Navidi renews his contract with the Blues

Posted on Jan 9, 2013

Cardiff Blues have confirmed that back row forward Josh Navidi has signed a new contract with the Blues that will keep him with the region until 2016

The back row forward made his senior Blues debut against Heineken Cup champions, Leinster, at the RDS in 2009, coming on as a replacement for Scott Morgan. Josh earned himself a start against London Irish in the LV=Cup match in Cardiff the following month.

Speaking of his new contract Josh said,

“I’m happy with my form at the Blues and feel my playing has been consistent, but I can always keep pushing myself to see how I can improve as a player.

“Changing between six and seven doesn’t really worry me, as long as I am on the pitch and representing the Blues.

“I see a lot more of the ball in the breakdown when I play at seven but then playing at six alongside Sam Warburton is great for my overall game.

“I don’t think about being called up for Wales. I just get on with what I do each week and see what happens from there.

The former Brynteg Comprehensive pupil moved to New Zealand at sixteen to study accountancy and PE at Christchurch’s St Bedes school and went on to win the South Island College League and came third nationally. Upon returning to Wales, Navidi played for Wales U20 side in all of the 2010 Under 20’s Six Nations tournament and lead the Wales to victory against France at Newport.

“After two seasons in New Zealand I wanted to see if I could create a career in Wales. I came back and handed my CV around. After a meeting with Gethin Watts I ended up in the Blues academy.

“I would have loved to have stayed in New Zealand as their approach to rugby is phenomenal but I have so much in Wales so I couldn’t leave permanently.

“With the facilities at the Blues you can’t complain about playing here and I’m really pleased to be staying on.

“I played under 20’s two years ago including the Junior World Cup in Japan and Argentina when Phil Davies was the coach. He is a very constructive person to have in charge. He is always pushing the players and keeping us positive in the way we play. That is as true now as when he used to coach me at U20 level.

“He encourages us and I enjoy playing under him as a coach.

“Hopefully this next season will see us push forward as a team and I’m sure he will bring out the best in us.”

Blues retain Scott Andrews for two more years

Cardiff Blues have received a further boost with the news that international prop forward Scott Andrews has signed a contract extension with the region.

Andrews was part of the Welsh Junior World Championship side that reached the last four of the inaugural tournament held in Wales in 2008 and captained the side against France and Italy in the 2009 Under 20s Six Nations.

Having been capped at Under 16, Under 18 and Under 20 levels for Wales he then went on to captain his country in the Junior World Cup in Japan in June 2009.

A product of the Blues Age Grade and Academy system, Scott made his senior Blues debut against Ulster at Ravenhill in the Magners League in 2009.

Andrews made his senior international debut, coming on as a replacement in the 2011 summer fixture against the Barbarians and played against Samoa, New Zealand and Australia in the 2012 autumn series.

Speaking of his new contract Scott said,

“We have had a tough start to the season but we have a great group of boys here and things are looking good for the future, so I am really glad to stay on.

“I have been here since I was sixteen and didn’t want to look elsewhere as I am happy at the Blues.

“We have a lot of young boys mixed with some top internationals who are contracted for the next few years, so slowly we are producing a good core. It will be exciting to see it progress over the next few years.

Speaking of his international ambitions Scott added,

“I enjoyed playing for Wales in the 2012 autumn internationals but the focus now is to play well for the Blues. If I get the nod for the national side for the Six Nations it’s something I can look forward to in the future.

“Rugby is a learning process, you keep leaning your whole career, the more experience you get the more you continue to improve as a player and it’s a constant challenge. I have improved the last few years and hopefully with another few seasons at the Blues I can keep learning and progressing.

“I knew the way Phil worked after experiencing his coaching at Under 20 level. He’s been really enthusiastic and very hands-on, which is great for the boys. He gets right amongst it and is really passionate about the game and our region. It’s great for the young players to see a coach like that.

The former Y Pant Comprehensive Schools pupil believes that the move back to the Arms Park has been a successful one with both fans and players enjoying being back at the historic ground.

“Atmosphere wise you can’t describe how much better the Arms Park is and the relationship with the crowd and fans has improved as a result. Obviously the pitch isn’t up to the same standard as Cardiff City but our ground staff are doing a good job

with it.

“I think we have established ourselves as a region. Everyone where I am from in Llantrisant gets behind us. I definitely feel that we are well established now and I can’t wait to spend a few more seasons playing for the Blues.”

Warburton returns to captain Wales against New Zealand

Posted on Nov 20, 2012

Wales selectors have made five changes to the side defeated by Samoa last weekend for the Dove Men Series clash with World Champions New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (KO 5.15pm).

Up front captain Sam Warburton returns to lead the side and replaces Justin Tipuric, who moves to the bench.  In the second row Luke Charteris comes in for Ian Evans, who misses out after taking a limited part in training due to a knee problem and in the front row Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees replaces the injured Richard Hibbard (shoulder).

In the back line Scarlets fly-half Rhys Priestland returns in place of Osprey Dan Biggar, who was also unavailable for selection due to injury (shoulder). Fellow Scarlet Jonathan Davies completes his return from a groin injury to reunite his 2012 RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam centre partnership with Jamie Roberts– Davies replaces Osprey Ashley Beck. Front row cover is provided once again by Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins and Scott Andrews with Aaron Shingler completing the forwards line-up. Scarlets duo Tavis Knoyle and Scott Williams are joined by Perpignan fly-half James Hook to complete the matchday-23.

“It’s an honour to be playing the World Champions at the Millennium Stadium this weekend,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“This New Zealand team is one of the best rugby sides to have ever played the game and probably the best All Blacks team ever, so it will be a privilege to be able to test ourselves against them. No one is more disappointed than the players and the coaches with how things have gone in the last two weeks, but those supporters who have been with us over the last 18months know, just as we do, that we are a better side than we have displayed so far and we will be looking to show that on Saturday.”

WALES SQUAD

Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Matthew Rees, Aaron Jarvis, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton (Captain), Toby Faletau

REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, James Hook, Scott Williams

Grand Slam stars hit the TV screens

Posted on Aug 27, 2012

Leigh Halfpenny and George North are starring in a new rugby advert hitting television screens next week.

Wales rugby boss Warren Gatland has become notorious for imposing a brutal training regime on his Grand Slam winning players and the international duo are featured undergoing some gruelling sessions of their own.

Blues full-back Halfpenny’s ad is reminiscent of actual footage released last year, which showed the Wales squad sprinting on a frozen beach at their pre-RBS 6 Nations Championship training camp in Gdansk, Poland.

Halfpenny shot his item on a beach in Rest Bay, Porthcawl and was asked to race a galloping horse as the film director pits man against beast to symbolise the physical conditioning required for a modern athlete to compete at the very highest level.

Scarlets wing North journeyed to a Caerphilly mountainside (Coed-y-Wenault) where he is depicted carrying tree trunks across the forest laden landscape.

The ads are the first two in a four film series which will later see fellow Scarlet Rhys Priestland and Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate training in their own unique environments.

The players are featured as part of a campaign encouraging fans to support their national side at the Millennium Stadium this November, as they attempt to re-create last season’s Grand Slam glory starting with the Dove Men Series against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

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Wales U20 beaten but not bowed

Posted on Jun 17, 2012

Wales Under 20 6 – 30 New Zealand Under 20

Wales were beaten but not bowed by New Zealand in this afternoon’s IRB Junior World Championship semi-final in South Africa. The young Dragons became the first team to beat New Zealand in the five years of this tournament, winning 9-6 in the Pool stages, but the reigning champions were too strong on this occasion, scoring four tries to nil.

Wales were understandably buoyed by their earlier victory over the Baby Blacks and began this game at a rate of knots. Tom Prydie kicked penalties after eight and 15 minutes to give Danny Wilson’s side a 6-0 lead and might have increased the advantage to nine had he have found his range at the end of the opening quarter.

Wales showed that their impressive, unbeaten run so far in this competition was no fluke and displayed great composure in defence and dominated the forward play. Even when New Zealand set up a wonderful opportunity to score, after a quickly taken free kick from Jordan Taufua, the Welsh backs bundled centre Jason Emery in to touch.

Ihaia West’s penalty, after Wales had been adjudged offside in midfield, halved the deficit 14 minutes before the interval, and two minutes later, another rampaging break from the New Zealand forwards resulted in a second West penalty.

At times, Wales were a touch aimless with their kicking – Tom Habberfield finding touch on the full when an opportunity to utilise his back division was most certainly a better option. That said, it was a Welsh performance full of vim and vigour with Cory Allen’s tackle on Emery an example of Welsh defiance and Matthew Morgan’s counter-attack from deep providing further confirmation of the team’s potency going forward.

Unfortunately, with two minutes remaining before the interval, Wales lost scrum ball and found themselves behind for the first time in the game. New Zealand set themselves up in front of the Welsh posts and blindside flanker Jimmy Tupou was driven over for a try West duly converted.

Only five points behind at half time, trailing 13-6, Wales conceded a second try two minutes into the second half through impressive centre Jason Emery, Ihaia West converting.

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Have some of that: Wales U20 9 New Zealand U20 6

Posted on Jun 8, 2012

Wales Under 20s have caused the biggest upset in Junior World Championship history by condemning New Zealand to a shock 9-6 defeat in shocking conditions at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch today.

The Baby Blacks have dominated the competition and were undefeated in the tournament, claiming victory in all four editions since the event replaced the U19 and U21 championships in 2008.

Only 12 months ago New Zealand hammered Wales 92-0 in Italy and after the Kiwis had mauled Samoa 63-0 in their opening pool match without breaking a sweat, the tournament heavyweights would have been expecting another scalp. However Wales had other ideas and produced a heroic defensive effort in appalling conditions to send New Zealand crashing to defeat.

The Welsh scrum dominated the feared New Zealand pack while at halfback Tom Habberfield marshalled the troops superbly. The heavy pitch didn’t suit New Zealand’s expansive style of play but Wales forced the men in black into uncharacteristic mistakes. New Zealand rang the changes in the dying stages of the match to inject pace and power but the Welsh line stood toe to toe with their much vaunted opposition to record a famous victory.

The staunch defence was tested to the limited as New Zealand upped the tempo as the match neared its climax. For 18 phases the Kiwis inched closer and closer to a potential match clinching try but for 18 phases Wales held firm to deny the marauders before relieving the pressure with a turnover. New Zealand seemed to run out of ideas as they were repeatedly knocked back in the tackle by a superb defensive effort by Wales.

New Zealand opened the scoring on a quagmire of a pitch in the 9th minute through Scott Eade. The outside half had another opportunity to increase the lead but he pushed his next shot wide. Matthew Morgan missed his first two shots at goal as Wales took the game to their illustrious opponents but it was third time lucky for the Ospreys fly half when he levelled the scores in the 22nd minute with a well taken penalty.

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