's rugby career over unless team-mates can give him one more shot
Justin Tipuric's rugby career over unless team-mates can give him one more shot The Wales and Ospreys legend is retiring at the end of the season and won't play again unless the Welsh side can make the URC play-offs Tipuric will become the Ospreys' defence coach from next season (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency ) Justin Tipuric is relying on his team-mates to give him at least one more game as a professional rugby player. The Wales great is targeting a potential United Rugby Championship play-off return after not travelling to South Africa for the Ospreys' final league matches against Sharks and Lions. He has not featured since suffering a pectoral injury against Lyon in April, with the openside retiring after this season to take up a role on the club's coaching staff. Mark Jones' side sit 11th in the table, likely needing two wins to make the play-offs and offer hope that Tipuric hasn't already played his final game of rugby. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free "Fingers crossed, we'll be coming back to a fixture he's available for and we're trying to keep the fires burning this end so that he hasn't played his last game of rugby," Jones said on Tipuric, who is currently rehabbing in Wales. "The medics have certainly said that (a return) is not out of the question and he's certainly targeting that. "He hasn't stepped over into the coaching world yet and is still behaving like a player and is doing his best to be available should Ospreys require him. Article continues below "There's no doubt that'll be in the back of players' minds, because he's been an incredible part of the Ospreys for a long time. He's a player that makes us better. "That's what we're trying to keep the fire burning this end, so he hasn't played his last game of rugby." Jones, meanwhile, has backed Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to thrive on a Lions tour, should either make Andy Farrell's selection for the tour of Australia later today. Listen to the latest Welsh rugby podcast The pair will find out if they've made the squad this afternoon when Farrell's squad is announced at the O2 in London. Morgan and Lake will be miles away in South Africa, likely on a bus from the airport to their hotel in Durban ahead of Friday's game with the Sharks. Ospreys coach Jones believes that both would make fine tourists, should they get the nod. "I think they could massively thrive," he said. "The age profile of them, how thirsty they are to get better is evident to us on a daily basis. "But I think going in around more people of that level, who think the same but have maybe been on tours before or have won trophies, that'll be incredible learning. "You'll have a whole lot of growth out of those conversations. Different coaches and a different tour, it's packed with games. "It can be a real challenge for a player, but I think they'll thrive in that environment. They'll only become better for it. "I'm sure those boys will have been part of discussions by the Lions coaches. I'm sure of that, from their international performances and Ospreys performances. "Hopefully there'll be one or two more considered, too. Fingers crossed we've got some exciting news to celebrate." He added: "It'll be a nerve-wracking time for those boys who think they're in the reckoning. No player ever thinks they're guaranteed. It's such a high-quality crop of players vying for those roles. Article continues below "Those guys will be nervous. They'll want to go. We've had a conversation about that, how we handle it either way. We're ready for it. "Hopefully we'll be somewhere where everyone can enjoy it together and make it a moment to remember."
Wales Online
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Wales legend robbed of farewell and Lions hopeful suffers freak injury
Tonight's rugby news as Wales legend robbed of farewell and Lions hopeful suffers freak injury The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Tipuric has been ruled out of a final home farewell (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency ) These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, April 24. Welsh legend robbed of farewell Ospreys star Justin Tipuric will miss out on making a home farewell appearance at the Stadium this weekend, having been ruled out of their URC derby clash with the Dragons through injury. The 35-year-old - who will become the Ospreys defence coach for the 2025/26 campaign after hanging up his boots at the end of the current season - was due to play in front of a home crowd for the last time on Saturday. Article continues below However, a pectoral injury suffered in the region's Challenge Cup defeat to Lyon earlier this month means the former Wales captain will miss out - and could mean that he has played his last game in professional rugby. The Ospreys' play-off chances look slim as they currently sit in 13th place, but they could still secure qualification with wins in all of their remaining three games. Therefore, there is still a chance that Tipuric could feature in those knockout games, which will be held in June. Fellow Wales international Adam Beard, who will leave the region at the end of the season, is hoping to be back for selection after missing the defeat against Cardiff. 25% OFF DEAL NOW: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Discussing the fitness of both players, head coach Mark Jones said he was hopeful Beard would return this weekend, explaining: "We're hoping that we can get some rugby into him by the end of the year. We'll see how he's looking for this week, we're not 100% sure as it stands, but we're hoping to get him back as soon as we can. "Same with Tips, we want Tips to keep rehabbing like he is. He wants to remain a player for the end of the year which is awesome. "We're trying to go through that process of getting him back out on the field and if we can extend our season longer and longer, we give those boys a better chance of of playing more games for us. "There's potential," added Jones when asked if Tipuric could return if the Ospreys qualified for the play-offs. "Yeah there's definitely potential to see him on the rugby field for sure. Physios and conditioners are working hard with what that looks like and most importantly Tips, his mindset is he wants to play another few games for the Ospreys. "That's really important isn't it? If you think you can or you think you can't, you're probably right." Lions hopeful suffers freak injury British & Irish Lions hopeful Ben Curry will miss his final audition for a spot on this summer's tour of Australia after being ruled out by a freak injury. The back row - who is in contention for a spot on the tour after impressing on England duty - will miss Sale Sharks' Gallagher Premiership clash with play-off rivals Saracens due to having "a bit of metal" stuck in his leg. 'It's a bit of a scratch and sniff injury,' said head coach Alex Sanderson. 'It's a weird one, I've not heard of it before. 'There's a bit of metal in his leg, which is irritating the muscle, but nothing's torn. It's around the site of an old operation where he had the stitches. There's little chance of him tearing the muscle, but it's uncomfortable for him.' On how long Curry will be out for, Sanderson added: 'He's running around, so hopefully it will have sorted itself out in another week. We have given him as long as we could, but he won't make this game." Curry faces stiff competition for a place on the Lions' tour, with his brother Tom, Wales captain Jac Morgan and Ireland's Josh van der Flier all in contention for a highly competitive back row spot. Cardiff make three changes for crucial clash Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt has made three changes to his side to face Munster in their crucial URC clash on Friday night. The region saw their play-off hopes boosted by a bonus point win over the Ospreys on Judgement Day and could take a further step towards cementing their place in the top eight by beating the Irish province, who trail them by a single point in the league table. The three changes come in the pack, with Danny Southworth starting in the front row and Josh McNally back from RAF duty to rejoin the Blue & Blacks' engine room. In the back row, Thomas Young will make his last appearance at the Arms Park ahead of his move to the Dragons next season. "We are all really excited for Friday night," said Sherratt. "These are exactly the kind of games you want to be involved in. 'There's no getting away from it, it's one of the biggest games of the season. It's a game with a lot riding on it, in a league that's incredibly tight and against a brilliant team full of internationals, with massive history. 'We will need to be at our best and produce our most complete performance of the season to secure the result we need. If we can do that then we will travel to South Africa in a strong position. 'We are expecting another really good crowd and we know when we need our supporters, they come out in force and get behind us," the head coach added. "For a number of players, it will also be their last game at the Arms Park so there is a huge amount of motivation to make it a special occasion.' Article continues below Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas; Gabe Hamer-Webb; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau. Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Ben Donnell, Aled Davies, Tinus de Beer.
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Injured Tipuric to miss Ospreys home farewell
United Rugby Championship: Ospreys v DragonsVenue: Stadium, Swansea Date: Saturday, 26 April Kick off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Listen live on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app. Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric will be denied a home farewell appearance after being ruled out of the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against Dragons on 35, is retiring at the end of the season to become the Ospreys defence coach and might have played his final professional was due to have a farewell home match at the Stadium this weekend but picked up a pectoral injury during the Challenge Cup defeat against Lyon earlier this have two regular away league matches remaining when they travel to South Africa to play Sharks and Lions in May with no chance of a home match should they reach the are currently 13th in the URC table and have a slim chance of play-off qualification if they win their final three games. The play-offs are held in June with Tipuric not yet ruled out of a return by those dates. Tipuric, who won 93 Wales caps and made a Lions Test appearance before his international retirement in 2023, made his Ospreys debut in November 2009 and has so far played 229 games for his home region. Only Alun Wyn Jones (268) and Paul James (232) have played more lock Adam Beard, who Ospreys announced this week will leave at the end of the season, was hoping to play against Dragons after missing the defeat against Cardiff. Ospreys name their team on Friday.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ospreys wait on Tipuric amid forward injury crisis
URC Judgement Day: Ospreys v CardiffVenue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 19 April Kick off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC One Wales and via iPlayer; listen live on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary, followed by report and reaction on the BBC Sport website and app. Ospreys fans face a wait to see whether legendary flanker Justin Tipuric has played his final game for them, with the region suffering a forward injury 35, is retiring at the end of the season to become the Ospreys defence coach and could be ruled out of the rest of this are waiting to see whether British and Irish Lions duo Tipuric and Adam Beard will feature again during the 2025-26 eight Morgan Morris and Beard's fellow lock Rhys Davies have been ruled out for the rest of the season as they face surgery. Head coach Mark Jones is counting the cost of the Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat against Lyon in Davies and Beard were forced off injured during that match and Morris played through the pain have four league games remaining in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and are battling for a top-eight play-off place. Jones' side face Cardiff at the Principality Stadium on 19 April before a home derby against Dragons, then two matches to finish in South Africa. Tipuric concern Tipuric, who won 93 Wales caps and made a Lions Test appearance before his international retirement in 2023, made his Ospreys debut in November 2009 and has so far played 229 games for his home was due to have a farewell home match at the Stadium against Dragons on Saturday, 26 Tipuric picked up a pectoral injury in the early stages against Lyon to cast doubt on his appearance on home turf in nine will be honoured in Swansea whether he plays against Dragons or not."We're not sure [if he will play]," said Jones."We've set it up for him and his family and it's all set up for Tips to be around that game. "He doesn't need surgery, which is awesome news. His mindset is that he isn't finished yet. "We're giving him the best opportunity to get out there, which is brilliant."Beard, 29, missed the Six Nations after suffering a knee injury in Wales' autumn series defeat to Australia in November 2024 before returning to action for Ospreys against Connacht in March. The Lions second row is being linked with a move to Montpellier next season. Davies blow Ospreys head coach Jones says Morris and Davies will not play again for his side this season but have not yet ruled them out of Wales' tour to Japan in July."Morgan and Rhys are waiting for some surgical intervention and that's going to happen later in the week," said Jones."We're assuming we won't see them for our games. Whether they get back for tours or anything like that, I'm not sure."We'll have to wait and see but we don't see them being around for us."It is another blow for Davies who missed nine months of action in 2024 because of a knee injury before returning on 1 26-year-old then suffered another setback which forced him out of action for almost three was very impressive in the three games he has played since his return at the end of March but has cruelly been sidelined again."He's disappointed because he's had to deal with so much this year, mentally around the injuries and the disappointment of being injured," said Jones."He has put so much effort and commitment into coming back and everybody could see that work he's done has been incredible. "He's come back looking like a million dollars in the way he's played."Morris, 26, suffered the ankle problem in the first half of the Lyon defeat but battled through the pain to finish the game."He's got he's got an issue with his foot in terms of the stability of it," said Jones."The concern is it's not going to fix itself and might need some intervention, so he's going to get that done."We feel that sets him up best for a pretty quick pre-season and he can hit the ground running for next year."The thing is to get him right and give him the best chance of flying into next season."
