Scarlets looking to stay in top four race as they take on Italian side Zebre

Posted on Mar 21, 2013

The Scarlets travel to Italy on Friday night to take on Zebre for the first of five crucial games in their bid to gain a play-off place in the top four of the RaboDirect PRO12.

Zebre have lost all 23 matches they have played this season in all competitions, eight by seven points or less. Scarlets only defeat in the last four rounds of RaboDirect PRO12 play was 5-32 to Leinster in Dublin on 23 February.

The West Wales region have slipped up in Italy this season, going down 20-22 at Treviso on 29 September however the Scarlets won 22-13 when the two sides met in round 8 of this season’s RaboDirect PRO12.

After a two-week break in regional fixture action, the Scarlets have combined a few days break for players to refresh minds with training days at Parc y Scarlets to stay sharp and ensure the momentum built before the break wasn’t derailed.

And it’s been a healthy break from match action for the Scarlets squad, according to their Head Coach Simon Easterby, who said that this week’s full training sessions had showed that some time off had re-energised his team.

Back into the Scarlets starting line-up come three Welsh internationals, with Liam Williams moving to the wing as Gareth Owen returns from injury to take up the full-back spot after an impressive run of games earlier this year; Aaron Shingler starts in the back row alongside experienced colleagues Johnathan Edwards and captain Rob McCusker and Matthew Rees starts at hooker with another set of experienced Scarlets campaigners in the front row – props Phil John and Deacon Manu.

Wales international centre Scott Williams is on the Scarlets bench for some added strike power and Aled Davies get the number nine jersey to start with Owen Williams at outside half and impressive Wales 20 scrum-half talent Rhodri Williams on the bench.

Simon Easterby said: “We needed to finish the last block of rugby with a win which we secured against Edinburgh and the boys have benefitted from the chance to rest a few tired, bruised and battered bodies as well as the opportunity to clear their heads a little.

“It’s been a very positive week back in full training at Parc y Scarlets, with the boost of the international players coming back energised by their victory in the Six Nations and we are now clearly focused as a group on these next five games which we have to win to retain our control on a top four finish.

“During the international window, the players who remained at Parc y Scarlets shown real commitment and we have kept us in a good position.  We have to respect all the teams we play now and that includes how we approach our challenge against Zebre on Friday night.

“Zebre may have lost a lot of games this year but have come very close to teams at nearly every point – so we have to be really focused on our job in hand as players and as coaches. They will be very competitive and we will not be going out there underestimating what we need to do to get a result. 

“The Italian players will be very upbeat after Italy’s finish to the Six Nations and with that they will post a real threat to us and our ability to retain our control on our play-off ambitions.

“They’re well-coached and we are going to have to be really up for this and need a strong performance to get the result we need.

“We’ve hopefully managed time off with some good rugby preparation as well with our players – we will see the response to that on Friday night.”

“A play-off place is still in our control and that’s up to us to follow through with that now with results.”

Easterby said an exciting finish to the season was really building: “There is plenty to go in terms of the fixtures left, we have to play Glasgow and a lot of the top placed sides still have to play each other – so it’s going to be about points taken from taken from sides as well as the ones you win.  We are in the mix and it’s great that there is still so much to play for in the short amount of games left; we have potentially a really good run in.”

Scarlets Team v Zebre Friday March 22nd 2013 kick off 7pm at Stadio XXV Aprile; 15 Gareth Owen 14 Liam Williams, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Andy Fenby, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Aled Davies, 1 Phil John, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Deacon Manu, 4 George Earle, 5 Johan Synman, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Rob McCusker (capt)

Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse,  19 Jake Ball,  20 Sione Timani, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Aled Thomas, 23 Scott Williams.

Wales internationals Ken Owens, Jon Davies and George North are rested following their intense campaigns during the Six Nations. The Scarlets internationals are expected to return for the big Double Header Welsh regions fixture ‘Judgment Day’ at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday March 30th (kick off 2.30pm Dragons v Scarlets & 5.15pm Blues v Ospreys).

Injured Scarlets players not available for selection include:  Rhys Priestland (Achilles), Josh Turnbull (shoulder), Tavis Knoyle (wrist), Samson Lee (back), Jordan Williams (pectoral), Richard Kelly (hand).

Ospreys continue to lead the international way with one third of all Wales caps issued since 2003

Posted on Jan 30, 2013

As the nation prepares for the 2013 Six Nations, which gets underway this weekend when Wales entertain Ireland at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, figures revealed today show that the Ospreys continue to lead the way in terms of contribution to the senior national team.

The latest stats show that to the end of the autumn international series, where Wales played four games against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, more caps have been handed out by the WRU to players wearing the Ospreys shirt than from any other region, with 34 per cent of all caps going to Liberty Stadium based players – over a third of all caps issued to date.

Since the inception of regional rugby a total of 2417 caps have been dished out, 825 of them going to Ospreys players. Next on the list is Cardiff Blues with 600 caps (25 per cent), the Scarlets with 461 (19 per cent) and the Dragons with 259 (11 per cent).

Behind them come the combined total for English clubs (122/5 per cent), while Overseas and Celtic Warriors from 03/04 account for the final 150 caps (6 per cent) between them.

Reflecting on the figures as he looked ahead to the forthcoming Six Nations, Chief Operations Officer Andrew Hore said that everybody involved with rugby in the region could take great pride from the statistics.

“Almost 10 years into regional rugby, to be able to say that over one third of all caps issued have gone to Ospreys players is an incredible achievement for the organisation” he commented.

“It reflects positively on everyone involved on the development pathway. To represent your country is the ultimate goal of any young boy when he first picks up a rugby ball, and everyone of our players who have gone onto achieve that goal began their playing days at their local community club. It was where they fell in love with rugby.

“When you look at the boys who are currently in the Wales squad and see people like Adam Jones and Richard Hibbard among the senior players, side by side with the next generation of Ospreylian caps like Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar, and the latest boys to receive a call-up, James King and Eli Walker, everyone involved on that pathway can take immense pride. Officials at the boys home clubs, the likes of Trebanos, Gorseinon or Abercrave, people who worked with them at age-grade, or young boys in their local community just starting off themselves can all look at these players and identify with them, recognising that they truly represent the diverse communities of Ospreylia.

“Add in the senior players like Alun Wyn Jones and Ashley Beck who are out injured currently, or the seven young Ospreys players who have been selected for the U20s on Friday evening, and you can see how strong our development pathway is as the next generation are already starting to come through.”

According to Hore, there is no reason to believe that the figures will change much moving forward given the Ospreys ongoing commitment to development.

“Development from within is at the very heart of everything we do as an organisation” he emphasised.

“We’ve increased investment in that area year on year and are seeing the rewards, and it is all credit to the directors for their vision in seeing this as the way forward for the Ospreys. Look at the young players who have come to the fore this season for the region and you will recognise a development system that is thriving.

“It’s essential, given the way the market is going in rugby, with Welsh regions funded centrally at a lower level than in England, Ireland, Scotland or France, that we remain ahead of the game in terms of development. For us to deliver sustainable success, we need to know where our priorities lie, and we’ve seen over the last twelve months that by doing so we are able to reap the rewards.

“We are justifiably proud to be able to say that a third of all Wales caps have gone to Ospreys players. The challenge now is to maintain that record, and ensure that rugby clubs and communities across Ospreylia can continue to see more local boys coming through the system to represent the region, and the country, than at any other region.”

Scarlets appoint Sean Holley to coaching team during Six Nations

Posted on Jan 18, 2013

The Scarlets have secured experienced Welsh coach Sean Holley to boost the Scarlets coaching set-up during the international window.

Holley will work alongside Head Coach Simon Easterby and his coaching team following the announcement that Scarlets Attack Coach Mark Jones will join Wales for the Six Nations campaign.

The experienced 42-year-old who is the longest serving Welsh regional coach ever, has worked at elite level in rugby for the past 15 years, was formerly with the Ospreys since their inception in 2003 initially as assistant coach and then in 2008 when he was appointed as Head Coach where he remained for three years.

During that time Holley lead the Ospreys to notable victories including Magners League Champions in 2004/5, 2006/7, 2009/10 and 2011/12 and Heineken Cup quarter finalists three years in a row in 2007/8, 2008/9 and 2009/10.

Prior to his role at the Ospreys, Sean Holley was Director of Rugby at Hartpury College and Head Coach at Gloucester RFC Academy.

He has strong links with the West Wales region having been brought up in Carmarthenshire and was a lecturer at Coleg Sir Gar where he developed the first of its kind “Rugby Studies” educational programme launched by Graham Henry and Phil Bennett at Coleg Sir Gar, where he taught and coached for six years. He has a Sport Science degree from Loughborough University.

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby said it was a positive for his team to have Sean Holley’s knowledge and experience of the regional game; his success in developing Welsh players and detailed appreciation of competing in the LV=Cup and RaboDirect PRO12.

Easterby added that his prior experience would allow for a quick and seamless transition into coaching at the Scarlets and he welcomed the opportunity for Holley to bring a new and fresh perspective to training at Parc y Scarlets.

Simon Easterby said:  "To have a coach of Sean’s experience, expertise and technical ability at a key time for us is vital as Mark goes away on Wales duty.

"Mark Jones has contributed a great deal to our rugby environment and team this season and deserves his opportunity with Wales and we are pleased to support the national set-up and his coaching development.  Sean will be looking to continue the good work Mark has already put in place.

“We have a crucial period ahead of us while nine of our senior players are away during the Six Nations and need to make significant progress in the RaboDirect PRO12.

"We are fortunate, given the time-frame and midway through the season, to have secured the services of someone of Sean’s capability and background.

“He will also bring a fresh new perspective to our team environment which will be healthy for our coaching group and our squad of players.

“We look forward to his input; he will challenge and support our players which will add to the energy in our group and I know he will put his all into this role with us.

“With the level of experience and professionalism Sean has, he will hit the ground running with the knowledge he has of our region, players and the game in Wales.”

Sean Holley who joins the Scarlets officially next week said:  "I’m looking forward to working with Simon and his team – they are a hard-working and committed coaching team with clear goals, real ambition and a strong set of values.

"It’s a close-knit group at Parc Y Scarlets.  As a team, the Scarlets are destined to achieve success with the number of exciting players they have with real talent and passion for the shirt they wear.  They have worked hard to put themselves in a strong position in the RaboDirect PRO12 and they need to cement that in coming weeks.

"It will be a great environment to experience with an excellent stadium and rugby facilities and I hope to add real value to the drive and ambition at Parc y Scarlets for the time I am here.”

Sean Holley will be working as backs and skills coach in the interim period while Mark Jones is away.

Forwards Coach Danny Wilson will continue to coach at Parc y Scarlets during the Wales U20 Six Nations period – alternating his time between Parc y Scarlets and the WRU Centre of Excellence at the Vale Resort.

Scarlets’ Mark Jones called up to Wales coaching team for Six Nations

Posted on Jan 15, 2013

Scarlets Attack Coach Mark Jones will join the Wales set-up for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament giving him an exciting opportunity to broaden his coaching experience to benefit his full-time role at the Scarlets.

The 33-year old former winger with Scarlets and Wales who has 47 international caps to his name and 164 appearances for his region, has been coaching the Scarlets with great success since he retired from rugby in 2010.  He has been committed to the Scarlets as a player and then coach for more than a decade.

Mark Jones will join Rob Howley and his coaching team for the duration of the RBS 6 Nations Tournament as Assistant Coach (backs) before returning back to his region.  Jones has also been signed up by Wales this summer for Wales’ two-test tour of Japan.

The role for Mark Jones is seen as an opportunity to boost the dynamic skills coach’s career development as well as offering a proven level of expertise to the international coaching mix and a fresh outlook and new ideas to benefit Wales.

Jones said:  “I’m very grateful to the Scarlets for allowing me to take this exciting opportunity.  It can only benefit the region if I push myself forward, take on new challenges and develop further as a coach.

“It will help me gain new ideas and experience which I believe will benefit my full-time role with the Scarlets.

“It will be a privilege to work with the Welsh team and a group of talented international players and coaches.  To be part of your national rugby set-up as a player or a coach is a huge honour and it’s valuable to have close working links between the region and the WRU.

“I’ll still be in close contact with the team at Parc y Scarlets during the Six Nations and will be providing any thoughts and advice I can offer.

Jones said he was looking forward to working with the international players, many of them known well to him from the Scarlets but also some new faces from across the four regions.

He said: “It’s a great opportunity to get a different perspective from working with a wide range of international players and to get their views as well getting some fresh ideas.  All of this I hope will be good for the Scarlets in the long-term.”

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby said the region fully supported the opportunity that Jones has been handed with Wales.

Head Coach Easterby said:  “Mark has a lot to offer – he’s a coach with a great enthusiasm for and commitment to the game in Wales.  He’ll work hard with Wales but will also stay in close contact with us and support our progress because it’s so important to him.

“Developing and challenging ourselves as coaches and players is a key philosophy in our region. Mark will come back to us with new experience, ideas and confidence which will only benefit the Scarlets.”

The Scarlets has called-in additional experienced Welsh coaching resource to cover for Mark Jones while he is away with Wales which the region says will also bring a fresh injection of ideas and experience to benefit the region and the players not on international duty during an important phase in the LV=Cup and RaboDirect PRO12.

The Scarlets will announce details of the additional coaching experience secured for the region during the Six Nations in due course.

Career Scarlet Jones enjoyed 12 seasons with his region is hugely popular amongst fellow players and supporters, playing 164 times for his region and scoring 425 points (85 tries). He played his first Scarlets game against Saracens on 26 August 1998. He has won 47 caps for Wales, scoring 13 tries for his country and was part of the Grand Slam winning team in 2008.

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.”