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Belfast Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Donemana complete Irish Senior Cup record chase to defeat Waringstown
Set 359 for victory, Donemana still needed 49 from the last three overs with just three wickets left but David O'Sullivan hit Waringstown professional Daniel van der Merwe for five sixes in an eight-ball over which reduced the target to 15 off 12 balls. O'Sullivan, though, was caught by van der Merwe off the bowling of Ross Allen from the next ball he faced and the drama increased when Dwayne McGerrigle pulled a hamstring and needed a runner for the last over which started with Donemana on 353 for eight. Ricky-Lee Dougherty was on strike and a couple of twos and two wides, the latter a short ball from van der Merwe which went over the head of the batter, won the match - without McGerrigle having to face - with two balls to spare. The victory had been set up by 50s from David Dougherty, Ray Curry, sent in as the last over runner, and Anuj Jotin with Adam Dennison the only Waringstown bowler to go for less than six runs an over. The top two scorers in the match both came in the Waringstown innings, with James McCollum hitting 125 and captain Greg Thompson a whirlwind 74 not out from 33 balls, with nine fours and three sixes. His unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 89 with van der Merwe came from just 34 balls but it proved in vain. Van der Merwe, ironically, hit five sixes in his 36 from 13 balls. Before the drama at the Lawn, the best game of the day was in Cork, although it looked to be a comfortable win for Civil Service North when they reduced their hosts to 111 for seven. But a remarkable 105 by Munster Reds player Zubair Khan, from No 9, hoisted Cork County to 271. After the dismissal of professional Sean Davey for 46, CSN still needed 92 from the last 13 overs but captain Stuart Thompson's 94 not out saw them home with 10 balls to spare. In all, it was a bad day for Ulster clubs with Coleraine the only other North West winners – they bowled out Muckamore for 99 – and there will be only four NCU teams in the second round. A second wicket partnership of 195 between Chris Dougherty (105) and Jake Egan (128) was the basis of CIYMS' crushing 127 runs victory at Bready. Carson McCullough took five wickets as the home side were dismissed for 185. Lisburn captain Neil Whitworth also took five wickets as his side made it seven wins out of seven this season with a seven wickets win over Brigade at Wallace Park, James Hunter hitting 89 not out from 71 balls to seal victory at the start of the 28th over. Instonians reached their target of 179 in exactly the same time, for the loss of four wickets, to ease past Strabane at Shaw's Bridge. Captain Nikolai Smith, opening in place of Ireland call-up Cade Carmichael, top scored with 54. Elsewhere, there were heavy defeats for Woodvale, North Down and Cliftonville Academy by Malahide, Pembroke and Balbriggan respectively but Templepatrick put up a good fight in their first ever Irish Cup game, before going down to Clontarf by five wickets. Captain Ross Bryans hit 77 in the NCU side's 236. Irish Senior Cup Round One Bready v CIYMS Maghermason CIYMS 312/4 (50 overs; J Egan 128, C Dougherty 105, C McCullough 46*; T Faulkner 2-39) Bready 185 (38.1 overs: D Rankin 45, J van Heerdon 41, G Roulston 38, K Magee 21; C McCullough 5-38, A Armstrong 2-35) CIYMS Won by 127 runs Ardmore v Rush The Bleachgreen Rush 364/9 (50 overs; N McGuire 107, J McGee 89, E Ahmed 78, J Barnes 34*; H Zimmermann 4-61, Edrees Kharatoi 3-83) Ardmore 163 (32.2 overs: H Zimmermann 89*; A Taniwal 3-17, J Barnes 3-40, A Eastwood 2-26) Rush won by 201 runs Newbuildings v Leinster Foyleview Arena Newbuildings 127 (29.5 overs; P Salmon 33, J Dunn 23; Bilal Azhar 3-20, Jai Moondra 3-54, B Mitchell 2-20) Leinster 132/4 (20.1 overs; B Mitchell 60, M Patel 30, Y Ahmadzai 27*, S Lazars 2-29) Leinster won by 6 wickets Lisburn v Brigade Wallace Park Brigade 196 (49.2 overs; I Hussain 44, D Barr 37, R Barr 34, J Smallwoods 25; N Whitworth 5-28, C Atkinson 3-33, F Fazal 2-36) Lisburn 197/3 ( 27.1 overs; R Adair 34, J Hunter 89*, F Fazal 35*) Lisburn won by 7 wickets Waringstown v Donemana The Lawn 358/5 (50 overs; J McCollum 113*, G Thompson 74*, A Dennison 55, D van der Merwe 36*, S Topping 31, M Topping 20; S Huey 2-89) Donemana 359/8 (49.4 overs: D O'Sullivan 66, A Jotin 67, R Curry 56, B Dougherty 52, J Huey 41, G McClintock 25; R Allen 2-62, G Thompson 2-65, J Mitchell 2-65) Donemana won by 2 wickets Instonians v Strabane Shaw's Bridge Strabane 178 (44.5 overs; R Liyanarachchi 66, M McNulty 29; S Dadswell 3-20, A White 2-29, C Robertson 3-43) Instonians 180/4 (27 overs; N Smith 54, A Ly 24, N Rock 23; A Mullen 3-33) Instonians won by 6 wickets Templepatrick v Clontarf The Cloughan Templepatrick 236 (48.3 overs; R Bryans 77, S Weerakkody 46, B Cave 28, C Swart 25; D Delany 4-41, J McNally 2-33) Clontarf 237/5 (38 overs; E Delany 68*, D Delany 54*, S Lynch 33, P Xie 31; S Weerakkody 2-49) Clontarf won by 5 wickets Woodvale v Malahide Ballygomartin Road Malahide 340 (49.4 overs; R Foulkes 143, C McLoughlin-Gavin 116, A Doyle 21; K Walsh 3-49, F Restieaux 2-60) Woodvale 117 (23.5 overs; P Maduwnatha 47*, R Pretorius 36; M Frost 3-31, A Sheridan 2-27) Malahaide won by 223 runs Cork County v CSNI The Mardyke Cork County 271 (47.2 overs; Z Khan 105, Mark Andrianatos 34, B Upman 31, B Nabi 30; J West 4-68, F Lutton 2-61) CSNI 273/5 (48.2 overs; S Thompson 94*, S Davey 46, A Leckey 35, J West 22; Mark Andrianatos 2-32, D Carey 2-56) CSNI won by 5 wickets North County v Eglinton Balrothery Eglinton 115 (27 overs; L Doherty 37; S Safi 4-27, Jake Devane 2-18, U Azhar 2-23) North County 119/2 (13 overs; J Grassi 65*, S Safi 26) North County won by 8 wickets Pembroke v North Down Sydney Parade North Down 172 (46.3 overs; M Copeland 60, S Saul 28; L Murray 3-35, B McDonough 2-23, P Lawson 2-32, A Bouton 2-49) Pembroke 175/3 (28.5 overs: JJ Garth 74, T Tector 33, B MacDonald 30, J Tector 22*; J Corbett 2-38) Pembroke won by 7 wickets Balbriggan v Cliftonville Academy Jack Harper Ground Cliftonville Academy 162 (39.2 overs; H Melly 38, V Chopra 35, D Khan 21; D Lues 3-27, Z Ali 2-7, C De Freitas 2-12, K Ali 2-14) Balbriggan 167/3 (30.1 overs: C Fletcher 53, G Dara 30, C Rowe 24*, C de Freitas 22; J Wilson 2-36) Balbriggan won by 7 wickets Coleraine v Muckamore Sandel Lodge Coleraine 213/8 (50 overs; S Campbell 69, P Carson 42, M Hutchinson 22; Randeera Ranasinge 2-40, S Henderson 2-48, Suresh 2-50) Muckamore 99 (33.4 overs; J vd Merwe 24; S Campbell 3-11, G Burns 3-26, S Hutchinson 2-23) Coleraine won by 114 Runs Irish National Cup round One County Galway v Bunrndennett Co Galway County Galway 318/3 (40 overs; S Nasim 143*, S Burra 83*, D Gomes 49) Burndennett 110 (23 overs; M Mehaffey 24, R Rahmantullah 24; S Singh 4-20, Jayesh Juneja 4-41, D Ali 2-25) County Galway won by 208 runs UCC V Sion Mills UCC Sion Mills 73 (S Galloway 22) UCC 74/0 UCC won by 10 wickets Bonds Glen v Civil Service Bonds Glen Bonds Glen 272/5 (40 overs: S Haslett 70*, H Roberts 50, L Ngoepe 43, S McGowan 40, A Thompson 30*; S Dey 2-37, S Khanna 2-43) Civil Service 237/9 (40 overs; K Narang 77, D Jeyachandran 58, D Shetty 21; D Singh 5-20, L Ngoepe 2-22, S Kincaid 2-62) Bonds Glen won by 35 runs Glendermott v North Kildare The Rectory North Kildare 165 (29.1 overs; J Uddin 48, A Elahi 29, H Maroof 22, N Boda 20; B Mills 5-40, R Nolan 2-21) Glendermott 166/2 (21.3 overs; B Mills 105*, J Lynch 32) Glendermott won by 8 wickets Ballyspallen v Drumaness Superkings Ballyspallen Drumaness Superkings 77 (22 overs; K Rapulana 4-9, I Bird 4-25) Ballyspallen 80/0 (5 overs; I Bird 73*) Ballyspallen won by 10 wickets Ballymena v University Galway Eaton Park University of Galway 227/8 (40 overs: Srajesh Mishra 66, Mohammad Danish 41, M Assad 20; M Ahmed 2-37, O Dick 2-43, C Deelman 2-58) Ballymena 222/9 (40 overs; S Willoughby 52, C Deelman 31, W Montgomery 27, S Glass 24, O Dick 20; M Asad 3-33, N Bharadwaj 2-24) Galway won by 5 runs Bangor v Limerick Upritchard Park Limerick 228/5 (40 overs; Anvesh Bogavelly 111, S Taj 58*, S Ramsay 33; M Chhabra 2-42) Bangor 229/3 (39.2 overs; S McMillan 80, M Hutchinson 67, Gareth McCullough 31*, A Kirkpatrick 20*) Bangor won by 7 wickets Cregagh v Fox Lodge Cregagh Memorial Ground Fox Lodge 265/8 (40 overs; G Maneeshan 155, B Allen 25, J Robinson 24; A watt 3-47, A McCormick 3-49) Cregagh 188 (34.4 overs; Jonny Moore 50, D Henry 27*; A Walker 4-25, J Milligan 2-18, G Maneeshan 2-31) Fox Lodge won by 77 runs Carrickfergus v Sandyford Middle Road Sandyford 217/8 (40 overs; A Pandey 111*, J Khan 33, S Jawalageri 21; CJ van der Walt 3-44, A Haggan 2-49) Carrickfergus 219/3 (36.5 overs; A Varape 100*, I Parkhill 41, CJ van der Walt 21; A Gupta 2-44) Carrickfergus won by 7 wickets The Hills v Donacloney Mill The Vineyard Donacloney Mill 148 (35.3 overs; J Markham 42, A Kennedy 40*; O Horlock 3-14, F Manoj 3-16) The Hills 149/4 (28.4 overs; O Horlock 51*, A Kavanagh 31, H Shahid 21; T McClure 2-8) The Hills won by 6 wickets Adamstown v Laurelvale Corkagh Park Adamstown 285/4 (40 overs; A Gupta 122, P Kamal 65, D David 51*) Laurelvale 153 (30.2 overs; Jack Burns 22, A Speers 22, B Khan 22, A Malik 21; P Kamal 3-16, Nithin Padmaprabhu 2-21, K Shetty 2-39 Adamstown won by 132 runs
Belfast Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Donemana complete Irish Senior Cup record chase
Set 359 for victory, Donemana still needed 49 from the last three overs with just three wickets left but David O'Sullivan hit Waringstown professional Daniel van der Merwe for five sixes in an eight-ball over which reduced the target to 15 off 12 balls. O'Sullivan, though, was caught by van der Merwe off the bowling of Ross Allen from the next ball he faced and the drama increased when Dwayne McGerrigle pulled a hamstring and needed a runner for the last over which started with Donemana on 353 for eight. Ricky-Lee Dougherty was on strike and a couple of twos and two wides, the latter a short ball from van der Merwe which went over the head of the batter, won the match - without McGerrigle having to face - with two balls to spare. The victory had been set up by 50s from David Dougherty, Ray Curry, sent in as the last over runner, and Anuj Jotin with Adam Dennison the only Waringstown bowler to go for less than six runs an over. The top two scorers in the match both came in the Waringstown innings, with James McCollum hitting 125 and captain Greg Thompson a whirlwind 74 not out from 33 balls, with nine fours and three sixes. His unbroken sixth wicket partnership of 89 with van der Merwe came from just 34 balls but it proved in vain. Van der Merwe, ironically, hit five sixes in his 36 from 13 balls. Before the drama at the Lawn, the best game of the day was in Cork, although it looked to be a comfortable win for Civil Service North when they reduced their hosts to 111 for seven. But a remarkable 105 by Munster Reds player Zubair Khan, from No 9, hoisted Cork County to 271. After the dismissal of professional Sean Davey for 46, CSN still needed 92 from the last 13 overs but captain Stuart Thompson's 94 not out saw them home with 10 balls to spare. In all, it was a bad day for Ulster clubs with Coleraine the only other North West winners – they bowled out Muckamore for 99 – and there will be only four NCU teams in the second round. A second wicket partnership of 195 between Chris Dougherty (105) and Jake Egan (128) was the basis of CIYMS' crushing 127 runs victory at Bready. Carson McCullough took five wickets as the home side were dismissed for 185. Lisburn captain Neil Whitworth also took five wickets as his side made it seven wins out of seven this season with a seven wickets win over Brigade at Wallace Park, James Hunter hitting 89 not out from 71 balls to seal victory at the start of the 28th over. Instonians reached their target of 179 in exactly the same time, for the loss of four wickets, to ease past Strabane at Shaw's Bridge. Captain Nikolai Smith, opening in place of Ireland call-up Cade Carmichael, top scored with 54. Elsewhere, there were heavy defeats for Woodvale, North Down and Cliftonville Academy by Malahide, Pembroke and Balbriggan respectively but Templepatrick put up a good fight in their first ever Irish Cup game, before going down to Clontarf by five wickets. Captain Ross Bryans hit 77 in the NCU side's 236.
Scotsman
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Duhan van der Merwe fitness status ahead of Edinburgh play-off and Lions tour revealed
Winger has not featured since March 28 Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh Rugby are hoping that Duhan van der Merwe will be fit for the United Rugby Championship play-offs after they booked their place in the last eight with a 47-17 win over Ulster on Friday evening. The powerful winger has not played since March 28 when he injured his ankle against the Dragons and had to come off after 11 minutes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Van der Merwe, 29, has since been named in the British & Irish Lions squad for the summer tour of Australia but Edinburgh would love to have him available for their play-off quarter-final on May 31. Duhan van der Merwe during an Edinburgh Rugby training session at the Hive Stadium last week. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'We're hoping so,' said Sean Everitt, the Edinburgh head coach. 'He's running and he's doing really well. So we're definitely hoping that we have Duhan for the quarter-final.' In van der Merwe's absence, it was another talismanic winger who played a large part in Edinburgh's victory at Hive Stadium. Darcy Graham, who trails van der Merwe by one in the Scotland all-time try-scorers list, helped himself to a hat-trick against Ulster as Edinburgh secured the bonus-point win to guarantee their place in the play-offs for the first time in three years. Graham was a surprise omission from Andy Farrell's Lions squad when it was named last week but Everitt said the Hawick man had been dealing with the disappointment and also overcame a heel issue to play on Friday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He's been struggling with a heel over the last couple of weeks, but this week he was feeling much better, and you could see it in his performance,' said Everitt. 'He's just got to keep on performing and make it really difficult for the Lions to leave him out should injuries occur. 'He's obviously disappointed - it's everyone's dream to play for the Lions. It's always going to be difficult when you've got four countries to choose from, and selection sometimes can be subjective. It's not always going to be factual, so we can't criticise the selection. Andy Farrell's an amazing coach and a really good selector, and he's done wonders with Ireland, so Darcy must just keep on going.' Darcy Graham stretches over the line. | SNS Group Edinburgh's squad will now have a few days off before, in the words of stand-in skipper Magnus Bradbury, it's time to 'tape the body up and go again'. Bradbury was immense on Friday, scoring two tries in an all-action display which encapsulated the improvement in Edinburgh's game in the second half of the campaign. The No 8 reckoned it was the team's most complete performance of the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We talked about a fast start - last game at home, great night for it. But contrary to what we've done before, we kept the foot on the throat,' said Bradbury. 'We delivered on it. The boys did their jobs, we all did our jobs, and that's what happens when you get it right. 'We've had great games here before and great games away, but there's always been that 10-minute lapse. We didn't have that on Friday. We've challenged each other on that and we've been challenged by our coaches and we've delivered.' Bradbury has spoken before about a turning point in mid-season when the players stood up and took more responsibility but he refuted the suggestion that Edinburgh had been under-performing in the last couple of years. Magnus Bradbury scored two tries for Edinburgh in the win over Ulster on Friday. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I think any club when you get a new coach, you have to go through that transition period. So under-performance is the wrong word for me,' said Bradbury. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We've had a huge mentality shift over the Six Nations. It's about putting that onto the pitch next game and then not to look too far ahead, but it's exciting to see what we can do with a decent pre-season as well. Build on the strengths we've built through mid-season and see where that takes us.' It's been a roller coaster campaign for Edinburgh who lost their opening three games but finished strongly, with bonus-point victories over Connacht and Ulster. The 10 points gathered in their final two league matches catapulted them into the top eight as Cardiff lost to the Stormers in South Africa on Friday night. Combined with a run to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, Bradbury said recent weeks had taken their toll both physically and mentally on the squad. It was time now to 'rest up, saunas, keep off the beers' and focus on the quarter-final.
Scotsman
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Duhan van der Merwe fitness status ahead of Edinburgh play-off and Lions tour revealed
Winger has not featured since March 28 Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh Rugby are hoping that Duhan van der Merwe will be fit for the United Rugby Championship play-offs after they booked their place in the last eight with a 47-17 win over Ulster on Friday evening. The powerful winger has not played since March 28 when he injured his ankle against the Dragons and had to come off after 11 minutes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Van der Merwe, 29, has since been named in the British & Irish Lions squad for the summer tour of Australia but Edinburgh would love to have him available for their play-off quarter-final on May 31. Duhan van der Merwe during an Edinburgh Rugby training session at the Hive Stadium last week. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'We're hoping so,' said Sean Everitt, the Edinburgh head coach. 'He's running and he's doing really well. So we're definitely hoping that we have Duhan for the quarter-final.' In van der Merwe's absence, it was another talismanic winger who played a large part in Edinburgh's victory at Hive Stadium. Darcy Graham, who trails van der Merwe by one in the Scotland all-time try-scorers list, helped himself to a hat-trick against Ulster as Edinburgh secured the bonus-point win to guarantee their place in the play-offs for the first time in three years. Graham was a surprise omission from Andy Farrell's Lions squad when it was named last week but Everitt said the Hawick man had been dealing with the disappointment and also overcame a heel issue to play on Friday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He's been struggling with a heel over the last couple of weeks, but this week he was feeling much better, and you could see it in his performance,' said Everitt. 'He's just got to keep on performing and make it really difficult for the Lions to leave him out should injuries occur. 'He's obviously disappointed - it's everyone's dream to play for the Lions. It's always going to be difficult when you've got four countries to choose from, and selection sometimes can be subjective. It's not always going to be factual, so we can't criticise the selection. Andy Farrell's an amazing coach and a really good selector, and he's done wonders with Ireland, so Darcy must just keep on going.' Darcy Graham stretches over the line. | SNS Group Edinburgh's squad will now have a few days off before, in the words of stand-in skipper Magnus Bradbury, it's time to 'tape the body up and go again'. Bradbury was immense on Friday, scoring two tries in an all-action display which encapsulated the improvement in Edinburgh's game in the second half of the campaign. The No 8 reckoned it was the team's most complete performance of the season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We talked about a fast start - last game at home, great night for it. But contrary to what we've done before, we kept the foot on the throat,' said Bradbury. 'We delivered on it. The boys did their jobs, we all did our jobs, and that's what happens when you get it right. 'We've had great games here before and great games away, but there's always been that 10-minute lapse. We didn't have that on Friday. We've challenged each other on that and we've been challenged by our coaches and we've delivered.' Bradbury has spoken before about a turning point in mid-season when the players stood up and took more responsibility but he refuted the suggestion that Edinburgh had been under-performing in the last couple of years. Magnus Bradbury scored two tries for Edinburgh in the win over Ulster on Friday. (Photo by Ross Parker / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'I think any club when you get a new coach, you have to go through that transition period. So under-performance is the wrong word for me,' said Bradbury. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We've had a huge mentality shift over the Six Nations. It's about putting that onto the pitch next game and then not to look too far ahead, but it's exciting to see what we can do with a decent pre-season as well. Build on the strengths we've built through mid-season and see where that takes us.' It's been a roller coaster campaign for Edinburgh who lost their opening three games but finished strongly, with bonus-point victories over Connacht and Ulster. The 10 points gathered in their final two league matches catapulted them into the top eight as Cardiff lost to the Stormers in South Africa on Friday night. Combined with a run to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, Bradbury said recent weeks had taken their toll both physically and mentally on the squad. It was time now to 'rest up, saunas, keep off the beers' and focus on the quarter-final.
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Wales star says England move changed him and top Welsh signing eyes international call
Tonight's rugby news as Wales star says England move changed him and top Welsh signing eyes international call The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Scarlets star van der Merwe (left) has his eyes on playing international rugby (Image: Gruffydd Thomas/Huw Evans Agency ) These are your evening rugby headlines on Tuesday, May 13. Wales star says England move changed him Wales star Tomos Williams has credited his move to Gloucester with helping to take him to the next level after he was selected in this year's British & Irish Lions squad. The scrum-half is one of just two Wales players in Andy Farrell's 38-man squad for the tour of Australia, with captain Jac Morgan the only other representative in the lowest Welsh cohort in a Lions squad for nearly 90 years. Williams has been a standout player for the Cherry & Whites in his first season in the Gallagher Premiership, having moved to Kingsholm last summer after leaving Cardiff. He has seen a series of fine performances rewarded with his first call-up to the Lions, with the 30-year-old named as one of three touring scrum-halves alongside Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park and England's Alex Mitchell. Williams believes that had he not made the move across the Severn Bridge last summer, he likely wouldn't have been in contention for a place in Farrell's squad as he praised the Gloucester coaches for helping him. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. "I don't think I'd be in this position if it wasn't for Gloucester," he told BBC Radio Gloucestershire. Article continues below "I said before I'm grateful for the coaches, Lights [attack coach James Lightfoot Brown], Dom [defence coach Waldouck] and Skivs [director of rugby George Skivington] for allowing me to play the way we play at Gloucester. Coming here this season has helped me massively." On the Lions squad announcement that saw him "shed a tear" as his name was read out, the 64-cap international said: "It's so special. That's why I think it's such an achievement. "I'm so grateful for the opportunity. It's the pinnacle of rugby, so I'm immensely proud and grateful." Top Welsh signing eyes international call Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe is targeting a call-up to the South Africa national side after a fine campaign for the Welsh region. The 28-year-old was selected for the Springboks' wider alignment camp last year while he was still with the Cheetahs, but is still yet to play for his country. However, Van der Merwe - who also spent a month on loan with the Ospreys last season - has been in fine form for Dwayne Peel's side since joining on a permanent deal last summer, with a series of impressive displays seeing him labelled as "one of the signings of the season" by the club. The physical front rower admits that playing international rugby remains a big ambition, and hopes that his move to the Scarlets will help him to pull on the Springboks jersey in the coming months. 'I think as a child, any South African watching the game, with the Springboks doing well, everyone wants to play for that team, just like people in Wales who grew up watching their team,' he said. 'So everyone wants to play for their nation. It's definitely a thing I am going for, but I focus on the next thing which is helping the Scarlets where I can. Then, through that, I hope the Springbok coaches can see what I bring and see that I have the talent to be there. 'My goal is to get into international rugby. Everyone hopes for that. I just go out and play the best I can every single day. Hopefully that's enough.' Van der Merwe added that moving to Parc y Scarlets was a "very easy decision" as he felt his career was "standing still" after eight years with the Cheetahs. 'I'd had a few injury problems and the Cheetahs weren't involved in the top competitions," he added. "They were out of Super Rugby and out of the URC. I had planned to go overseas for a couple of years, so when the Scarlets came and gave me an offer, I couldn't refuse. 'It was a good opportunity to be somewhere where I could get some game-time and show what I have against the big teams. It was a chance to improve my rugby and I was grateful for that. 'If you get an opportunity, some players take it, some players lose out. I think I have taken it with both hands. I am doing well and the coaches are backing me. Hopefully I can keep performing in this Scarlets jersey and show people what I am." Care announces retirement By PA Sport Staff Former England international and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care has announced he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2024-25 season. The 38-year-old joined Quins in 2006 and has made 394 appearances for the club, winning two Gallagher Premiership titles and an EPCR Challenge Cup success during his 19-year association. He featured at two World Cups for England during an international career which spanned 16 years, finishing with 101 caps to his name. 'So, it's finally time. Unfortunately, after 19 years of playing for this incredible club, I'm going to be retiring from rugby at the end of the season,' Care said. 'I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting a lad from Leeds come down to this club and feel like home from day one. 'To all the fans. Thank you for everything you've given me and my family. As I said, you brought us into your hearts. You've sung my name louder than it's ever deserved. And I can't really put into words what representing this club and playing in front of you all has meant to me.' After his retirement, Care will represent Harlequins in an ambassadorial role. England head coach Steve Borthwick said: 'Danny has been the heartbeat of every team he's played for, with his passion, skill, and energy lighting up stadiums wherever he went. He's given everything to rugby, and I congratulate him on a brilliant career. 'On behalf of the team, we wish him the best in the next chapter – though knowing Danny, we'll soon hear his voice on our screens, bringing the same passion and personality he brought to the pitch.' Revived English side name new boss By PA Sport Staff Worcester have appointed Matt Everard as their new head coach. The Warriors are poised to return to professional rugby union in the Championship next season, two and a half years after the club went into administration. Former back-rower Everard left his role as Leicester's defence coach in February. The 34-year-old represented the Tigers and Wasps during his playing days before beginning his coaching career with the latter side in 2017. 'This is a club with real heart, a proud history, and a loyal community behind it,' Everard told Worcester's website. Article continues below 'The opportunity to be part of its resurgence is incredibly special. I'm here to build a team that works hard, plays with passion, and represents the people of Worcester with pride.' Warriors chief executive Stephen Vaughan said: 'Matt is the right person to lead this new chapter. His elite level experience, connections and leadership will be crucial as we return to competitive rugby and rebuild from the ground up.'
