Latest news with #URCJudgementDay
BBC News
18-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Morgan leads weakened Ospreys against Cardiff
URC Judgement Day: Ospreys v CardiffVenue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 19 April Kick off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Scrum V Live BBC One Wales; 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. Cardiff have recalled Wales prop Corey Domachowski to the starting line-up for Saturday's 'Judgement Day' showdown with Ospreys at Principality Domachowski is one of four changes with lock Ben Donnell and flanker Alex Mann also returning to the Rey Lee-Lo not fit, Harri Millard moves to outside centre and Gabriel Hamer-Webb comes in on the left skipper Jac Morgan leads an Ospreys side weakened by injuries in the pack that leaves them without Justin Tipuric, Adam Beard, Morgan Morris and Rhys Davies for the game in the United Rugby Championship (URC).With Beard and Davies unavailable, James Fender and James Ratti start in the second row, while Tristan Davies lines up at six, Jac Morgan is at open-side and Morgan Morse starts at eight. Gareth Thomas starts for Ospreys at loosehead prop, with Sam Parry lining up at hooker and Tom Botha completing the front Morgan-Williams is named at scrum half with Dan Edwards at 10. Keiran Williams partners Evardi Boshoff in the the back three, Jack Walsh starts at full-back, with Keelan Giles on one wing and Dan Kasende on the other. Form guide With four games to play Cardiff are the highest ranked of the Welsh sides in the URC - but are only three points ahead of Ospreys and the top eight sides qualifying for the play-off quarter-finals, Cardiff go into round 15 in ninth place, but level on 36 points with Edinburgh and Benetton above them. Their other remaining games see them host Munster followed by a trip to South Africa to face Bulls and also end the regular season in the southern hemisphere - against Sharks and Lions - after hosting Dragons on Saturday, 26 Swansea-based region have only one URC win over a fellow Welsh side this season, by a single point at home to Scarlets in contrast, the capital club have only lost once to a Welsh region in this campaign, at home to Scarlets in game with Ospreys at the Arms Park on New Year's Day finished in a 13-13 draw. What they say Ospreys head coach Mark Jones said: This is a big fixture for us. We feel like we need to get some good points out of this game [to make the top eight] but, first and foremost, we need to put in a good performance."We're really excited by what's on the line for both teams at Judgement Day and by what a result could set up for the next three URC games that follow."Head coach Matt Sherratt said: "Judgement Day is always a great occasion. The Principality is the home of rugby in Wales and you have four Welsh teams, stacked with Welsh talent playing in one day."There's an extra bit of spice this year because the league table is so tight. Ourselves, Ospreys and Scarlets are right in the fight for the top eight."We know each other pretty well and as with all derbies, it will be a one off occasion. But they are a quality team, who have added to their game through the season and have enjoyed some good form in recent weeks, so it will be a big challenge but it is one we are excited for." Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Fender, James Ratti, Tristan Davies, Jac Morgan (capt), Morgan Dewi Lake, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Will Spencer, Lewis Lloyd, Kieran Hardy, Owen Williams, Iestyn Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Gabriel Hamer-Webb; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, James Botham, Taulupe Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Thomas Young, Aled Davies, Rory Ben Connor (WRU)Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse & Ben Breakspear (WRU)TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
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."
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dragons lock Carter back to face Scarlets
URC Judgement Day: Dragons v ScarletsVenue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 19 April Kick off: 17:30 BSTCoverage: Live on S4C 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. Dragons co-captain Ben Carter is set for a return to action against Scarlets on Saturday after almost six months out with knee and ankle lock sustained an injury to his left knee while training with Wales at the end of October that required return of the 24-year-old was then delayed by a long-standing ankle problem which also needed an co-captain Angus O'Brien has led the side on occasions in Carter's absence but has also been missing since suffering a fractured thumb injury in fly-half or full-back will also return for the Judgement Day date against Scarlets this weekend at the Principality Stadium.
