Blues name squad to face the Scarlets

Posted on Nov 16, 2012

Cardiff Blues have made seven changes to the side to face the Scarlets this Saturday.

The Blues recorded a 22 points to 17 win over the London Wasps in the opening fixture and will be looking to build on that when they travel to Llanelli on Saturday, 6.30pm kick off.

There are seven changes in the starting XV with two in the backs. Harry Robinson return from the Wales squad to start on the wing, while Rob Lewis starts at scrum half in place of Lewis Jones who picked up a knock to his shoulder in last Friday’s match.

In the forwards Andries Pretorius return at Number 8 to captain the team and is joined in the back row by Thomas Young who starts at openside.

Macauley Cook starts in the second row while there are two further changes in the front row. Mark Breeze starts at hooker in place of Rhys Williams who moves to the bench and Ryan Harford return from a back injury in place of Foa Filise who also moves to the bench.

Cardiff Blues 15. Dan Fish 14. Harry Robinson 13. Owen Williams 12. Gavin Evans 11.Tom James 10. Gareth Davies  9. Robert Lewis

8. Andries Pretorius (c) 7. Thomas Young 6. Luke Hamilton 5. James Down 4. Macauley Cook 3 Ryan Harford 2 Marc Breeze 1. Sam Hobbs

16. Rhys Williams 17 Campese Mafu’u 18 Taufa’ao Filise 19 Cory Hill 20 Rory Watts-Jones 21 Lloyd Williams 22. Ceri Sweeney 23. Rhys Patchell

Teen wing sensation Robinson signs for Blues

Posted on Sep 2, 2012

Cardiff Blues have confirmed that teenage winger Harry Robinson has signed a senior contract with the region.

Robinson, 19, impressed Welsh selectors and was called up to the Wales 35 man senior squad for the training camp in Poland prior to the 2012 Six Nations Championship. He made a try-scoring debut for his country in June, in the test against the Barbarians.

In 2010/11 he won the Cardiff Blues Academy Player of the Year Award having had an outstanding season and became the youngest ever player to represent the Cardiff Blues, when, aged 17 years and nine months, he lined up against the Ospreys in the LV= Cup.

Speaking of the signing Robinson said,

“I’m really pleased to get to stick around for a few years.”

“It was an easy decision to make and I took the offer with both hands.”

“This is the best rugby environment for me to be in and I’ve got a good group of friends here also, so I’m excited to be here.”

“It does feel like a fresh start with Phil coming in and all the boys who are here feel it’s a good environment to be in.”

“It was a bit of whirlwind last season for me but things have sunk in now but now it’s a new season and I’m just putting my head down and working hard.”

“My ambition is to establish myself in the Blues team but competition is going to be tough with the quality back three players we have in the squad at the moment.”

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Robinson flies in for Wales Under 20

Posted on Feb 22, 2012

Wales Under 20 Head Coach Danny Wilson has made just one change from the team who beat Scotland in Colwyn Bay a fortnight ago, for the clash against championship favourites England at the Stoop (pictured) on Friday (kick-off 7.45 pm).

Harry Robinson, who was called into the RBS 6 Nations senior training squad, will make his first start for the Under 20s this season.
September’s Principality Premiership Player of the Month is a welcomed addition to the group after Wilson was unable to select him in his initial squad. Robinson was released by the senior squad allowing Wilson to utilise the dynamic winger in his Under 20 line-up.

“Harry has been training with the senior squad and it was a natural step for him to come and play for us when Warren made him available,” said Wilson.

“We have been very impressed with him in training, he has a great attitude and as we’ve seen recently, he’s a live-wire who quite often can make something happen out of nothing out on the field.

“That said, Iolo Evans did very well against Scotland and we’ve made the decision to move him to the bench and give Harry a go as we’re looking towards the World Cup and different combinations.”

While Harry Robinson comes in for Evans, only two replacements remain – Thomas Davies and Jordan Williams – as several players make a return from injuries.

“We have a couple of boys returning from injury who are named on the bench such as Dan Baker, who has had a few games for Swansea over the past few weeks and Samson Lee who has recovered from a knee injury, which gives us a chance to look at all players, again with a forward view of the World Cup preparations,” added Wilson.

“On paper England look a powerful forward pack and a strong backline that’s full of individual sharp runners.

“They are the team to beat in this competition so far, after they showed what they can do when they put 50 points on Scotland. They have a lot of experience with many of the boys playing Premiership rugby so we’re expecting a physical match on Friday.”

Wales Under 20

15 Ross Jones; 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Luke Williams, 12 Cory Allen, 11 Luke Morgan; 10 Sam Davies, 9 Jonathan Evans; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Kirby Myhill (Captain), 3 Will Griff John,  4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rhodri Hughes, 6 Ellis Jenkins, 8 Ieuan Jones, 7 Daniel Thomas
Replacements: 16 Jamie Sollis, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Jack Jones, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Jordan Williams, 23 Iolo Evans