Cardiff Blues have confirmed that scrum half Lloyd Williams will be out of action for approximately four weeks following a knee injury suffered against the Ospreys over the weekend.
The Welsh international scrum half suffered grade two medial ligament damage that will see him side-lined for four weeks, with a possible return against Ulster in the last match of the regular season on May the 3rd.
With the Cardiff Blues v Ospreys fast approaching the Blues are gearing up for another visit to the National Stadium
The Blues first played at the Millennium Stadium during the 2005/06 season where they recorded a victory in a high scoring match against Leinster in the Magners League.
The following season didn’t go so well for the Capital region recording losses to Leicester in the Heineken Cup and Ospreys in the EDF Anglo Welsh Cup semi final.
However, the 2008/09 season was arguably the most memorable one, with the Blues recording a win over Gloucester in the pool stage of the Heineken Cup in front of over 27,000 supporters.
They then recorded a hard fought win over Toulouse in the quarter-final in front of 36,000 supporters before facing Leicester in the semi final.
In front of a record 44,000 supporter the Blues fought back through tries from Jamie Roberts and Tom James and two touchline conversions from Ben Blair, to record a 26 all draw, before missing out in a historic penalty shoot out.
For this weekend’s match season ticket holders are reminded that their tickets need to be collected from the Cardiff Arms Park Ticket Office before 4pm on Friday 29th March.
Season ticket holders wishing to renew their season ticket on the day of the double header can do so in the Martyn Williams Pack Bar situated behind the Family Stand.
The Gareth Edwards Lounge upstairs in the clubhouse will be open to the general public from 12 midday, with the downstairs Members Bar also opening at 12.
It’s the ideal venue to meet ahead of the matches on Easter Saturday (March 30) with the Newport Gwent Dragons kicking off against the Scarlets 2.30pm
Following the final whistle of the Cardiff Blues v Ospreys match the ever popular 4th Street Traffic will be performing in the Arms Park courtyard at 7.00pm.
Speaking ahead of the match Cardiff Blues flanker Sam Warburton said,
“I’m looking ahead to Judgment Day in the Stadium.
“Hopefully people will turn up who have the bug from the Six Nations and want to watch two great clashes.
“There was some good banter flying around when we were in the national squad.
“We had photo shoots for it while in the Welsh camp, head to head shoots with me and Justin, so we had a bit of a laugh with it.
“We are all looking forward to it and hopefully the fans will feel the same way too.
“I guess now with the hype of the Six Nations this is when kids get inspired to play and I think it’s great for the players to get out in the community and meet the kids, which is what we are doing with the Blues at the start of April.
“Hopefully it will inspire them to pick up a ball and keep playing.
“I think it is important for us to capitalise on events like the Six Nations and success to increase participation.
“The players going out to clubs is a great way for kids to get access to professional players and ask them any question they want and they can hopefully get a feel for what it takes to be a professional player.”
Tickets for the matches are available priced at Adults £25, U18s £10, Family ticket £50 (two adults, two children) Tickets available from wru.co.uk/tickets
Cardiff Blues in the Millennium Stadium
2005/06 Season
Cardiff Blues 40 – 31 Leinster Rugby Sunday 14th May 2006, KO 18:10
Att: 15,327 Magners League
2006/07 Season
Cardiff Blues 17 – 21 Leicester Tigers Sunday 29th October 2006, KO 15:00
Att: 26,645 Heineken Cup Pool Match
Cardiff Blues 10 – 27 Ospreys Saturday 24th March 2007, KO 17:15
Att: 40,057 EDF Energy Cup Semi Final
2008/09 Season
Cardiff Blues 37 – 24 Gloucester Rugby Sunday 19th October 2008, KO 15:00
Att 27,114 Heineken Cup Pool Match
Cardiff Blues 9 – 6 Toulouse Saturday 11 April 2009, KO 15:30
Att: 36,728 Heineken Cup Quarter Final
Cardiff Blues 26 – 26 Leicester Tigers Sunday 3 May KO 15:00
Att 44,212 Heineken Cup Semi Final
When Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies and veteran Dragons lock Rob Sidoli clash at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday they will complete a circle of success which has brought FOUR Six Nations Championship titles to Wales in the last nine years.
The pair, who are set to feature in opposition in the opening match of the inaugural Rabo Direct Pro12 double-header at the Millennium Stadium, are at different stages of their rugby careers, but are inextricably linked by a unique piece of silverware.
The first title of the new Millennium, in 2005, saw then Blues second row Sidoli play every minute of the campaign which brought the international holy grail of a Grand Slam to Wales for the first time in 27 years.
Three Slams later, the latter of which gave Davies his first Six Nations winners medal in 2012, and the Scarlets centre is an integral part of the squad which, last weekend, ensured Wales retained their European title in back to back seasons for the first time in 34 yrs.
If it all started with Sidoli and company eight seasons ago, the class of 2013 have more than taken on the mantle and arguably eclipsed the much heralded achievements of Wales’ sides of the 70s.
But both players remain hungry for even more silverware and they agree that success at international level only enhances their Regional ambitions.
Davies is set to make his 100th appearance for the Scarlets at the home of Welsh international rugby this weekend and feels he has unfinished business with the side he supported as a child.
“I’ve grown up supporting the Scarlets and the players there are the ones you train with week in week out, so to get a taste of success with them would be particularly sweet,” said the 36-times capped Whitland product.
“I’ve spoken to the Ospreys players when we’ve been in camp with Wales, they’ve won this league more times than anyone and they say that winning silverware with your Region is pretty special.
“Success with the Scarlets is definitely something that is important for me, we have a great squad and winning with Wales just makes you all the more determined to reproduce that with your Region.
“We are all determined to put that right with a good run at the business end of the season to get us into the those play-offs and that means putting a performance together against the Dragons on Saturday.
“It will be strange to come back to the Millennium Stadium so soon after the incredible highs of winning the Championship here, but this is a special place.
“The atmosphere is always amazing and if the fans are anything like they were for the England game we should all be in for a real treat.”
Sidoli has himself made 96 appearances for the Dragons, he played 42-times for Wales and, after the career highlight in 05 which a 17-year-old Davies watched from the Millennium Stadium stands, last featured at international level in the 62-5 loss to England at Twickenham in 2007.
At 33 he has the edge in experience on the 26-year-old Davies, he knows all about how success at international level can inspire a region and he is looking forward to taking to the Millennium Stadium pitch again for the double-header this weekend.
“The Millennium Stadium is a special place for both the players and the fans and it’s a great concept to have these two derby matches here on the same day, the atmosphere will be amazing,” said Sidoli.
“We’ve seen how well this Welsh side has done and enjoyed watching them. It lifts everyone mentally to see Wales do well and the players who have returned to train with the Region have really boosted us and I think we have a role to play in energising them as well.
“It can be draining to achieve success like they have done, certainly in 2005 it was the first time anyone had experienced that kind of success for a long time so we were on the ceiling for a good while afterwards.
“This squad has managed to sustain their success now so the next step is to reflect that in the regional game.
“This will be a big weekend for all four sides, just as we have been a bit of a thorn in the side for the Ospreys in recent times the Scarlets have probably been that for us.
“We know we can be a dangerous side but we have been inconsistent. The challenge for us is to be consistently dangerous and put some performances together to be proud of during the season run in.
“The Millennium Stadium is a great stage to play on and it should inspire some great rugby this weekend, with us all hopefully picking up where the national team has left off.”
The RBS 6 Nations trophy will return to the scene of its dramatic capture by Wales at the Regional double-header match to be held at the Millennium Stadium a week on Saturday.
Over 30,000 Welsh rugby fans have already bought tickets to the ‘Judgement Day’ fixture, which pits the Dragons against the Scarlets and the Blues against the Ospreys in an East versus West Rabo Direct Pro12 double derby day clash, which will now also become a celebration of the national cause.
Most of the Wales squad which retained the title they took in 2012 with a clean sweep, by recording the nation’s greatest ever victory over England last weekend, will be on display on the pitch in Regional team colours introducing some fascinating head to head clashes.
But the coaching team which played its own integral role in the 30-3 victory over England and the retention of the Championship title in 2013, will also attend as special guests and to see their latest acquisition of silverware paraded in front of the Welsh fans.
The Welsh Rugby Union is hoping to use the event to help fans show the national squad just what their recent successes have meant to them and also allow fans to relive the glorious scenes of Wales’ consummate demolition of England in the capital less than a week ago.
The Judgement Day event in itself represents the first time all four Welsh rugby Regions have come together to play under the same roof and is a chance to celebrate the regional game in Wales and its value to the national game.
“The trophy will be displayed proudly at pitchside and paraded around the ground at both matches,” said a WRU spokesman.
“It’s incredibly difficult to quantify what success on the rugby pitch means for the nation,but the scenes at the Millennium Stadium last weekend go some way to explaining just how passionate we all are about our national sport.
“Judgement Day, a week on Saturday, is a perfect and timely opportunity for us to celebrate again the success of the Wales national squad, to let them know how proud we all are of them and to watch some fascinating clashes as many of them go head to head in their Regional colours.”
Wales flankers Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) and Sam Warburton (Blues) provide the most direct match up of the day, but the likes of Dan Biggar, Adam Jones (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny (Blues),Andrew Coombs, Toby Faletau (Dragons), George North and Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) are also set to return to the Millennium Stadium turf to take on their national team-mates.
Judgement Day – Millennium Stadium, Saturday 30 March
Dragons v Scarlets 2.30pm
Blues v Ospreys 5.15pm
Tickets: Adults £25, U18s £10, Family ticket £50 (two adults, two children)
The most talked about head to head battle in European rugby is set to take place at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday week, when Sam Warburton’s Cardiff Blues take on Justin Tipuric’s Ospreys.
The Wales flankers, who played side by side in Wales’ record 30-3 victory over England on Saturday and picked up successive Man of the Match awards as Wales closed in on the RBS 6 Nations title, are set to come face to face in the second of the Rabo Direct PRO12 double headers at the home of Welsh rugby on Easter Saturday (March 30).
It will be the first time the pair have come up against each other in a competitive match despite battling for starting places for Wales, and coming through the Welsh international set-up together. In what will be an enthralling encounter across the board, with the Ospreys fighting for a place in the Rabo Direct PRO12 play-offs, that one on one tussle will excite all rugby supporters and observers alike, not least the Lions selectors ahead of Warren Gatland’s squad announcement for the tour to Australia.
Warburton said, “I think I’ve only played against the Ospreys twice, most recently at home at the Cardiff City Stadium on New Year’s Eve 2010 where we narrowly won 27-25 with Marty Holah in the Ospreys side. That was a good memory but the year before, we played away on New Year’s Day 2010 and lost 26-0 so that was a bad one. It’s a mixed bag but I’m really looking forward to this one.
“I’ve never played against Justin Tipuric before, seven on seven. It’s a battle I’m really looking forward to, especially in the contact area. It’s well publicised how important that area is in the modern game so whoever comes out on top in that area will have an advantage. It will be an interesting one.”
The Blues flanker reckons the Ospreys will provide a threat throughout the side but especially in the forwards. “I think the Ospreys will go for us up front. Their whole pack is a threat and I couldn’t single out one player. I’ve been really impressed with them this season. They seem to have great unity whoever plays and so they’ll be a huge challenge.
“Bradley Davies will be a big miss for us, especially against the Ospreys, as that game would have suited him down to the ground. Lloyd Williams will be important, he’s an immense player. He doesn’t get as much publicity as some but he’s very good at keeping the tempo going which is how the Blues want to play. A hard pitch should allow him to flourish.
"He’s an old school nine with a great pass, a great dummy and great pace. He’s immensely fit, reads the game well and knows when to kick. He can surprise a few people – when he gets given a chance he always impresses.”
Warburton is relishing the chance to get back onto the Millennium Stadium pitch, and this time in his regional colours. “I haven’t played a regional game at the Millennium Stadium before – some of the players have played Heineken Cup knock-out games there. I’m very proud to play for the Blues and it will be really exciting to play here. I’m sure it will be a match no player will have to get motivated for, especially for us. We can’t make the latter stages so this is one game everyone wants to be involved with.”
Warburton’s Wales back row team mate and opposite number Justin Tipuric is also looking forward to Judgement Day. “I’ve played twice against the Blues. In one game, we were down to six men in the scrum against them in the LV= Cup and we were on our own line. Everyone thought the Blues would get a push over try but our front five managed to push them off the ball, so that’s something that stands out. They’re physical derby games and ones everyone wants to win.”
Tipuric is taking nothing for granted as the Wales players return to their regions after the RBS 6 Nations. “Sam Warburton and I have done ok in the same team but we have to go back and win our places in the regional sides now. As a team, we will have to be disciplined as the Blues have got a great kicker in Halfpenny, and Cuthy and Leigh can finish the scores. But it’s going to be a physical game and we need to be aware of their pack.
“You can’t give away too many penalties in a derby game like this. That’s going to be crucial. It’s about the team more than anything and the 15 players on the pitch. Hopefully we will play well as a team and if we do that then we can hopefully get the win.
“We’ve got a game with the Dragons on Friday night and then obviously the big one on Judgement Day so hopefully we’ll build some momentum going into that. I think it will be exciting and we can play some open, running rugby in front of a good crowd back at the Millennium Stadium.”
Judgement Day – Millennium Stadium, Saturday 30 March
Dragons v Scarlets 2.30pm
Blues v Ospreys 5.15pm
Blues add bulk to pack with the signing of Samoan international Filo Paulo
Born in Wellington, of Samoan heritage, Filo Paulo plays for Auckland Blues where he has been capped 26 times at Super Rugby level and made 35 appearances for North Harbour in the ITM Cup competition since 2008.
A physical player and strong line out jumper, Paulo can play in the second row or blindside and made his international debut for Samoa in their Autumn 2012 tests, playing against Canada and France. He was also part of the Samoa team that defeated Wales by 26 points to 19, at the Millennium Stadium in November.
Standing at 6ft 6in tall and weighing in at 19 stone Paulo is certainly a formidable presence on the pitch and had a stint with Ulster early on in his career before returning to New Zealand.
Speaking of the move Filo Paulo said,
"I am very excited to be joining Cardiff Blues. I know a lot of great players have worn the team’s colours so I am extremely grateful to be offered this opportunity and I will be giving my all in order to meet the high standards set by my teammates, the coaching staff and the supporters.
“Cardiff is a great city and the people are very friendly which will make the transition to Wales much easier. The dedicated fans and awesome game atmosphere are second to none so I am really looking forward to the challenge."
Cardiff Blues CEO Richard Holland, added,
“Filo will be a strong addition to our squad and we are delighted to have secured his services after long discussions with his people in New Zealand.
“He is a big ball carrying second row or blindside and the attributes he has certainly fits the bill of what we require at the Blues.
“We were monitoring him before he became an international and were impressed with his performances during the autumn internationals when he was part of the Samoan team that played France, Canada and defeated Wales.
“Filo will be arriving in the Blues in the next few weeks and once he’s settled in the supporters I’m sure will look forward to seeing him in action on the pitch.
Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby, Phil Davies, said,
“We are looking at specialist positions in recruitment, such as front row players and scrum halves.
“However, wherever possible in your back five of the scrum or the back five from the half backs, centres, wingers, full backs we are looking for some versatility.
“Because of the restrictions of the salary cap it is important to have certain versatility.
“Taking those principals on board Filo’s ability to play four, five, six or eight was a big influence on him coming here.
“He is only 24 years old and has played Super 15s for Auckland Blues and has played international rugby for Samoa.
“He is the right age profile and has an immaculate injury record, physically he is extremely fit.
“He will definitely add value to the current crop of back five players for us.
“He will be with us all the time, week in week out, and we have four other second rows who are all Welsh qualified.
“His arrival will add strength and depth to the team.”
Cardiff Blues season ticket holders are reminded that the deadline to reserve their seat and renew their season ticket is Sunday 31st of March.
