We Need To Talk About Liam...

Liam Williams has been one of the region’s most impressive players this season; however, his discipline remains an issue.

With Leigh Halfpenny still injured and yet to play his first game for Toulon, Williams is in pole position to be Welsh fullback for the Autumn Internationals. Yet, there are still definite question marks over his temperament.

What To Expect From Amorosino

On Tuesday, the Cardiff Blues unveiled the Argentinian versatile back, Lucas Amorosino as their latest signing, I have have spoken to Los Pumas coach Keir Wenham-Flatt about the new man.

Amorosino, 28, who is comfortable playing wing or full back, will move to the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park in the coming weeks after putting pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season.

Amorosino in full flight

Open Apology To Ospreylia

At the start of this season many ‘rugby experts’, journalists and pundits wrote off the Ospreys, citing the loss of key players as the reason.  I too wrote off the Ospreys, although I would never call myself a rugby expert. However, the Ospreys have won four from four at the start of this season and been the mightily impressive. Therefore, this is my own slice of humble pie as I offer an apology for ever doubting the Ospreys.

Continue With Judgement Day

Since the new Rugby Services Agreement (RSA) has now been signed in Wales, what it means for the day to day running of the game is slowly but surely being discovered. The latest change with the new agreement is that ‘Judgement Day’ in not included, leaving the 2015 edition of the event hanging in the balance.

Barrett's Big Chance

We’ve all done it; had one drink too many and arrived late to work the next day, feeling a little worse for wear. The difference is that we weren’t playing for the All Blacks and due to catch a flight the next day. Aaron Cruden was drinking till late at a bar in New Zealand called the Zookeeper’s Son.

Is Rhys Webb Ready for Wales?

Rhys Webb insists that he is not thinking about Welsh selection but based on his performances he could be excused for wondering what his future might hold. The twenty-five year old Ospreys scrum half has had a career ravaged by injury but is now fit, on form and playing with a smile on his face.

With two tries against Edinburgh last weekend his total for the season stands at four with just three games played. The performance against Edinburgh was outstanding and his try scoring form speaks for itself, however is he ready to carry the number nine for Wales.

Rugby Manager 2015 - A Real Let Down

Rugby Manager 2015 is the first rugby management game in ten years, and is made by Cyanide Studios. Since 2005 the Football Manager franchise has gone from strength to strength and become hugely popular amongst football and gaming fans. Many rugby fans anticipated this game after playing the football equivalent, frankly a rip-off of Football Manager would have been better.

Is Halfpenny Coming Home?

It has been a busy day in Toulon. Club President, Mourad Boudjellal has unleashed a surprising announcement regarding Leigh Halfpenny’s contract. Due the fullbacks niggling groin injury the French club have threatened to terminate his contract. The Welshman was taken over to France as the ideal replacement for Jonny Wilkinson.

The Pro12 to Continue During the World Cup

This week we heard the news that the Guinness Pro 12 will continue during the World Cup. This situation cannot possibly help the league or the clubs and regions within it. The Aviva Premiership will be on hold, so why not the Pro12.

The Rugby World Cup: A Year Out

The World Cup is getting closer and closer. This time next year the preparations will be done all competing nations will be in the midst of the World Cup warm up games. The organisation of the event is already well underway and last week the first promotional video was released for the World Cup, we’re that close.

So a year out from the biggest event in rugby what shape are the competing nations in and what can we expect from the home nations?

Preview to the Guinness Pro12

It is a new era for the Pro12; Guinness has come on board to take the competition forward. The competition now has an added European qualification element. This can only make the league more entertaining and a better product going forward. The league also has the SKY factor this year. The Pro12 has been signed to be on SKY Sports this year. Some traditionalists may believe that this is a bad move and the league should be kept on terrestrial television. However, the extra income to the league and the glossy presentation that SKY provides can only help the Pro12 as a product.

Guinness provide the big name sponsor the league needed

Interview with Ebbw Vale Head Coach Jason Strange

Ebbw Vale are the new kids on the block in the Welsh Premiership this season. The Gwent men, who have dominated the Championship for the last few years, were finally granted entry to the Welsh Premiership at the end of last season. The top league had been ring-fenced for two years but was finally reopened to promotion and relegation, with the Eugene Cross Park outfit returning to the top flight. Ebbw Vale were led back to the top by Head Coach, Jason Strange. The former outside-half has a strong link to the club, having started his career at Ebbw Vale as an 18-year-old. His career has come full circle, via Bristol and Leeds Carnegie; he is now the boss at Eugene Cross Park and I had a chat to Strange ahead of the new season.

Ebbw Vale win a line out

Scarlets 32 - Ulster 32 Match Report

The season kicked-off with a great atmosphere at Parc Y Scarlets, as Irish giants Ulster came to town. They weren’t the only visitors, as Sky Sports made their presence known, broadcasting their first Pro12 fixture.

Is James Hook Still An Option For Wales

The biggest cheer of the day, when Wales played Scotland in the Six Nations this March, was not for a try, but instead for the appearance of one of Wales’ favourite sons. As James Hook ran out onto the Millennium Stadium turf there was a sense of frustration in the crowd that they had not seen more of the outside-half.

Teams for Super Rugby Qualifiers

Who will win the Super Rugby title this year?

The Brumbies face the Chiefs, while the Highlanders travel to Durban to play the Sharks.The winners will book themselves a place in the semi-final against  either the Waratahs or the Crusaders. At the business end of the season all these sides will give everything on Saturday. Find out the teams for Saturday's game below.

Guinness Pro12 Announced

The sponsorship of the Pro12 or has once again changed hands. In the recent times we have seen the Magners Celtic League and the last few seasons saw the Rabodirect Pro12. The Dutch bank never felt like a natural fit for the competition and Guinness feels a far more fitting sponsorship.

The new logo for the Guinness Pro12

Sam Warburton Interview

T. M. Lewin have been unveiled as the new suppliers of formal wear for the WRU. The deal will run until 2018 and T. M. Lewin will therefore be the supplier of formal wear for the national squad at the 2015 World Cup. After the formalities of announcing the deal were dealt with, the players spoke to the media about the recent tour of South Africa. The side left the country with one midweek win and two test defeats. With Cory Allen, Sam Warburton and Jon Davies all suited and booted, they were ready speak on a range of topics.

Jon Davies, Sam Warburton and Cory Allen at the partnership launch

Jon Davies Talks Tours and BBQ's

Being one of the most laid back men in rugby, it is a miracle that Jon Davies makes it on to the pitch to play some days. I spoke to the Wales centre in the changing rooms of T.M. Lewin in Cardiff. Davies was there modelling the stock as the WRU announced a new sponsorship deal with the store. He sipped on his glass of water as he mulled the questions over in his mind before answering them. The hot topic unfortunately was the devastating news of Owen Williams’ injury, but Davies also spoke happily about his move to France and the recent tour to South Africa.

Jon Davies in the T.M. Lewin gear

So Close, But Yet So Far

It may not always be the happiest camp in terms of results, but fans do get their money’s worth from a Wales game. The final test in South Africa was no different. Although Wales held the lead from the 13^th minute to the 79^th, the momentum of the game swung from side to side throughout. Comfortably the most entertaining contest of the summer series’ this year, Wales weren’t just out to entertain they wanted the elusive win against a Southern Hemisphere nation.

Welsh Clubs to take Part in Ballot

Following last weekend’s EGM, the WRU have announced a ballot on one of the major issues that caused the meeting in Port Talbot. A ballot of all Welsh Rugby Union clubs is to take place, asking which National League structure format for the amateur game they would prefer to see adopted, from next season.

Summer Tour Game Reviews

Unquestionably the stand out game of the weekend was England facing the All Blacks in the second test of the series. It is the glamour tie of this weekend saw Stuart Lancaster roll the dice and put Manu Tualagi on the wing. Although he was not at his best on the wing he did have an opportunity late on to run in a try from his own goal line, an opportunity that a more adept winger might have finished. Although England only lost by one point as the game finished 28-27, this score line somewhat flattered the English side. At times in the second period the All Blacks had played some great rugby and not capitalised. However, as the All Blacks continue to dust off the cobwebs at the start of their season they have already won a series.

Wales Taught A Lesson In Style

Wales were poor on Saturday this is now well documented. Instead of looking back over an appalling Welsh performance, let us salute the Springboks and in particular their maestro at full-back, Willie Le Roux. The Cheetah’s full-back has grown year on year and has become one of the best full-backs in world rugby. Quality full-backs are readily available at the moment and are beginning to become the glamour boys in the same way that outside-halves have been before. Rob Kearney, Leigh Halfpenny, James O’Connor, Israel Dagg and Stuart Hogg all makeup the current crop of quality full-backs. This is without mentioning Mike Brown and one of the most talented all round rugby players of this generation, Israel Folau.

Welsh EGM - Battle Lines

Next Sunday the WRU will experience its first EGM in six years. It is arguable that an earlier EGM back in 2003 led to many of the problems that this EGM will aim to solve. The 2003 EGM created the regions and with it, some of the problems that Welsh rugby is now trying to solve. Only four years before this EGM the WRU built the magnificent Millennium Stadium. This in many ways was the root of the problem. The debt that the WRU incurred as a result of building the venue has been something they have been forced to juggle ever since.

Argentina Needs A Team In Super Rugby

Argentina peaked in a rugby sense in 2007 at the world cup and since then it has never managed to live up to the highs of that team. A few things happened after that world cup. Argentinian talent was bought up by French and English clubs, leaving no stars in Argentina to play in their domestic league. On a more positive note this good performance at the world cup was a catalyst for them being allowed into the Tri-Nations as it became ‘The Rugby Championship’ in 2012.

Argentina now sits at the top table internationally with two games against the SANZAR nations every year. This not only improves players but also grows interest as some of the best players come to Buenos Aries. However, Argentina is the odd one out in the rugby championship. South Africa, Australia and New Zealand each have five Super Rugby franchises.

Views On Gareth Anscombe From Down Under

As the Blues trail Gareth Anscombe, the deal looks more likely to go through as the days go by. What do we actually know about this boy wonder, most people have simply seen highlight videos on YouTube. Unsurprisingly in these he nails every single kick.

England XV V Barbarians Match Report

A young English outfit took the field against a foray of international stars at Twickenham on Sunday afternoon. Stuart Lancaster put his faith in youth as England welcomed the Barbarians to London. England's line-up was unrecognisable from the team that had finished the Six Nations, with the main squad having already left for New Zealand. It allowed the young players, like Henry Slade, the chance to impress.

Welsh Trial Gives Youth A Chance

The possibles-probables game at the Liberty on Friday night was criticised by many as just another chance that players might get injured. After all the players came through Friday night’s game unscathed the game has to go down as a success from whichever way you look at it. The game made thousands of pounds for charity, it saw a new shirt sponsor on the Wales kit creating better links with sponsors of the national team and it also sold out a the Liberty Stadium something the Ospreys have struggled to do all season. Most importantly of all however, it allowed the young players to show exactly what they are capable of against some of the top internationals in Wales.

Interview with Rob and Rhodri Jones

With the politics surrounding the modern game in Wales it is refreshing to sit down and talk about rugby. This is exactly what I did earlier this week with Scrum V favourite Robert Jones and his brother Rhodri. They were speaking about their website www.rugbysuccess.com and how it will be re-launched in the near future.

Rob told me that “It’s all about developing aspiring players with an online resource using the six pillars. It is providing information for those looking to make their mark in the game.”

WRU Trial Match Teams Announced

PROBABLES:
Liam Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Jordan Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Capt) (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements:
Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Lewis Evans (Newport Gwent Dragons), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Dafydd Hewitt (Cardiff Blues).

How Touch Rugby Can Improve Its Sister-Sport

As the regular season comes to a close in the Northern Hemisphere it is back to pre-season training for the elite players and an international tour if they are very lucky. The amateur game however, stops in the off season and players lose fitness and match practice. It does not have to be this way, whilst rugby union is on hold; it is a chance to try another format of the game.

Probables V Possibles Squads

Probables Squad:
Forwards:
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Owen Evans (Dragons), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (Captain), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Bristol), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Blues), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Taulupe Faletau (Dragons).
Backs:
Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Sam Davies (Ospreys), Jon Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Gavin Henson (Bath), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

Possible Line-Up For The 'Possibles'

It was announced today that the ‘Probables Vs Possibles’ trial match will go ahead on the 30^th of May at the Liberty stadium. With tickets as cheap as £1 for children and £5 for adults it promises to be an affordable way to see top international talent. So here is my possible line up for the ‘possibles’, a team packed full of youthful adventure and flair.

Who Should Wales Take To South Africa?

Wales are thankfully not in the same boat as England this summer. The English will be missing a host of influential players as they travel to New Zealand. With the regions underperforming this year Wales will have players in camp far earlier and be set for the difficult task in South Africa. The question is should Wales take their strongest available squad?

Pontypridd Pushing Against the Status-Quo

It has been a bittersweet season at Pontypridd. They remain leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the Welsh Premiership and reached the semi-final stage of the British and Irish cup. For all of their on-field success, off the pitch they are still losing an ongoing battle.

Is There Too Much Technology In Rugby?

After a stellar year, Nigel Owens has come under some criticism in the last week. In the Saracens-Clermont game, which he officiated, there was a selection of debatable decision.  However, debatable does not mean incorrect. One of the great facets of rugby is that players accept the referees’ decision and get on with the game, spectators should do the same. Social media has changed this and allowed spectators to speak out on decisions during and after games. Nigel Owens has strong following on social media but receives stick each week from fans. It is time that spectators took a leaf out of the players’ book and got on with the game.

Abergavenny: The Home of the World Champions

Abergavenny may not be well known outside of Wales and if it is it is only for the yearly food festival! However, the Monmouthshire town is the home to one of cycling’s great families; the James’. The best known of these will be Becky James who broke records in 2013 by winning two gold’s and two bronzes at the world championships in Minsk. Becky James is an outstanding track cyclist who is likely to be included in the British Olympic squad in 2016.

Must Wales look back, in order to move forward?

The year 2008 will long be remembered by Welsh fans as a Grand Slam year. They won the championship that year by playing an attractive brand of rugby built on rock solid defence. One of the stars of that campaign was Osprey wing wizard, Shane Williams. Since the little wizard departed the international scene in 2011, the attractive, off-the-cuff rugby has dried-up and Wales have become all too predictable. It is not all down to Shane Williams’ departure; with several of the class of 2008, that helped facilitate a looser and more flexible style of play, having been forgotten by Welsh management and fallen out of favour.

Was 'Judgement Day II' A Success?

The great and the good of Welsh rugby assembled inside the Millennium Stadium on Easter Sunday for ‘Judgement day’. As the controversy surrounding Welsh rugby is starting to iron itself out, it was a chance for rugby fans to sit back and enjoy the day.

Newport Gwent Dragons 10-20 Ospreys

The Ospreys arrived in Cardiff hoping to keep their play-off hopes alive. They knew that a bonus point win was the only acceptable result if they wanted to usurp Ulster in the top four. The Dragons camp would have had much simpler motivations. Improve on their recent form and try and keep pace with Cardiff Blues, who had won earlier in the day.

Cardiff Blues 17-13 Scarlets

Whilst the Scarlets travelled from West Wales to the capital, it was a case going next door for the Blues in the first of the Judgement Day games. The Scarlets were bolstered by the return of John Barclay, Samson Lee, Phil John and RaboDirect Pro12 top try scorer Gareth Davies. The Blues on the other hand continued to be hampered by injuries, with Rhys Patchell, Leigh Halfpenny and Sam Warburton still out.

Pro12 Is The Big Winner After Euro Row

As the dispute that threatened the European game as we know it has now been resolved, we can finally begin to talk about on field matters again. It has been a season blighted by off-field politics, especially in the Pro12 as the league has been a pawn in an Anglo-French dispute. However, the Pro12 looks to have gained the most from the long debate. Clubs that reach the European Champions Cup from the Pro12 will have a financial boost compared to the income that the Heineken Cup currently gives them. As it has already been pointed out however, French and English teams also gain a higher amount of income, this suggests that the politics are not completely over.

The Man Behind The Goal Kickers

In the modern game goal kickers are increasingly becoming more and more important and often decide games at both international and club level. The precision of these goal kickers is incredible and I am continually surprised by the distance and accuracy that goal kickers are achieving week in week out. So how do they achieve these results? The answer is simple, with a lot of practice under the guidance of expert coaches. Stuart Lierich is one of these coaches and spoke to me about being a kicking coach.

Heineken Cup Doesn't Disappoint

It was the best line up that we have ever seen in the quarter finals, the worry was that it would not live up to the hype. We needn’t have worried as the Heineken Cup once again showed that it brings the best out of the top players.

Blues Upset High-Flying Ulster

A game that had implications on both ends of the table took place at the Cardiff Arms Park. With Ulster vying for a play-off place, at the other end of the table the Blues were looking to finish the season on a high in their last game at the Arms Park.

The Winner Takes It All!

This game has all the makings of a league decider and with these two teams almost guaranteed 1st and 2nd spot in the Rabo it could quite easily be a rehearsal for the league final on the 31st of May.

Do Wales Need Alex Cuthbert?

The Welsh backline has been one of the most settled in recent times and almost picks itself. However, in this Six Nations even the backline has seen changes. The ever-present Mike Phillips has been dropped, Rhys Priestland has also been dropped. Past 10 however, there is little debate, North, Robert, Davies, Cuthbert and Halfpenny, or should there be a reshuffle.

Is a Two Tier Europe the Way Forwards?

The call seems to be growing louder around the rugby community as the years go by. The call for a two tiered European competition is beginning to gather support. Prior to this years Six Nations I was in the traditionalist camp and in favour of no alterations to the competition that we all know and love.

My Team of the Tournament

15 Full-Back: Mike Brown

Brown has tough competition for his position in this team with Rob Kearney and Leigh Halfpenny both having strong campaigns. Brown has stepped up this Six Nations and become an international player and a key player for England. To be joint leading try scorer from full-back is an achievement in itself.

Super Saturday Is Here!

Super Saturday is upon us once again, and once again the destination of the Six Nations trophy will not be decided until the last day. It will be a day for the mathematicians as England look to make up a massive points deficit to reclaim the trophy for the first time since 2011. Ireland's points difference of 81 means that England will have to thump Italy by 60 or 70 points depending on Ireland's result in Paris.

Is 4G the way forward for Europe

One of the showpiece games of the Six Nations every year is England-Wales. For all the passion that was displayed on Sunday it was not a good game and skill levels by both sides were very poor. It was not even that conditions did not allow for it, the pitch was pristine, the weather was good, yet still handling was poor by both sides.

Big Hits and Big Rivalries

Wales travel down the M4 this weekend to face an English side who have been consistent throughout this years Six Nations; something Wales cannot say themselves. Welsh performances have been up and down this campaign. A good win against France, a bad performance against Ireland and a downright ugly win against Italy. England's form has been far steadier, they should have beaten France, convincingly put away Scotland and edged Ireland in an intense encounter.

Tan Shows His True Colours

In an interview with the BBC Vincent Tan discussed the issues he has faced since arriving in the Welsh capital. From Malky Mackay to the kit change, the interview was a highlight reel of successive disasters since the Malaysian came in.

Has Tan been made a villain?

WRU Launches Touch Rugby

On Wednesday the WRU launched a glossy new touch rugby initiative to help encourage more people into the game of rugby. I was invited down to the launch and invited to play in a few games. There was a real mix of talent on show, with employees from insurance company Admiral who had never played before, all the way up too the top level internationals.

Little and Large. George North helps one of the younger players

Can Wales Bounce Back?

Wales face the French on Friday in Cardiff needed a win to keep their title hopes alive. The last time Wales invited France to Cardiff on a Friday night in 2010 the French came out on top. The year before when Wales travelled to Paris to play on a Friday night, the French won out again. The common denominator is clear; Wales do not like playing the Friday night games. France particularly like the Friday night fixture as they are used to it with their club rugby. In Wales we are far more used to a Saturday or Sunday game, if the fixture is on a Friday it is far earlier that 8pm.

The Outside-Half Issue

As I have said many times before, I am a big fan of James Hook. However, for most Welsh fans he is the forgotten man until something goes wrong and then they start calling for Hook to come back. He has become the fourth emergency service in Wales with people filling column inches, radio and television time with the James Hook debate. I have also been guilty of this before anyone pulls me up. There is no doubt that Hook is the more traditional 'Welsh 10'. Watching him play it is possible to see shades of Cliff Morgan, Barry John and Phil Bennett, all great outside-halves themselves.

Magnificent Ireland Crush Wales

I hate to say I told you so, but, I did say Wales would have to knock Sexton off his game if they had any chance of winning yesterday. They didn't do this and allowed Sexton to one of his greatest performances in an Ireland jersey. I am not trying to be clever be starting the post-mortem in this way, because Gatland would have known, the players would have known; keep the half-backs quiet. They were not kept quiet Connor Murray and Johnny Sexton had outstanding games.

Game Of The Championship

The biggest game of this years six nations lands in Dublin this weekend as the Welsh come to town. It is always a game which provides many a talking point, and in the last few years this fixture has provided some outstanding clashes. It has thrown up moments that rugby fans will not forget. 2011 was the year of the Mike Phillips try with the wrong ball, 2012, the controversial penalty for Leigh Halfpenny to win the game in the last minute. Last year in the first half we saw how poor Wales can be and then how good they can be in the second half. So who will create the memories this time around?

Growth Of Rugby In The Emerald Isle

The Irish have started this six nations confidently, with a convincing win against Scotland. The Joe Schmidt era has certainly got off to a good start, consistency is what the Irish have lacked in previous years, this is what Schmidt seems to be adding. So now that the present set up is in a good position, it is time to take a look at how Irish rugby got here in the first place.

Strong Start To The Six Nations

This year the six nations began where it ended last year, in Cardiff. With Wales bidding to become the first ever side to win three championships in a row surely the Italy game was a given. Not so, the Italians put up a fight and made it very difficult for the Welsh to play. This led to Wales making mistakes, with Rhys Priestland being turned over several times. Even Leigh Halfpenny was not immune to error; his pass was intercepted by man of the match Campagnaro who ran in his second try on his championship debut. Halfpenny did make amends for his mistake, if it were not for his 13 points Wales would have been on the wrong side of the score board. It was not pretty from Wales, they will know they were poor, but still won 23-15 against a very good Italian side. Is that the sign of champions?

Italy's Long Relationship With Rugby...

Italy will come to Cardiff this Saturday as huge underdogs when they face the double European champions. However, the Italians are improving year on year, and have beaten everyone apart from England since their acceptance into the competition fourteen years ago. They are no longer a team that coaches can 'experiment' against. They will be ready to improve once more this Spring and will target that England scalp.

Rugby is unquestionably on the up in Italy, the demand for the Stadio Flaminio being expanded has seen them move to the Stadio Olimpico. A move that has seen them attract larger crowds than Wales, with 80,000 cramming in to see the All Blacks. For a nation whose national sport is football this is a major feat.

Leigh The Latest To Leave

Leigh Halfpenny has become the latest in an ever increasing list of Welsh players to go and ply their trade abroad. The fullback will join Toulon from when his contract with the Cardiff Blues ends this Summer. In a deal reportedly worth £395,000 who can blame the boy from Gorseinon.

Blurring The Lines Between Forwards and Backs

We should really have seen this coming a few years ago. If we go back to the World Cup in 2011 when Wales reached the semi-finals, the game was lost when Captain Sam Warburton was sent off twenty minutes in. Jamie Roberts was forced to play flanker in the scrum for the rest of the game. The role was not familiar to the giant centre; however, his stature did look familiar in such a role. If you look at the size of the backline on that day four of them could have looked the part had they had a different number on their back.

Welsh Civil War Has To Stop Now!

As the debating rumbles on in the boardrooms of Welsh rugby, a decision needs to be reached soon. Players are beginning to admit that not knowing what is going on next year is starting to affect their performance on the field. Who can blame them, if you were in a job and there was uncertainty over your future or where the work was going to come from you might feel the same.

Ryan Jones is the most recent of the Welsh players to bemoan the current situation, after he was announced in the six nations squad yesterday he has said that the off-field rumblings could effect Wales' campaign. This was along with the announcement that he would be leaving the Ospreys to go to Bristol at the end of the season.

Welsh European Review

A weekend where the Welsh sides had very little to play for, the Scarlets and Ospreys were already out of the Heineken, and the Blues needed a lot a factors to go their way if they were to progress. The Dragons did have the chance to put themselves in a useful position in the Amlin going into the last weekend against Bath, the only region that harbored any realistic hopes of progression before this weekend.

Nigel Owens Talks Rugby, Refereeing and the Regions

The day after the last of the South Wales derbies in the Christmas period between the Ospreys and Scarlets I was given a chance to talk to the referee from the night before, Nigel Owens. The Welshman has been called the best referee in the world by many people this year including former Welsh international and friend Jonathan Davies.

Ospreys Survive Scarlet Fightback

The rain held off for the start of the game the last of the Christmas Domino's derbies in Wales at the Liberty Stadium, but a heavy wind was blowing inside the stadium, leading to difficult kicking conditions.  It was set be a test of Welsh international 10's kicking skill in the wet conditions, with a permanent place in the Welsh jersey still up for grabs.

Cardiff Blues Vs Newport Dragons Report

The artificial pitch at the Cardiff Arms Park was the only thing that allowed this game to go ahead. It was a game that felt like the morning after the night before in more ways than one. Several players that we have come to expect more from simply did not perform, Faletau, Cuthbert and Halfpenny being fairly anonymous in open play although with his boot Halfpenny was typically lethal.