+++The Radio Cardiff Sports Show+++

VOTHER IS BACK!

2012-01-24T17:41:00.001Z

Devils huge Challenge Cup Semi Final match tomorrow night has been given some added spice as Devils iconic power-forward Brad Voth will return from injury.

Already set to be the game of the season in the EIHL this year, there is now an even bigger reason not to miss this match with the big man back on the ice.

Former Devil Jon Pelle will return to the cauldron of atmosohere generated by what is expected to be a sold-out arena, with the Devils Red Army of fans in full voice for this thrilling encounter.

Fans will wear red to 'Red out the Rink' once again and our production team will be turning the rink into the 'Big RED Tent' for one night only tomorrow.

There are 2,000 goodie bags being handed out, extra special giveaways, athletics star Matt Elias is dropping the puck for us and there will be an awesome big-match atmosphere so come along and GET LOUD!

Online sales are unavailable for this match but there are still some tickets remaining. Call 029 20 382001 NOW to book your seats.

Tito calls for more noise at Le Crunch

2012-01-19T22:05:00.000Z

Cardiff Blues captain Paul Tito is urging the supporters to get behind the team for this Sunday’s must win match against Racing Metro.

Speaking at the Vale of Glamorgan training centre, Tito said,

“We had a big performance at London Irish, which is not an easy place to go and win, but the boys dug in and we came away with the points.”

“We had great support from our fans which made a massive difference to the boys and we showed our appreciation after the game by going to thank them.”

“Hopefully we will see them and a whole lot more this Sunday at the stadium, where we have a must win game.”

“We are really looking forward to this weekend and we know a big performance is required, but we are really up for the challenge.”

“Hopefully we could get a home game again for the quarter finals.”

“If you look at the Racing Metro or London Irish games, the supporters were great. They chanted and yelled at the boys, that’s what we need.”

“When you’re battling and you hear them it’s a good pick up for the boys, they really drove us home on the weekend.”

“In our home games in the stadium this season it has been a bit quiet and it’s noise that we need as we enter the arena to lift us.”

“We want the fans to really get really behind the boys and push a really big performance out of everyone.”

“Racing Metro are a dangerous team and any French team that is down are never out, they fight on.”

“They will want to come here and put on a performance. I’m sure they will want to loosen up and play a little bit more, so we need to counteract that and play some nice attractive rugby as well.”

Season ticket holders are reminded that they can buy additional tickets for the match for only £10 each, with a maximum of two £10 tickets per season ticket holder.

Tickets for the Cardiff Blues v Racing Metro, Sunday 22 January, 3.15pm kick off, are available online onwww.cardiffblues.com/tickets or by calling 0845 345 1400.

WALES TRAINING CAMP SQUAD

2012-01-19T22:01:00.002Z

Warren Gatland today announced the 35-man Wales squad, captained by Sam Warburton, which will travel to Gdańsk, Poland, next week for the 2012 RBS 6 Nations training camp.
The Wales head coach has stuck with the majority of his much hailed Rugby World Cup side, adding just four players who did not feature in either his extended 45-man pre-RWC training squad or the December international against Australia at the Millennium Stadium at the start of this season.
Saracens prop Rhys Gill, uncapped Ospreys pair Ashley Beck and Rhys Webb and young Blues wing Harry Robinson are the only players in the squad who have not been in the international selector’s plans this season so far, with Gill earning his only international cap two years ago as a 2010 RBS 6 Nations replacement against Ireland.
Robinson, Webb, Beck, Scarlets prop Rhodri Jones and colleague Liam Williams – who both featured in the training squad which faced the Wallabies last month – and Scarlets lock Lou Reed (lock) are the only uncapped players selected.
The squad is set to be reduced again after Wales return from an intense seven-day period at the specialist training camp which utilizes cryotherapy chambers to improve recovery and allow players to cram more training sessions into a given day.
But Gatland is confident he has the right blend of youth, talent and experience to mount a highly credible challenge on the 2012 RBS 6 Nations title next month, which begins with a Celtic double header against Ireland, away, and Scotland, at home at the Millennium Stadium, on the first two weekends in February.
Three players – Mitchell, Gill and Sale Sharks back row Andy Powell – join the squad from English clubs and Wales have also called upon the services of France based trio James Hook, Mike Phillips and Lee Byrne, with all six available to Wales for a reduced amount of time on the camp (three days), the maximum stipulated by IRB regulations.
“We have had to strike a balance with this squad, the majority are those players who excelled for Wales during the Rugby World Cup, but are also taking the opportunity to look at one or two youngsters before probably cutting our numbers even further before the start of the RBS 6 Nations,” said Gatland.
“We have kept a couple of older heads and we have injuries, with Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker and Luke Charteris all unavailable to us, but the emphasis on development and planning for the future is there for everyone to see.
“These are exciting times for Welsh rugby, we showed a huge amount of potential at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and we will be working as hard as humanly possible to ensure that we reach our potential in this year’s 6 Nations championship.”

WALES

BACKS

Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022)

DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs

International record: 60 caps (W 28, L 29, D 2; 40 pts – 8T)

Lloyd WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,087)

DoB: 30.11.89. 6’0” / 1.83m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs

International record: 5 caps (W 3, L 2; 10 pts – 2T)

Rhys WEBB (OSPREYS – Uncapped)

DoB: 09.12.88. 6’0” / 1.83m. 13st 12lbs / 88kgs

International record: Uncapped

Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)

DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs

International record: 10 caps (W 6, L 4; 53 pts – 1T, 12C, 8PG)

James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047)

DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs

International record: 59 caps (W 25, L 32, D 2; 326 pts – 12T, 40C, 58PG, 4DG)

Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)

DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs

International record: 39 caps (W 18, L 21; 20 pts – 4T)

Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)

DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 3lb / 103kgs

International record: 21 caps (W 11, L 10; 25 pts – 5T)

Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)

DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 3lbs / 97kgs

International record: 8 caps (W 4, L 4; 20 pts – 4T)

Gavin HENSON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 990)

DoB: 01.02.82. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 10lbs / 100kgs

International record: 33 caps (W 18, L 14, D 1; 130 pts – 3T, 29C, 18PG, 1DG)

Ashley BECK (OSPREYS – Uncapped)

DoB: 15.04.90. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lbs / 100kgs

International record: Uncapped

George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)

DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs

International record: 16 caps (W 6, L 9, D 1; 45 pts – 9T)

Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)

DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 2lbs / 83kgs

International record: 27 caps (W 12, L 15; 72 pts – 9T, 9PG)

Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,089)

DoB: 05.04.90. 6’6” / 1.98m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs

International record: 1 cap (L 1)

Harry ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES – Uncapped)

DoB: 16.04.93. 5’10” / 1.78m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs

International record: Uncapped

Liam WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Uncapped)

DoB:09.04.91. 6’2” / 1.88m. 13st 5lbs / 85kgs

International record: Uncapped

Lee BYRNE (ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE – Cap No 1,041)

DoB: 01.06.80. 6'3" / 1.91m. 14st 12lb / 94kgs

International record: 46 caps (W 20, L 24, D 2; 50 pts – 10T)

FORWARDS

Craig MITCHELL (EXETER CHIEFS – Cap No 1,068)

DoB: 03.05.86. 6’1” / 1.85m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs

International record: 11 caps (W 8, L 3)

Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)

DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 18st 12lb / 120kgs

International record: 75 caps (W 35, L 37, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)

Ryan BEVINGTON (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,081)

DoB: 9.12.88. 6’0”/1.82m. 17st 2lb/109kgs

International record: 7 caps (W 3, L 4)

Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)

DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs

International record: 83 caps (W 37, L 44, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)

Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)

DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs

International record: 31 caps (W 12, L 18, D 1)

Rhys GILL (SARACENS – Cap No 1,073)

DoB: 30.10.86. 5’11” / 1.80m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs

International record: 1 cap (L 1)

Rhodri JONES (SCARLETS – Uncapped)

DoB: 19.01.91. 6’3” / 1.91m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs

International record: Uncapped

Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033)

DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs

International record: 48 caps (W 20, L 27, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)

DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs

International record: 49 caps (W 23, L 25, D 1)

Ken OWENS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,088)

DoB: 03.01.87. 6’1” / 1.86m. 17st 8lbs / 112kgs

International record: 1 cap (W 1)

Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)

DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs

International record: 32 caps (W 14, L 17, D 1)

Ian EVANS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,045)

DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8” / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs

International record: 17 caps (W 6, L 10, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

Lou REED (SCARLETS – Uncapped)

DoB: 10.09.87. 6’6” / 1.99m. 17st 11lbs / 113kgs

International record: Uncapped

Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)

DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs

International record: 58 caps (W 28, L 28, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)

Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)

DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs

International record: 20 caps (W 8, L 11, D 1)

Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)

DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs

International record: 24 caps (W 12, L 12; 10 pts - 2T)

Justin TIPURIC (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,086)

DoB: 06.08.89. 1.88m / 6’2” 15st 10lbs / 100kgs

International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)

Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)

DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs

International record: 11 caps (W 5, L 6; 10 pts – 2T)

Andy POWELL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 1,061)

DoB: 23.08.81. 6’4” / 1.94m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs

International record: 22 caps (W 12, L 10; 5 pts – 1T)

Coming up on tonight's Tuesday Night Sports Show - 17th January 2012

2012-01-17T16:50:00.003Z

We’re here every Tuesday at 7pm on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online at www.radiocardiff.org with award-winning sporting discussion and debate.

- Coming up on your double award-winning Tuesday Night Sports Show, we look back at the weekend’s Premier League and Championship action including a huge win for Swansea and dropped points for Cardiff City.

- England’s cricketers struggled against Pakistan in the first test in Dubai with Saeed Ajmal taking a career best 7-55. We hear from our reporter Zaheer Haque.

- In Ice Hockey we have a match report from Cardiff Comets v Chelmsford and Simon’s regular round-up of the Cardiff Devils.

- Cardiff Blues take on Racing Metro this Sunday afternoon in their final Heineken Cup group match aiming to qualify for the quarter-finals.

- Yousef reviews all the latest UFC action and we look at snooker, BDO darts, the NFL play-offs and a tribute to Muhammed Ali who is 70 today.

- Plus we have our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown.

Give us a call on: 02920 235 664

Send us a Text: 07728 758 759

Cardiff Comets vs. Chelmsford Cobras - MATCH REPORT

2012-01-17T14:51:00.000Z

As highlighted on last week's show, the Cardiff Comets Women's Ice Hockey team hosted their first game of the season with last season's runners up, the Chelmsford Cobras, as opponents. Chelmsford have been setting the pace this season and would be looking to extend their winning run to 5, whilst Cardiff knew this game was a must win to stay in the title hunt. Games between the teams last season were settled by single goals and a larger than normal crowd were on hand to see what promised to be a very competitive game.

A nervy start from both sides led to a tense first period with Chelmsford's forwards looking dangerous, but there was little support from defence and Cardiff were easily soaking up the attacks. As time went on the Comets increasingly began to counter attack in numbers and received their reward late in the period with Kamara Bristow slotting home from broken play. 1-0 to the home side at the end of the first.

The second period saw two quick fire goals from Fran Frappell before Chelmsford hit back with their opening goal near the midway point of the game. Their relief at scoring was to be short lived however, as Bristow added her second followed soon after by Nikki Rust-Lombard chipping the netminder for the Comets' fifth goal. Defender Suzi Grieve completed a dominant second period for the Comets with a scrappy shot that Chelmsford failed to react to. 6-1 to Cardiff at the end of the second.

Chelmsford hadn't given up though and opened the third by reminding their hosts how dangerous they could be. An inch perfect pass split the defence and Emma Hayman in the Cardiff goal stood little chance against an excellent shot. The Comets were determined not to let this one slip away and again replied immediately when Beth Williams skated past the entire Chelmsford team for a solo goal, restoring the advantage. Arguably, the best goal of the game was to be the final one, as Williams added her second with a powerful shot from the blue line that rose and dipped before passing the netminder. The final score 8-2 to the Comets with Suzi Grieve picking up the player of the game award.

It was a well deserved win for the Comets, who looked a completely changed side from the team defeated by Swindon earlier in the season, and lays down a marker for the rest of the league to try and match. Chelmsford are better side than they showed during this game and will surely still have much to say in how the league plays out. Cardiff travel to Invicta this Saturday, with their next home game being the return match against the Swindon Topcats on the 19th February, 6.30pm with free entry for spectators.

For more information on the Cardiff Comets, please check out their website www.cardiffcomets.com

2012-01-17T13:58:00.002Z

TIGER BAY BRAWLERS TO INSPIRE NEW JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY CLUB

2012-01-16T17:01:00.001Z

TIGER BAY BRAWLERS TO INSPIRE NEW JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY CLUB

2012-01-16T16:59:00.000Z

Sport.Cardiff will this month launch a new junior roller derby club in partnership with the Tiger Bay Brawlers. The exciting project will be the first in Wales to link with the renowned Cardiff based club.

Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track.

The game consists of a series of short ‘jams’ in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team. Roller derby originated in America in the 1930s and is now played by 1,000 amateur leagues on every inhabited continent.

The Tiger Bay Brawlers were founded in April 2010 and were the first Welsh league to affiliate to the UK Roller Derby Association. They now compete with teams all over the UK.

The new roller derby provision is part of the Sport.Cardiff 5x60 school sports development programme. The 5x60 initiative is a Welsh Government funded programme available to schools across Cardiff which encourages children to take part in 60 minutes of physical activity five times a week.

It comprises a variety of different activities from which the children choose what they want to participate in. Activities include competitive, team and individual sports as well recreational activities such as climbing, dance and swimming. The new junior club will give children and young people from secondary schools around the city the opportunity to try out this exciting sport which they may usually not have access to.

It is an opportunity to get a feel for roller derby and a chance for participants to go on and join the Tiger Bay Brawlers club. Sessions will be held from Wednesday 25 January, 2012 at Cardiff and Vale College, Trowbridge, formally Coleg Glan Hafren.

Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “Sport.Cardiff continue to deliver inspiring and original sports provision to school children across Cardiff. It is fantastic that young people can experience new and unique sports such as roller derby, and allows new opportunities to participate in club activity in the future.”

Tiger Bay Brawlers coach Judge Redd, said: “We're thrilled to be the first league in Wales to become affiliated with junior derby. Hopefully this will be the start of an ongoing venture between the Tiger Bay Brawlers and schools in Cardiff, and pave the way for junior leagues to establish. Who knows, we could be training the roller derby stars of the future, and that's really exciting!"

For more information children should see their schools 5x60 officer or email Edel EC@stteilos.cardiff.sch.uk

For more information about Sport.Cardiff please visit www.sport-cardiff.com or to find our more about the Tiger Bay Brawlers please visitwww.tigerbaybrawlers.com.

For Tiger Bay Brawlers press and media queries please contact pr@tigerbaybrawlers.com. Sponsorship queries should be sent to sponsorship@tigerbaybrawlers.com

HEINEKEN CUP AND AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL DRAWS

2012-01-16T16:47:00.001Z

The draw for the semi-final pairings of both the 2011/12 Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup tournaments will take place on Sunday, 22 January, at Cardiff City Stadium following the conclusion of the Round 6 matches.

The Heineken Cup semi-final draw will take place at approximately 17.25 (UK / Irish time) and will be followed by the draw for the Amlin Challenge Cup with both being streamed lived onwww.ercrugby.comand broadcast live on Sky Sports and on Canal Groupe’s infosport + channel.

The draws will decide who the winners of each quarter-final will meet in the semi-finals. In the case of the Heineken Cup, where semi-finals are played at venues designated by ERC, the draw will also decide which clubs will have ‘home country’ advantage, where the semi-finalists are from different countries.

In the Amlin Challenge Cup, the semi-finals are played as home matches and the draw will decide which clubs will have a home semi-final, should they win their respective quarter-final.

With only a three week window between the quarter-finals and the semi-finals – the early staging of the draw allows ERC to select potential semi-final venues in advance of the quarter-finals and for the Clubs and ERC to begin preparations and planning to maximise the semi-final fixtures.

THE VALUE OF A HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINAL

The average attendance for a Heineken Cup quarter-final in 2010/11 was 39,500
€1m (euro) net profit per quarter-final was shared by two clubs in each match
€3.5m (euro) in meritocracy payments was also distributed by ERC for the four quarter-final matches with each quarter-final earning €438,000 (euro) for the country of the club which has qualified.
A club which moves its quarter-final to a larger venue receives 65% of the net receipts from the game
As an example of the potential economic impact of a Heineken Cup quarter-final, research showed that the 2009 match between Munster Rugby and Ospreys at Thomond Park generated €10.5m (euro) for the local economy

“Commercially, the tournaments have stepped up significantly and the clubs are seeing significant commercial progress from their participation in our competitions,” said ERC Chief Executive, Derek McGrath.

“A look at last season’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals shows that two quarter-finalist clubs on average shared €1m (euro) profit for each match from the net receipts alone. So the prize is big, and if you add on top of that, the meritocracy payments which come from ERC’s central funds, just over €400,000 (euro) goes to each country of each of the qualifiers for the quarter-finals.

“You’re talking about a shared fund of almost €2m (euro) from each of the quarter-finals. And clearly, this is just one of the reasons why clubs are so ambitious to reach the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup.”

2012-01-16T16:37:00.000Z

A ground breaking initiative aimed at encouraging more children and adults to reap the benefits of getting involved with rugby as a healthy lifestyle hobby which promotes the importance of teamwork has been unveiled by the WRU.

The union has recruited fourteen RugbyParticipation Officers (PO’s) to newly created roles in grassroots rugby across Wales to spearhead the scheme.

The new officers are contracted until 2014, and are based in rugby strongholds across the East and West of South Wales in accordance with Regional rugby demarcations, with two full time positions also delegated to North Wales.

Two officers will cover the Cardiff region, whilst there are two new members of staff looking after the Newport, Gwent and Caerphilly areas, a further six are dotted along the M4 corridor taking in Swansea, Bridgend, Neath/Port Talbot, Rhondda/Merthyr and Pontypridd & Cynon Valley, with two based in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire and two spread across the East and West of North Wales.

The new ‘army’ of rugby ambassadors will go out into their communities with the particular aim of enhancing participation by children, adults and girls and will target three key areas:
Promote opportunities to play rugby in primary schools
Deliver touch rugby programmes in secondary schools
Develop a new summer adult ‘tough rugby’ programme and a commercially viable ‘pay to play’ series

The new team will head into the schools and communities across Wales to explain how rugby can help its participants, both young and old, and enhance their involvement in the game.

The WRU officers will focus on getting children, young people and adults into the habit of being participants in activities which will improve their health.

The project has been launched in alignment with £400,000 of Sport Wales funding over the next three years and involves activity in every region of the nation.

The initiative is part of the WRU strategy to increase family participation in rugby at grassroots level to protect the future of the game in Wales.

It has been closely aligned to Welsh Government policy which is aimed at encouraging the nation to get into the habit of being active.

The idea is for physical activity to remain a key element of their lifestyle as they grow into adulthood.

In the initial stages the focus of the PO’s will be on physical activity with rugby becoming a more prominent factor as the children develop an interest in sport.

The officers will operate within the primary and secondary school systems working closely with local authority teaching staff.

They will also organise touch rugby programmes for girls and boys in secondary schools and develop adult touch rugby programmes and a series of get-fit rugby based activities.

Some of these activities should offer commercial opportunities and this will form the basis of a plan to continue the funding of the project after the initial three year funded period.

The Group Chief Executive of the WRU, Roger Lewis, said: “The WRU is leading the way forward in creating and supporting children and families with positive rugby based learning programmes. Our desire is to work in partnership with like minded people such as Sport Wales to create a Welsh unity of purpose is a strong message to our nation.

“This is all about teamwork. In this environment there is no room for critics in the grandstand. We have got to get out there and do something positive.

“The WRU is committed to a spirit of cooperation and partnership to ensure we develop and prosper in these difficult times. We are putting considerable real money and effort behind this.”

The WRU National Development Manager, Jason Lewis, said: “We believe offering alternative forms of the game will encourage more of the target groups to engage with rugby.

“This new army of participation officers are an integral part of the WRU’s planning for the future and each of them carries a great weight of responsibility on their shoulders as we aim to not only maintain but significantly increase participation levels in our national sport in the years to come.

“Wales punches above its weight in the national game when you compare the population of our small country, and the participation levels within it, to our bigger cousins not only in England and France, but virtually throughout the top tier nations.

“But we cannot afford to rest on our laurels and, although rugby is our national sport, we are nowhere near the saturation levels we could be.

“Offering alternative forms of the game will, we believe, encourage more of these target groups to engage with rugby. The WRU has some bold targets to achieve in terms of growth over the next four years and we are looking for a 25% increase in participation numbers in that time.

“In creating the new roles, existing staff have been allowed to focus more deeply on more traditional forms of the game. Player Development Officers can now work more closely with secondary schools, clubs and the WRU’s own player development pathway from U12 to U16.”

Professor Laura McAllister, Chair of Sport Wales, added: “The WRU should be commended for looking at alternative forms of the game to appeal to larger numbers of the population.

“If we are to achieve our ambition of getting every child hooked on sport for life, we need to do things differently. We can’t have more of the same.

“The project aims to get an additional 17,000 children regularly playing rugby by 2014/15 which would be a great outcome.

“It’s also paramount that the sports sector in Wales looks to measure itself against other nations if we are to realise a step change – just as the WRU is looking to New Zealand in terms of grassroots participation.”

HEINEKEN CUP TEAM NEWS

2012-01-13T14:28:00.001Z

London Irish v Cardiff Blues

London Irish: D Armitage; T Ojo, J Spratt, S Hape, A Thompstone; A Jarvis, D Allinson; C Dermody [capt], D Paice, F Rautenbach, N Kennedy, M Garvey, B Evans, D Sisi, A Gray
Replacements: J Buckland, A Corbisiero, P Ion, B Casey, J Sandford, T Homer, S Shingler, P Hodgson

Cardiff Blues: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, C Laulala, G Henson, C Czekaj; D Parks, L Williams; G Jenkins, T Thomas, T Filise, B Davies, P Tito [capt], M Paterson, S Warburton, X Rush
Replacements: R Tyrrell, J Yapp, S Andrews, M Molitika, J Navidi, R Rees, C Sweeney, R Mustoe
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)

Watch our latest show - 10th January 2012

2012-01-12T22:07:00.000Z

Coming up on tonight's Tuesday Night Sports Show - 10th January 2012

2012-01-10T15:03:00.001Z

We’re here every Tuesday at 7pm on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online at www.radiocardiff.orgwith award-winning sporting discussion and debate.

- Coming up on your doubleaward-winning Tuesday Night Sports Show, we look back at the Premier League,Championship and FA Cup action from the Christmas and New Year period.

- Simon Williams will becalling in from Selhurst Park ahead of Cardiff City’s 1^st leg LeagueCup Semi-final against Crystal Palace. He’ll also review the latest CardiffDevils action.

- Kara Kowalyshen, captain ofwomen’s ice hockey team the Cardiff Comets, will join us on thephone to promote their first home fixture of the new season at the Big Blue Tent thisSaturday.

- We hear from Cardiff Bluescoach Justin Burnell as Cardiff Blues prepare to face London Irish in theHeineken Cup this Saturday as they bid to qualify for the knockout phase.

- Yousef reviews all thelatest UFC action........

- Plus we have our latestFantasy League Top Ten Countdown.

Give us a call on: 02920 235 664

Send us a Text: 07728 758 759

Tuesday Night Sport Show - Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown - 24/12/11 by Radiocardifftnss on Mixcloud

CARDIFF COMETS V CHELMSFORD COBRAS

2012-01-07T14:45:00.000Z

Blues name side to face European Champions

2012-01-06T23:28:00.002Z

Cardiff Blues have named their side to take on table topping Leinster this Saturday.

Leinster are first place RaboDirect PRO12 table, having won their last nine games in the tournament, while the Blues will look to get back into the play off spot having narrowly lost to Ospreys last week.

The Blues make two changes in the backs with Tom James coming in for Alex Cuthbert, who is out with a minor groin injury. Dan Parks starts at outside half with Ceri Sweeney moving to the bench.

In the forwards Sam Warburton has recovered from knock on the ankle and captains the side at openisde, with Josh Navidi moving to the bench. Maama Molitika starts at blindside with Michael Paterson moving to the second row in place of the injured Paul Tito.

Gethin Jenkins starts for the Blues in the front row alongside hooker Marc Breeze and Scott Andrews who started against the Ospreys on New Year’s day.

Family tickets for the match, which kicks off at 6.15pm, are priced at £24 for two adults and two children and are available by calling the ticket office on 0845 345 1400.

15 Gavin Henson 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Gavin Evans 11 Tom James 10 Dan Parks 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush 7 Sam Warburton (c) 6 Maama Molitika 5 Michael Paterson 4 Bradley Davies 3 Scott Andrews 2 Marc Breeze 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Rhys Williams 17 John Yapp 18 Sam Hobbs 19 Macauley Cook 20 Josh Navidi 21 Richie Rees 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Richard Mustoe

Not available due to injury

Alex Cuthbert – groin
Ryan Tyrell – hamstring
Paul Tito - head
Chris Czekaj - hamstring
Jamie Roberts - knee
Dafydd Hewitt - hamstring
Thomas Rhys Thomas – neck/shoulder
Taufa'ao Filise - shoulder
James Down - ankle
Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones - shoulder
Martyn Williams - arm
Kristian Dacey - shoulder

WELSH RUGBY UNION STATEMENT

2012-01-06T23:20:00.000Z

The Welsh Rugby Union has today written to the IRB outlining the process followed to inform all players who represented Wales against France at U20 level in 2011 that their future potential international status was aligned only to selection for Wales at senior level.

The WRU again emphasised the process followed in relation to the selection of Welsh international squads at senior, U20’s and Sevens are fully compliant with IRB regulations. As such all Welsh players can be assured of their international status once they have represented Wales in any of the teams relevant for Wales qualification.

IT'S GUNNER BE A GREAT 2012!

2012-01-02T18:02:00.001Z

Gunnerson shines as the Bluebirds begin 2012 with an emphatic win over Reading!

By Yousef Haider - Radio Cardiff Sports Presenter

Hello and welcome to 2012. I hope you all hada Merry Christmas, and what better way to start the year than to get threepoints against a team that caused so much pain in 2011.

It was Reading whoput an end to Cardiff's play-off dreams last season, but this year we are amuch different team.

There were a fewpoints of interest in the team selection.

Joe Mason partneredMiller up front. Since Earnshaw's injury, Miller has been playing the lonestriker role so this fairly adventurous from MacKay.

Darcy Blake steppedin at right back, with massive boots to fill as McNaughton has been outstandingall season.

Finally, Joe Rallsstarted another match, this time on the left wing, which was the first time Iwould get to see him play there.

Looking around theground, it had to be commented on that Readings away fans was the best turnoutI have seen for a long time. It looked an absolute sell-out for them and asmany away fans as I can remember seeing here.

10 minutes into thematch, not long after Mark Hudson made the most important challenge of thematch, Joe Mason broke into the box and the roar of the crowd may have put himoff as he slipped and slid on the wet pitch, however he kept his balance, anddidn't go over. This may have caused the defence to lose concentration andMason fired home to score Cardiff’s first goal of 2012 and put the home side1-0 up.

After 18 minutes, aWhittingham corner curled into the box and Gunnerson met it at the near postand scored his 5th goal of the season to put City 2-0 up. This was looking all too easyfor Cardiff. The scoreline did flatter slightly as Reading looked confident going forward but lookedsloppy at the back.

Twenty minutes intothe game, the heavens opened, and showered us with the gift of water. The rainwas pouring down worse than I remember seeing.

A long ball overthe top saw Kenny Miller chase and put the lone reading defender underconsiderable pressure, he passed back to his keeper, who Miller continued topressure, but he managed to clutch the ball to safety, and keep hold of it whenMiller knocked him over.

Malky Mackay wasthen summoned to do his usual ‘Ayatollah’, which he braved the wet weather todo, and then gave his poor hands a little shake before returning them to hispocket.

Joe Ralls washaving one of the best games of his short career. He has often shown flashes ofbrilliance, but failed to have a real influence on a match, however today wasdifferent.

On 27 minutes heput Miller through on goal. Miller tried to go round his man, who got a touchon the ball, the touch favoured Miller, who again tried to round anotherdefender, who again, got a touch on the ball, and yet again the touch favouredMiller, as was the type of luck we were getting, however all luck comes to endsometimes and the chance came to nothing.

Some fantasticpassing and movement was coming from the Cardiff players, and they looked likea great team. Confidently switching the play long and short, lots of fluidmovement with people roaming forward and someone else taking over theirdefensive duties, and on 30 minutes, Ralls was involved again, this time it washis turn to be put through on goal. He had an age to decide how best to finishthis chance, however it was on his left foot, which clearly is not his best,and the shot which was less than tame trickled towards the keeper.

On 36 minutes, theball was being built up the pitch slowly. Darcy Blake involved many times, hepassed it in field to Peter Whittingham. Whitts played it straight back to himand surveyed the pitch. He demanded the ball back immediately which he got, andwithout hesitation he instantly played an absolutely divine pass through themiddle of the defence which Miller ran onto and finished with aplomb.

It was a superbgoal, and the crowd sang Kenny Millers name. Kenny's run was excellent, but Icouldn't help but feel sorry for Whittingham who was the real mastermind ofthis goal. Words cannot do justice to his reading of the game at that moment,and how perfect the pass was. It wasn't an obvious pass at all, there didn'tlook like there was anything on, but he absolutely screamed for the ball, Ithought he fancied a shot, but he had seen the goal in his mind, before he evengot the ball. Magnificent. 3-0 Cardiff.

Just before halftime, as thoughts turned to getting warmed up, out of nowhere, Reading managedto get a goal, from a Cardiff old boy no less, Jobi McAnuff and theconsiderable Reading away fans could be heard singing "4-3....were gonnawin 4-3"....it was definitely funny, but as the whistle blew for halftime, we would have to wait and see whether it came true.

But at half time itwas Cardiff 3-1 Reading.

The second halfbegan in better weather, and a better performance from Reading. They must havehad some clear instructions at half time, and if I was in charge, a seriousdressing down as well, because they seemed a bit toothless in the first half.For all the good work Cardiff did, Reading rolled over with little fight, butthis half they seemed to be trying much harder.

The first 20 minuteswere pretty much all Reading, culminating in a penalty claim on 64 minutes andthen an unmarked player skying a volley over the bar.

If they could get agoal now, the three goal advantage that Cardiff built up at one point would bedistant memory. Someone needed to step up.

While readingpassed it around in their own half, it was Joe Ralls who nipped in andintercepted the ball. He dribbled intelligently, holding up the ball andallowing his team mates to get involved, he found the run of Mason who tried tomanoeuvre, got nowhere, but managed to lay it back, again to Joe Ralls who hadtaken up a good position. Joe Ralls shot, with his left again, however thistime a much better shot curled towards the top left corner bringing out thebest from the Reading goal keeper who saved the ball and knocked it out for acorner.

On 70 minutes plus,Joe Mason made way for Rudy Gestede, as the second half failed to live up tothe enthralling first.

Lots of passing andno end product although In the 79th, a brilliant exchange of passes found Rallsout wide who knocked a low pass into the box which caused confusion and a goalmouth scramble which somehow the Reading goalkeeper came out of with the ball,and his life.

Miller nearlydoubled his tally as we got into the last 10 minutes however a good save fromthe keeper denied him, and moments later, another good move ended up in a crossfrom Darcy Blake found Rudy Gestede who rose beautifully and headed on target,from point blank range, only to be denied again by the keeper with what reallywas as good a save as you will ever see, and in a match that had plenty ofmagical moments, THAT save was as good as any of them.

The final 10minutes of this match had really exploded into action and was a joy to watch.

Cardiff lookedexciting breaking forward as Reading continued to try and make the score atleast more respectable, mostly from the dribbling of Kebe down the right.

4 minutes of normaltime and Kenny Miller and Ben Turner left the pitch so that Anthony Gerrard andStephen McPhail could get in on the action.

3 minutes of addedtime were announced, and an energetic Rudy Gestede was released by a long ball.He held his man off, and attempted an audacious shot from out wide, which flewwide, but only just, and would have been goal of the season but for a fewinches.

He seemed keen toshow he was fully fit and in the short time he had been on the pitch, hemanaged to put in a good shift.

The match drew to aclose and the three points belonged to the bluebirds.

Kenny Miller wasnamed Man of the Match by the sponsors and Gunnerson by the fans, but inreality, there were at least another three or four players who were in with ashout. Including the visiting goal keeper, without whom, the score could havebeen much higher than Cardiff 3-1 Reading.

Our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown 24th December 2011

2011-12-24T21:22:00.000Z

Cardiff Blues make late change for derby

2011-12-23T10:21:00.000Z

Blues hooker T Rhys Thomas has been ruled out of tonight’s match against the Dragons with a shoulder injury. He will be replaced by Australian hooker Ryan Tyrell with Marc Breeze moving onto the bench.

15 Gavin Henson 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Alex Cuthbert 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush 7 Sam Warburton 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufa’ao Filise 2 Ryan Tyrell 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Marc Breeze 17 John Yapp 18 Scott Andrews 19 Josh Navidi 20 Maama Molitika 21 Richie Rees 22 Dan Parks 23 Jamie Roberts

Henson to start for Blues

2011-12-22T12:03:00.000Z

Gavin Henson will make his Blues debut playing at full back for Friday’s clash against the Dragons.

The Blues take on the Dragons this Friday 7.35pm kick off, in the big Welsh derby match at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The team shows four changes, all in the backs, to the team that lost to Edinburgh last Friday. New recruit, Gavin Henson, will make his debut at full back, with Leigh Halfpenny moving to the wing. Alex Cuthbert returns to the other wing, having recovered from a hamstring injury. In the centre Dafydd Hewitt starts with Jamie Roberts moving to the bench and Ceri Sweeney starts at fly half with Dan Parks also moving to the bench. The pack remains unchanged.

The Blues have won three of their last four games in the RaboDirect PRO12, and have won their last three matches in all competitions at the Cardiff City Stadium. However, the Dragons won the most recent match between the two teams, 28-15 at Rodney Parade on 29 April, to end an eight game losing run against the Blues, while their only previous win on Blues soil was 25-13 at the Arms Park on 7 November 2003.

The Blues have launched a fantastic party package offer of 10 tickets for £150 for this Friday’s Welsh derby clash, which is sure to appeal to festive revelers, with the match kicking off at 7.35pm. To help supporters wishing to go to the city centre after the match and carry on their Christmas celebrations, the Blues will also be putting on free shuttle buses to Cardiff Central.

To book your tickets for the match, call 0845 3451400

15 Gavin Henson 14 Leigh Halfpenny 13 Casey Laulala 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Alex Cuthbert 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush 7 Sam Warburton 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufa’ao Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Ryan Tyrell 17 John Yapp 18 Scott Andrews 19 Josh Navidi 20 Maama Molitika 21 Richie Rees 22 Dan Parks 23 Jamie Roberts

Christmas – it’s tennis time in South Wales

2011-12-21T12:40:00.000Z

The rising stars of South Wales tennis will be burning off some Christmas calories next week at the annual South Wales County Closed Tennis Championships.

A record entry of 161 players from across the region are due to take part in the competition, from December 27 to 30.

For the first time this year, the championships include Mini Red (8-and-under) and Mini Orange (9-and-under) events at David Lloyd Cardiff - the Red event on December 29 and the Orange on December 30.

The older age groups, up to 18-and-under, will play at The Welsh National Tennis Centre in Ocean Way, Cardiff.

“It’s become a tradition for the championships to be held between Christmas and New Year – and it works well,” said Paul Pritchard, who is co-organiser of the event for Tennis Wales.

“It’s a busy, full-on indoor tournament - and a great reason to get out of the house and burn off some calories.

“The event is so popular because we accept everyone who enters - there are no restricted draw sizes which means the less experienced players can play a high-profile indoor winter tournament.”

Spectators are welcome, and admission is free.

For information about the tournament or any aspect of tennis in Wales, please contact Tennis Wales at 029 20 463335 or www.tennis.wales.org

Tickets Selling Fast for Bank Holiday Cricketing Bonanza at Glamorgan

2011-12-21T10:13:00.001Z

Glamorgan Cricket has announced that more than half of the tickets currently available for next summer’s Bank Holiday weekend of cricket have already been sold – eight months before the games.

England will take on South Africa in the 1st NatWest Series 50-over One-Day International on Friday, August 24.

The following day, the prestigious Friends Life t20 Finals Day comes to Cardiff for the first time.

Spectators will be entertained by two semis and the final, all taking place on the same day during this showpiece of the domestic season.

Tickets for the NatWest ODI start at £10 for juniors and £45 for adults, and a 10 per cent Early Bird 10 per cent discount offer ends on December 1.

Tickets for the Friends Life t20 start at £10 for juniors and £40 for adults.

As a further incentive, those purchasing England v South Africa tickets will also be offered a 10% discount on tickets purchased for the Friends Life t20 Finals Day.

Glamorgan Cricket Chief Executive, Alan Hamer, said:

“The 2012 season is already shaping up nicely and we’re delighted to be staging two prestigious matches over next August’s Bank Holiday weekend

“With four matches across two days in one venue, we can guarantee spectators an action and excitement packed weekend but with tickets being snapped up so quickly we’d advise early booking to avoid disappointment.”

To book tickets either call 02920 419311 or log on to www.glamorgancricket.com/tickets

Middlesbrough v Cardiff City Match Report

2011-12-17T20:21:00.000Z

By Yousef Haider.
In this season of festive cheer, the F.A have given us a christmas hamper with a genuine 6 pointer inside to send us into the final week of xmas stress, I mean xmas cheer!

At the start of the season not many people expected middlesbrough to be where they are. Riding high at the business end of the table. Then again at the end of last season, it was this very fixture that ended city's hopes of finishing 2nd and gaining automatic promotion to the Premier League. That match ended in a surprise defeat, something of a thrashing and the rest is history, but no-one was expecting that either. Boro kicked on from there and carried that form into this season, and swansea got promoted to the Premiership, where they play fellow "promotee's" Newcastle today in a match which could also be seen as a 6 pointer.

However this really is a classic 6 point scenario. 3rd vs 4th, level on points with only 4 goals the difference which saw the home side start the match in a superior position.

Joe ralls started his 2nd consecutive league match in a largely familiar line up and the match started superbly.

Action at both ends of the pitch, with cardiff having 3 or four genuine chances within the first 10 minutes.

The crowd was full, although the away stand was looking more bare than the average wallet at xmas time.

On 13 minutes, unlucky for some, it was unlucky for Kevin McNaughton who seemed to be, quite clearly fouled by the keeper in the box, but corner given, and barely a minute later, another foul, another roar from the crowd, another denial from the ref.

Less than another minute later, boro broke away, Bart Ogbeche hit a speculative shot, which took a cruel deflection and bent perfectly around goalkeeper David Marshall. 1-0 to boro, or as the crowd preferred to sing, "1-0, to the referee".

The match was high octane, and the crowd were in great voice. The match had an edge to it with the crowd only adding to it, and with the referee's decisions making things worse, he was in danger of losing control of the game.

22 minutes in and a corner is awarded to cardiff. Must have been our lucky minute.

The corner flew into the box near post. Miller headed it to the far post and the huge frame of Ben Turner steamed on the end of it and powered in his first goal for Cardiff. 1-1

Amazingly, this match was living up to its billing, in the crowd and on the pitch. The crowd knew how crucial this was, and so did both sets of player. After 28 minutes there was still barely time to blink, and you couldn't hear yourself think. Incident after incident, attacks, saves, fouls, it was a belter.

The weather had been terrible all morning but it seemed that out of respect it would make way ever so slightly. The wind and wet subsided but the cold remained.

Just a little after half time Joe ralls had to come off, and was replaced by Filip Kiss.

2 minutes before half time, Cardiff broke quickly. Kenny miller was making a mazy run forward, but being tracked well by two defenders.

There was nowhere for him to go, but he dragged them both out wide, and tried for a back heel towards Gunnarson. The ball made its way to the middle of the box where an unmarked Gunnarson finished expertly as we are becoming used to, and took Cardiff into half time, in the lead.

2-1

The second half started, and in the first, Cardiff looked well worth the lead, they scored two goals without reply after going one down, and had a number of close calls, including the penalty claim.

With everything at stake, the next goal was vital, surely if boro could get the game to 2-2, they would be happy with a draw. Cardiff had to score next.

Unfortunatley, they didn't.

Cardiff were still very much the dominant team, although boro did seem to come out with some more bite. A couple of passes were being rushed, and there was less build up and a bit of hoof ball going on from Cardiff. This prompted Gunnarson to turn to his team and gesture several times, fanning his arms and mouthing at his players to "calm down, calm down".

Moments later, middlesbrough broke from nothing and Justin Hoyte put a ball across goal which was rammed home with ease by Scott Mcdonald, past a helpless Marshall.

2-2

They didn't seem happy to settle for a draw, and again Hoyte put a good cross in from the right to be headed out emphatically by Kiss for a corner.

The corner was safely defended, but Cardiff needed to find the shape and passing that had fared them so well in the first half.

Miller again broke forward, playing up front alone, he continually had to bring his midfield into play, which he has done very effectively.

This time he laid the ball backwards to Peter wittingham who struck a vicious shot at goalkeeper Jason steele who again saved but spilled the shot.

Manager Malky Mackay then completed the 2nd and 3rd of his substitution allowance, as Cowie and Conway came off and Mason and Gestede came on.

It looks like Miller will be getting some company up front.

Mason and Gestede instantly made contributions. Gestede heading a corner away from our goal, and Mason linking up will deep in midfield in a good move that ended up going for a goal kick.

A free kick from deep was hit towards Gestede which he successfully won, again not ending up In any thing, but a possible indicator of the reasoning behind the subs.

With the match on a knife edge, this was a time for concentration and determination, Mackay understandably made attacking substitutions, but in defence Ben Turner, who scored earlier on, made two consecutive howlers, the second one leading in middlesbrough's Faris Haroun scoring the easiest goal of his career and they now led.

3-2.

We knew this match was a six pointer, but now for Cardiff to have a merry christmas, they would need this game to be at least a six "goaler" as well.

The tables had well and truly turned and boro seemed to be shooting and creating chances at will.

The Cardiff players seemed to have taken a massive blow to their confidence and with all substitutions made, inspiration would have to come from somewhere on the pitch.

8 minutes left on the clock and a free kick was awarded. Peter Wittingham, tried to take it but middlesbrough were trying to waste as much time as possible. He eventually stepped up, hit it sweetly, it went up and over the wall, dipped just to the right height and curled, just wide of the post.

6 minutes to go, and a guilt edged chance fell finally to Kenny Miller who had worked as hard as I've seen any striker work without getting a shot for his effort. Maybe that lack of practice led to him completely missing the ball, but there was no goal for him.

Middlesbrough went into time wasting overload, and Andrew Taylor didn't like it. He was getting into a lot of confrontations and down at our own corner time wasting tactics led to a free kick. Robson then stood in Taylor's way so he kicked the ball straight at him and paced behind him whispering what didn't like sweet nothings. Yellow card for Robson.

It looked like Taylor was the most upset person on the pitch, and it took its toll, after numerous spats, an opportunity came up and he took it. He slid fiercely in on Scott Mcdonald, sending him flying into the advertising hoardings. While he lay there possibly in agony, but possibly wasting time, Taylor had a few choice words for him, and he received not a christmas card, but a yellow card.

5 minutes of added time were announced and they were just action packed as the regulation 90 minutes.

Another penalty claim, again for a foul on McNaughton, and even a corner for which Dave Marshall was asked by McNaughton to join in the attack for. Always a moment that causes excitement but today no goal at either end from it. A wasted trip upfield for Marshall, and a wasted trip for Cardiff city fans as the full time whistle blew and the match was over.

Cardiff dropped down two places as a result of this, and have now only taken 1 point from the last six with an away draw to an average at best millwall and a loss to a much better middlesbrough side, even though they were not at their best today.

I'm at a loss to why or how Cardiff managed to lose today, they were the better side throughout with all 3 of boro's chances seemingly coming from nothing.

However it is now down to Mackay to pick his team up and get on with the task at hand.

Maybe bringing in a striker or a winger in the transfer window which is due to open soon.

Blues make one change for Edinburgh rematch

2011-12-15T14:39:00.000Z

Baber and Burnell make one change to team following 25-8 win over Edinburgh

With Cardiff Blues having recorded their six successive win over Edinburgh last Friday, the Blues make one change for their Round 4 Heineken Cup match against Edinburgh this Friday, 16 December, 8.00pm kick off at Murrayfield.

Winger Alex Cuthbert is out with a minor hamstring injury and is replaced by Gavin Evans, with Dafydd Hewitt moving onto the bench.

Twenty points from the boot of Dan Parks and a well taken Alex Cuthbert try secured the win for the Blues, who now sit at the top of Pool 2 with 12 points, having recorded three wins from three so far in the tournament.

The Blues did the double over Edinburgh in last season’s competition with an 18-17 home win and a 21-14 victory on the road, but Blues backs coach Gareth Baber is taking nothing for granted this Friday.

“Obviously it’s good to try to stick to a side that’s winning and keep that momentum going,” said Baber.

“Alex Cuthbert had to withdraw with a niggling hamstring injury picked up against Edinburgh last Friday. He trained on Tuesday and had physio on it, but it’s not quite right.”

“Last Friday’s win was crucial, but we have to back up that performance in Murrayfield on Friday.”

“They are all big games in the Heineken Cup as we aim at moving to the knockout stages.”

“London Irish picked up a win last weekend against Racing Metro and are still in it, so there’s a long way to go and we are not taking anything for granted.”

Cardiff Blues 15 Leigh Halfpenny14 Gavin Evans 13 Casey Laulala 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Dan Parks 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush 7 Sam Warburton 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufa’ao Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Ryan Tyrell 17 John Yapp 18 Scott Andrews 19 Josh Navidi 20 Maama Molitika 21 Richie Rees 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Dafydd Hewitt

Not available due to injury

Alex Cuthbert - hamstring
James Down - ankle
Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones - shoulder
Martyn Williams - arm
Kristian Dacey - shoulder

Watch our latest show! 13th December 2011

2011-12-14T09:20:00.000Z

Coming up on tonight's show - 13th December 2011

2011-12-13T11:44:00.001Z

We’re here every Tuesday at 7pm on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online at www.radiocardiff.org with award-winning sporting discussion and debate.

- Coming up on your double award-winning Tuesday Night Sports Show, we look back at the weekend’s football including an away draw for Cardiff City and our premier league highlights.

- Cardiff Blues beat Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup last Friday. We hear from centre Jamie Roberts ahead of the return fixture at Murrayfield this Friday.

- Matthew Eves returns to the studio to bring us the latest boxing news, including a review of Amir Khan’s points defeat last weekend and news of Nathan Cleverly's homecoming bout in Cardiff this February.

- Yousef reviews UFC140 and Simon brings us his regular ice hockey report.

- Plus we have our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown.

Give us a call on: 02920 235 664

Send us a Text: 07728 758 759

Watch our latest show - 6th December 2011

2011-12-10T18:03:00.000Z

WALES SELL-OUT RBS 6 NATIONS ENCORE!

2011-12-09T12:03:00.000Z

Wales’ RBS 6 Nations fixture against France at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 17 March (kick off 2.45pm) has sold-out.

Head coach Warren Gatland’s men will bring their 2012 campaign to a climax against Les Blues in front of a 74,500 capacity crowd, with fans obviously hoping they have snapped up a Christmas bargain as they ensure the game sells-out more than 3 months before kick-off.

Considering over 100,000 tickets have also been sold across the other two home international matches next year – against Italy and Scotland – supporters in Wales are showing their appetite for international rugby is a strong as ever.

The French game will obviously bring back memories of Wales’ 2011 RWC semi-final appearance in New Zealand – a match which itself saw a staggering 62,000 Welshmen and women fill the Millennium Stadium to its rafters, turning up in the early morning to watch live on the big screens.

The fixture against Wales’ World Cup semi-final rivals was taken off public sale by the Welsh Rugby Union this week, due to high demand for Wales’ 6 Nations home games following Shane Williams’ thrilling send-off game against Australia on Saturday – with only limited access remaining through official hospitality.

Wales are up next at the home of Welsh sport when they entertain Scotland in front of their loyal Welsh fans, seven days after kicking off their 2012 RBS 6 Nations campaign away from home at the Aviva Stadium against Ireland on Sunday 5 February – a match which is itself a re-match of the RWC quarter-final won by Wales.

And Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards is confident the RWC-form shown by captain Sam Warburton and his fellow players can be replicated in the 6 Nations.

“The news that we have sold-out so far in advance of the game epitomises the passion that Welsh rugby fans have for this team at the moment,” said Edwards.

“There is a groundswell of optimism about the future out there in Wales and,as a team,we are determined to realise the potential which has been so obviously on show in recent matches.

“With three home games in this year’s championship the fans will have a huge part to play in our progress and whilst, as a squad, we can’t look any further than that opening visit to Ireland our aim is ensure we continue to make the nation proud of our performances throughout the tournament.”

The Red Dragons are back on the road to face England on Saturday 25 February, before Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium welcomes Italy on Saturday 10 March followed by the thrilling Championship finale sell-out clash with France.

Fans wanting to catch Wales against Les Bleus are advised to check out the last remaining hospitality packages via the Millennium Stadium website, whilst, tickets are selling fast, but still available for Wales’ home games against Scotland and Italy at WRU.CO.UK.

WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said: “Wales will take on France in front of a sell-out crowd for the final game of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations championship as the Welsh public demonstrate once more their tremendous support for the national squad.

“Wales last faced France in that unforgettable Rugby World Cup semi-final game in New Zealand, when images of over 62,000 fans watching the big screens at the Millennium Stadium were beamed all over the world, and we can expect a thrilling encounter with Wales looking to avenge that defeat and show their appreciation to all the fans in March.”

Match tickets for games against Scotland and Italy are also available from Ticketline on 02920 230130, ticketlineuk.com or at their shop on Westgate Street, Cardiff.

Wales fixtures for 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship:

Sun 5th Feb 15:00 Ireland v Wales Aviva, Stadium

Sun 12th Feb 15:00 Wales v Scotland, Millennium Stadium

Sat 25th Feb 16:00 England v Wales, Twickenham

Sat 10th Mar 14:30 Wales v Italy, Millennium Stadium

Sat 17th Mar 14:45 Wales v France, Millennium Stadium

For further information, please contact Gemma James, Millennium Stadium Communications Manager, on email gjames@wru.co.uk or telephone 02920 822368/ 07725 828498.

Blues make eleven changes for Edinburgh match

2011-12-08T20:53:00.000Z

With the international players returning, the Blues have made eleven changes ahead of Friday night’s match.

The Blues make six changes in the backs, with only Casey Laulala remaining in the starting XV from the team that lost to Leinster last Friday. There are a further five changes in forwards with only Xavier Rush, Paul Tito and Fau Filise keeping their places in the pack.

Cardiff Blues are looking to make it six of the best against Edinburgh Rugby – but forwards coach Justin Burnell insists that five match winning run against the Scottish capital side will count for nothing when the teams clash at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night.

Three wins on the trot in the Pro12, along with an 18-17 home win and a 21-14 victory on the road in last season’s Heineken Cup leave the Blues looking for a sixth straight success.

“We do have a good record against Edinburgh but it counts for nothing at all now,” said Burnell.

“It is all about current form and they are a fantastic side.”

“They were shown up by Munster but even then they were scoring tries. They are very capable in attack and can score tries.”

“We are well aware that Edinburgh are a very good side. Michael Bradley has come in and given them a total overhaul, having done a fantastic job at Connacht.”

“They have formidable players like Tim Visser, Chris Paterson and Ross Ford and some of them are the form players in Europe.”

Cardiff Blues season ticket holders can purchase two additional tickets for family and friends for only £10 (maximum of two tickets per season ticket holder). Tickets for the game are available now from the Cardiff City Stadium ticket office, by phone on 0845 345 1400 or online atwww.cardifflbues.com/tickets

15 Leigh Halfpenny14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Casey Laulala 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Chris Czekaj 10 Dan Parks 9 Lloyd Williams

8 Xavier Rush 7 Sam Warburton 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (c) 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufa’ao Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Ryan Tyrell 17 John Yapp 18 Scott Andrews 19 Maama Molitika 20 Josh Navidi 21 Richie Rees 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Gavin Evans

Not available due to injury

Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones - shoulder
Martyn Williams - arm
Gavin Henson - wrist
Kristian Dacey - shoulder

JOIN SHANE ON NORTH’S BACK

2011-12-07T19:06:00.000Z

Wales stars Jonathan Davies and Rhys Priestland pose at the Millennium Stadium with their latest ‘fan’ Shane Williams, who will be the first to add his picture to the No 14 jersey for the duration of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations, an offer which is now open to all supporters via www.wru.co.uk

Shane Williams, Wales’ newest ‘fan’ after retiring from international rugby last weekend, will appear on the wing for his country against Ireland in the first match of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations after all – in spirit at least.

Williams will be literally right behind incumbent wing George North, assuming he takes his place in the No 14 jersey against the Irish on February 5th, after the former IRB World Player of the Year (2008) and Welsh record try scorer today became one of Wales first ‘supporters’ to take up a new WRU offer to appear in person on international jerseys for the duration of the tournament.

The Ospreys and former British and Irish Lions wing wizard, who played his final match in Wales’ colours last weekend when he scored his national record 58^th try in the dying seconds of the 24-18 defeat to Australia, joined nine-year-old Ifan Davies as the first fans to effectively sponsor the senior international wing berth.

A new initiative from the Welsh Rugby Union is offering fans the opportunity, for a nominal fee of just £20 (£10 for the replacements), to have their own image appear on the backs of their favourite players during the season ahead.

Like Williams and youngster Davies, who has been given the privilege of joining his rugby hero after appearing as mascot in the arch-finisher’s final match last Saturday, fans are asked to choose the number worn by their favourite player and send in an image of themselves via the WRU’s website.

That image will then be used to make-up the number as it appears on the backs of the chosen jerseys, with each playing jersey having a maximum capacity for 2,000 pictures per number (meaning jerseys 10 – 22 have double capacity).

The pictures of fan’s faces will be of reduced size, but the images will remain visible on close inspection and, most importantly, both the individual fans and the players they are backing will know they are there.

“Everyone knows my time has come as an international and part of me is now looking forward to being an enthusiastic spectator for the RBS 6 Nations just like everyone else,”said 34-year-old Williams, who called time on a distinguished 11-year career with a fitting try scoring climax at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday.

“I’m backing this group of players to go on to great things in the years ahead and someone like George, who at just 19 and with 16 caps and six tries already under his belt epitomises what this squad is now about.

“There is a great future ahead for Wales, but that future is not about me anymore. The likes of George, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny, Aled Brew and the many players that will come after them on the Welsh wings will now take up the mantle.

“It is nice to think that, for the RBS 6 Nations at least, there will still be a small part of me on the wing for Wales and I think this is a great way of being able to show support to the boys.

“The match day jersey is a very special and personal thing to a player, we know when we wear it we are just passing through and have a duty to the players who have worn it before us and those who will play in it after us, as well as to the fans who are watching, and this concept has a great symmetry with that idea.”

This latest WRU initiative is an historic move which will see Wales become the first national rugby team to have their jersey numbers made up of thousands of supporter photographs – following in the footsteps of world famous football clubs Seville and Granada in Spain and Porto in Portugal.

Welsh fans roared their heroes to the Rugby World Cup semi-final in New Zealand in the autumn and fly-half Rhys Priestland believes that support can inspire Warren Gatland’s men to take on Europe’s finest in the RBS 6 Nations.

Priestland, the Wales incumbent at No 10, said: “We knew the fans had our backs during the World Cup – now they really are part of the team by appearing on our jerseys during the RBS 6 Nations.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Welsh public to get even closer to the squad and be a part of our RBS 6 Nations campaign.

“The World Cup just proved that we have the best fans in the world and now, whenever we pull on the jersey – either at the Millennium Stadium or elsewhere – we know they will be right behind us.

“It’s such an exciting time in Welsh rugby it’s great to have any opportunity to be part of it.

“We’re pleased to be leading the way by being the first rugby team to offer this opportunity and giving our fans something extra to show our gratitude for their constant support.”

Fans who feature on the back of the playing shirts will receive a replica of the number for their shirt and a certificate. At the point of sale fans will also have an opportunity to choose alternative numbers if their first choice has already been snapped up.

Priestland was joined by fellow internationals Matthew Rees and Jonathan Davies at the Millennium Stadium to launch the new WRU initiative today, Wednesday 7^th December.

Rees added: “I think this is a great idea and I know this is going to go down well amongst our fans.

“I genuinely like the thought that we will have thousands of images of fans on the back of our jerseys for the duration of the RBS 6 Nations and I am going to get a spot on the No 2 jersey for my four-year-old daughter Brooke.“

Lucky mascot Ifan Davies and Williams are the first fans to be guaranteed places on their chosen numbers and supporters can join them by visiting www.wru.co.uk from today, just in time for Christmas.

Davies added: “It’s brilliant – I can’t believe my face is going to be on the back of one of the player’s shirts!

“I will definitely be watching every Wales match now and showing even more support.”

To get your face on one of the Wales RBS 6 Nations jerseys, visit www.wru.co.uk today where you can also buy your RBS 6 Nations tickets and catch yourself at the game.

Playing2 is a new concept in the relationship between sport and fan that gives supporters a feeling of membership they can be proud of on the web, Smart phone apps, social networks, a team certificate and, of course, at each game, where their photograph is actually on their player’s number.

Coming up on tonight's Tuesday Night Sports Show - 6th December 2011

2011-12-06T14:50:00.000Z

We’re here on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online at www.radiocardiff.org with award-winning sporting discussion and debate.

- Coming up on your double award-winning Tuesday Night Sports Show, we look back on another memorable week for Cardiff City who now lie 3rd in the Championship and have a place in the League Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace in January.

- Shane Williams rounded off a magnificent international career with a last minute try on Saturday against Australia. We reflect on that match and look ahead to the Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup this Friday.

- Simon brings us his regular ice hockey news and Yousef looks back on this year’s series of Ultimate Fighter and the rest of the UFC news.

- We bring you our Premier League highlights and we also reflect on another successful night at the Radio Cardiff Awards where we won Best Factual Feature or Programme for the second consecutive year.

- Plus we have our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown.

Give us a call on: 02920 235 664
Send us a Text: 07728 758 759
Email: sports@radiocardiff.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RadCardiff_TNSS
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RadioCardiffTNSS

Richard Holland appointed new Cardiff Blues Chief Executive Officer

2011-12-05T21:49:00.001Z

Richard will start his new role with the Blues in the first week of January.

Having had previous experience working as a former vice-president of corporate relations and sales at Celtic Manor and most recently Executive Director Chepstow and Hereford Racecourse, whilst also sitting on the operational board of Northern Racing, which operates nine race courses across the UK, including, Uttoxeter, Bath and Newcastle as well management agreement as own and operate Ffos Las, Richard has a wealth of experience in the sporting field.

Speaking of the appointment the 38-year-old said,

“I’m honoured, proud and excited to be appointed and the new Chief Executive Officer of Cardiff Blues and am very much looking forward to starting in the new role in January.”

“I’ve enjoyed my time with Chepstow and Hereford Racecourse and would like to thank everyone for all the support they have given me. My immediate focus is on delivering another Welsh National on the 27th of December which I’m sure will be a great occasion.”

“I’m very excited about the challenges that lie ahead with Cardiff Blues and taking over from Bob Norster, who has done a tremendous job. He is highly regarded in the rugby and commercial world.”

Holland comes from good rugby stock with his grandfather Phil Fletcher captaining the Cardiff RFC side during the 1932-33 season.

“I did play a bit of rugby in school and university and have got to know some of the players and staff at the Blues during my time as Chairman of Jamie Robinson’s testimonial committee so it will be good to see some familiar faces there when I start.”

“Finally I’d like to thank Peter Thomas and the rest of the board for giving me this opportunity and look forward to working with them and the rest of the staff at the Blues as we look to drive the business onwards together.”

Cardiff Blues Chairman Peter Thomas added,

“We are glad to be able to announce Richard Holland will be starting in his new role as Cardiff Blues Chief Executive Officer in January 2012.”

“Richard has gained a considerable amount of experience in the commercial environment during his time at the Celtic Manor and Chepstow Racecourse and I’m sure he will do a great job in bringing this expertise to the rugby arena.”

“It is an exciting time for the Blues and Richard will lead a team of hard working, highly dedicated staff as we aim to move the Blues forward and I’m confident he will do an excellent job.”

“I would also like to put on record my gratitude and indebtedness to Bob Norster for all his hard work and dedication to this institution and indeed to Welsh Rugby for so long and the last 10 years as our CEO.”

“During his time in that role, Bob has overseen the formation of our Region that resulted from the restructuring of the game in Wales together with the major tasks of relocating both training and playing facilities. We thank him sincerely for his considerable efforts in helping to deliver such change that underpinned the team’s most recent Cup successes both at home and abroad with our team still currently residing in the top tier of the Heineken Cup competition.”

We are the Champions! AGAIN!

2011-12-05T14:51:00.001Z

Your double award-winning team!
Best Factual Feature or Programme 2010 and 2011!

(Left to right) Simon Williams, Francis Taylor and Yousef Haider

Many thanks to everyone who voted for the Tuesday Night Sports Show at the Radio Cardiff 2011 Awards!

Without your support our show wouldn't be the success it has become.

We'll continue to bring you the best sports discussion, analysis and debate in 2012 as well as live coverage of sporting events across Cardiff and south Wales.

Rush returns for Blues

2011-12-02T13:24:00.001Z

Cardiff Blues have named their side to face European Champions, Leinster, this Friday

Leinster v Cardiff Blues
Friday 2 December 8.05pm RDS Dublin

The Blues travel to Dublin having won four successive matches in all competitions, whilst their most recent defeat in the RaboDirect PRO12 was at home to Glasgow in round five.

Cardiff Blues have won on two of their last three visits to Ireland and take on a Leinster side that is unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions, their last loss also being against Glasgow Warriors in the RaboDirect PRO12 on 17 September.

Each side won its respective home game when the two teams met last season, whilst the Blues have won just once in Dublin since the region was formed in 2003: 22-18 at Donnybrook on 5 March 2004.

The Blues are without the following eight players, who are in the Wales squad to face Australia: Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Alex Cuthbert, Lloyd Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Bradley Davies and Sam Warburton.

Speaking ahead of the match Forwards Coach, Justin Burnell, said,

“It’s a massive game for us and we can’t use the excuse that our best players are off on international duty”

“We still have a massive responsibility to our supporters, sponsors, to the league and also to ourselves.”

“We’ve got Leinster who is the number one team in Europe and are a formidable force,”
added Burnell.

“I think they have just had some good news, in that they have a couple more players back and if you look at the calibre of players they have got back, there are South Africans and Fijians, so they have a massive wealth of talent.”

“That doesn’t faze us. We have to go to places like that and perform in order to become a better team.”

“We are going there with a view that we have to perform and I would be absolutely devastated if we didn’t.”

“We have got a fantastic mind set at the moment and we are pulling in that right direction, so we are very excited about the game.

15 Chris Czekaj 14 Richard Mustoe 13 Casey Laulala 12 Gavin Evans 11 Tom James 10 Ceri Sweeney 9 Richie Rees

8 Xavier Rush 7 Josh Navidi 6 Maama Molitika 5 Paul Tito (C) 4 Cory Hill 3 Taufaao Filise 2 Ryan Tyrrell 1 John Yapp

16 Marc Breeze 17 Nathan Trevett 18 Sam Hobbs 19 Macauley Cook 20 Michael Paterson 21 Lewis Jones 22 Gareth Davies 23 Dafydd Hewitt

Not available due to injury
Andries Pretorius - knee
Deiniol Jones - shoulder
Martyn Williams - arm
Gavin Henson - wrist
Kristian Dacey – shoulder

SHOW SHANE HOW MUCH YOU ‘DOVE MEN +’ CARE

2011-12-02T09:18:00.001Z

Shane Williams fans will have the chance to show the retiring rugby star and Welsh record try scorer just how much they care over the next 48hrs leading up to his final international – the Dove Men Challenge match between Wales and Australia on Saturday (Kick-off 2.30pm).
Dove Men + Care™ today announced they have signed up Williams as a brand ambassador for their range of deodorants and body wash, specifically formulated for men, and their first initiative is to produce a book of messages for the former IRB World Player of the Year written entirely by fans.
Paul O’Connor, Unilever Brand Manager for Dove Men + Care™ commented: ‘Shane is the consummate professional and epitomises everything about the modern day rugby player. His preparation, attention to detail and work ethic has delivered a career spanning 87 international caps and 59 international tries and we are thrilled that he will bring his unquestionable knowledge and passion for the game to our brand and our association with the sport. Shane has given so much to the rugby fraternity and we will be providing a unique opportunity for fans to pass on their thanks when he draws the curtain on his glittering international career at the Dove Men Challenge fixture against Australia on Saturday.’

Large sections of the 60,000 plus fans attending the Millennium Stadium match on Saturday will be approached by Dove Men + Care™ staff both inside and outside of the ground and asked to write the Welsh wing wizard, who wins his 87^th and final cap, a parting message.
The book will also be on display in the official Welsh Rugby Union shop, at No8 Westgate Street from, tomorrow (Friday), where passing fans can add their thoughts on the player who currently lies third on the all-time top try scorers list in world rugby.
Once the book is complete it will be bound and presented to Williams as a lasting memento attempting to put into words just what he has meant to them over his 57-try (to date, plus another two for the Lions), 11-year career.
“Hopefully this book can be something Shane will treasure; it’s just a small way of trying to put into words and quantify just what he has meant to Wales and to our national sport,” said a WRU spokesperson.
“One of our aims at the WRU is to bring Wales to the world and Shane has done as much as any player in his generation to achieve that aim. His IRB World player of the year award in 2008 is just one highlight of a magnificent international career.
“This initiative from DoveMen + Care™ will allow his fans to offer some heartfelt comments that will hopefully stay with him forever and Shane is very much looking forward to reading them.”
The partnership with Shane further enhances Dove Men + Care’s association with Rugby Union and follows recent announcements that Dove Men + Care™ have become the naming rights partner to the Dove Men Challenge fixture against the Wallabies this weekend and that they have become an official partner to the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Qantas Wallabies team to play Wales for James Bevan Trophy named

2011-12-01T09:43:00.001Z

Twenty-one-year-old James O’Connor will start his maiden Test as a fly half after today being named in the number 10 jersey as the Qantas Wallabies combination for Saturday’s James Bevan Trophy Test against Wales in Cardiff was announced.
The selection follows the polished performance from the position given by the new Melbourne Rebels recruit during last weekend’s 60-11 win over the Barbarians in London.
Although he didn’t score a try, O’Connor directed operations skillfully, varying his running and passing game, while also kicking all eight placed goals that he struck as well as a wobbly but effective field goal.
The Wallabies backline starts intact from that match, with inside centre Berrick Barnes having recovered from the blow to his back which forced him from the field at Twickenham.
He returns, with last weekend’s impressive Wallabies’ first-timer Ben Tapuai included on the bench, from where he will get to make his Test debut should he be pressed into action during the game.
Queensland Reds utility back Ben Lucas has also made the bench, as the replacement halfback, and will also be on debut should he be called on to take the field.
There have been 851 players thus far represent Australia in matches that have been accorded Test status by the Australian Rugby Union, the most recent of whom to gain a Test number was Queensland Reds winger (& Wallaby No. 851) Rod Davies, during this season’s one off match against Samoa in July.
This weekend’s game in Cardiff is the 533^rdTest match to have been played by a team recognised as representing Australia.
Although 22 of the 26 players in the current touring party featured at the recent Rugby World Cup: Barnes, halfback Will Genia and winger Digby Ioane are the only players who will occupy the same starting backline positions on Saturday as they did during Australia’s 21-18 win over Wales in the Bronze Final at Auckland which closed out that tournament for both sides.
The forward unit boasts a more settled look, with the only change from Eden Park seeing locks Rob Simmons and Nathan Sharpe swap roles. This time Simmons will start, with Sharpe providing reinforcement from the bench.
After scoring two tries during a 30-minute cameo off the bench against the Barbarians, Tour captain James Horwill returns to the starting line-up this weekend, taking over the leader’s armband from last weekend’s successful first-time skipper David Pocock.
Pocock nonetheless looms as an important figure for the Wallabies against an opponent he has enjoyed significant success against in the past. This weekend, he will mark Wales captain Sam Warburton, who missed out on the World Cup contest between the two sides due to suspension.
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says his side will have to be “at its very best” to subdue a Welsh outfit that will be buoyed by its Rugby World Cup exploits, while also fuelled by an additional motivation in looking to give long-serving winger Shane Williams a winning farewell as he ends his Test career after the match.
The fleet-footed Williams is already the leading try-scorer for Wales against Australia, scoring his fifth try against the Wallabies during the recent Bronze Final. That score was the 57^th(a Welsh record) try that the 34-year-old has gathered from his 86 Tests to date.
“We experienced ourselves how powerful the additional motivation of playing for a mate can be, when ‘Sharpie’ [Wallabies lock Nathan Sharpe] had his 100^thTest in Auckland,” Deans says.
“There was no way any of the other players wanted to let him down. I’ve no doubts that the Welsh lads will be feeling just the same this week as we did in Auckland. Emotion plays a powerful role in competitive sport.”
Wales would also see this match as the perfect opportunity to kick on from the team’s World Cup advancement by knocking over an opponent ranked higher in the International Rugby Board standings, Deans noted.
“Warren [Wales coach Warren Gatland] will be looking for his group to push on from the World Cup,” Deans says, “and this match provides him with a perfect opportunity to do just that as a springboard heading into the next Six Nations.”
After winning just once from four visits to Cardiff between 2005 and 2008, Australia is on Saturday bidding for its third successive victory at the Millennium Stadium, and its fourth win in-a-row against Wales overall.
Should the Wallabies succeed, that would give the current side outright ownership of the second best winning sequence ever achieved by Australia against Wales, trailed only by the nine wins that were gathered between 1991 and 2003.
The Test will be broadcast live in Australia on both Fox Sports and free-to-air on SBS.
The competitive rivalry between the two teams, as was showcased at the Rugby World Cup, will after Saturday resume in Australia next year, with Wales due Down Under for three Test matches through June, playing in Brisbane, Melbourne and in a return to Tests at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Qantas Wallabies team to play Wales for the James Bevan trophy at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday, 3 December (kick-off: 2.30pm local, 1.30am, Sun 4 Dec, AEDST) is:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
14. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. James O’Connor (Melbourne Rebels)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
5. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds, captain)
3. Salesi Ma’afu (Western Force)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
1. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
Run on Reserves:
16. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
19. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
20. Ben Lucas (Queensland Reds)
21. Ben Tapuai (Queensland Reds)
22. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)

WALES TEAM TO PLAY AUSTRALIA

2011-11-30T12:31:00.001Z

Shane Williams was the first name on the team sheet today - as promised by Wales head coach Warren Gatland - when the side was announced to take on Australia in the Dove Men Challenge match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).
Williams is one of nine players retained in the starting line-up from the third-place Rugby World Cup play-off defeat to the Wallabies early last month, with just two starters selected from outside of the Wales 30-man squad which reached the semi-finals in New Zealand.
Ospreys second row Ian Evans returns to the starting line-up after a three year absence, having last featured under Gatland against New Zealand in November 2008, and Blues prop Scott Andrews – who was part of the preliminary RWC training squad – makes his first start.
Evans replaces Dragons lock Luke Charteris, originally named in the Wales squad for this match but now ruled out with a wrist injury. Andrews is in for Adam Jones who was ruled out with a calf problem last week.
Captain Sam Warburton (Blues) returns in the back row, replacing Osprey Ryan Jones, who moves to the bench, with Dragon Toby Faletau reverting to his normal position at No 8.
In the backs a groin problem has also ruled out Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies and he is replaced by his Regional colleague Scott Williams. Blues scrum half Lloyd Williams replaces the unavailable Mike Phillips but elsewhere the Wales coaches have been able to name the same back line which finished the World Cup so strongly.
On the bench Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees completes his return from the shoulder problem which ruled him out of the RWC squad at the last minute, Ospreys outside half Dan Biggar returns alongside his regional colleague, flanker Justin Tipuric, and uncapped Blues wing Alex Cuthbert is also named.
“It does not often happen in professional sport that a player gets the opportunity to call time on his international career then play one last match like this one in front of his home fans and the people he has given so much joy and entertainment to,” said Gatland.
“Saturday is a great opportunity for the fans to show Shane what he has meant to them and we all hope to send him off on the right note.
“But as we remember the highs and lows of New Zealand and the World Cup the focus must now be to build for the next four years, the immediate future of the 6 Nations next year and towards the 2015 World Cup, with players like Scott Andrews, Ian Evans and Lloyd Williams with an immediate opportunity to impress and also the likes of Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar and Alex Cuthbert with a chance from the bench.”
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Rhys Priestland, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Scott Andrews, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Matthew Rees, Ryan Bevington, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Alex Cuthbert

Cardiff Devils v Nottingham Panthers - TONIGHT (Wed)

2011-11-30T12:29:00.001Z

Coming up on tonight's Tuesday Night Sports Show - 29th November 2011

2011-11-29T18:44:00.001Z

We’re here on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online at www.radiocardiff.org with award-winning sporting discussion and debate.
- Coming up tonight we pay tribute to Wales manager, Gary Speed, who passed away on Sunday. We reflect on his league and international career and assess his contribution to Welsh football.
- Simon Williams is at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight as the Bluebirds face Blackburn in the Carling Cup quarter final. He’ll bring us the fans’ thoughts and his own tribute. We also have team news from Ian Golden.
- With three wins in their last three games, there was a sense of optimism that Speed’s young squad could make a realistic push for the World Cup. Where does his death leave Welsh football?
- Yousef and I are keen to hear your thoughts, so contact the show with your tributes.
- We’ve also got reaction to the Wales team to face Australia and your chance to WIN a pair of tickets in association with match sponsors, Dove Men+ Care.
- Plus we have our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown.
Give us a call on: 02920 235 664
Send us a Text: 07728 758 759
Email: sports@radiocardiff.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RadCardiff_TNSS
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RadioCardiffTNSS

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO WALES V AUSTRALIA THIS SATURDAY!

2011-11-28T16:55:00.001Z

This is your chance to WIN a PAIR of PREMIER TICKETS to WALES v AUSTRALIA at the MILLENNIUM STADIUM this Saturday, KO 2:30pm in association with Dove Men+ Care.

Listen in to the Tuesday Night Sports Show from 7pm on 29th November, answer a simple question and you could be watching our World Cup heroes back on home soil against the mighty Australians!

Dove Men+Care™ offers a range of personal care products that are formulated especially for men that deliver superior care. The deodorants offer 48 hour protection with unique caring ¼ moisturizer technology and the shower gels are clinically proven to fight skin dryness. For more information about Dove Men+ Care products visit, www.dovemencare.co.uk

Gary Speed MBE - 1969-2011

2011-11-27T21:03:00.001Z

Following the tragic news of the untimely death of Wales manager, Gary Speed, the Tuesday Night Sports Show is inviting you to send in your thoughts and tributes to be included as part of our own tribute on the show this coming Tuesday at 7pm.

Welsh and British sport has lost a model professional who was at the very top of his game and leading a new era in Welsh football.

Tune in to Radio Cardiff this Tuesday at 7pm - 98.7FM and online www.radiocardiff.org.

Email: sports@radiocardiff.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RadioCardiffTNSS
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RadCardiff_TNSS

Wales Rugby League Statement - Gary Speed

2011-11-27T16:18:00.001Z

Everyone at Wales Rugby League would like to send their sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the Wales' national football team manager, Gary Speed MBE.

The Football Association of Wales have announced that Gary sadly died today aged just 42.

A number of us at Wales Rugby League knew Gary either through media work, coaching or socially. He was a well loved person who will be missed by all who knew him.

WRU Statement - Gary Speed

2011-11-27T16:17:00.001Z

The Welsh Rugby Union offers its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late Wales soccer manager Gary Speed following his tragic death.
The thoughts of everyone involved in rugby are with you all at this sad time.
Wales has lost a great sportsman, a true gentleman and a man who was working extremely hard and succeeding to deliver a bright future for Welsh football.

Cardiff City vs Nottingham Forest - MATCH REPORT

2011-11-26T20:09:00.001Z

By Yousef Haider
Today saw Cardiff play hosts to lowly Nottingham Forest. No matter their standing, Forest have been a thorn in the side of the blubirds over the last few seasons and many expected today to be no different.

Forest sent down enough fans to mostly fill their away seating and there was a feisty atmosphere around the ground.

The match was backwards and forwards with both teams huffing and puffing with no genuine threat being posed to either goalkeeper.

Cardiff continued to play their usual brand of thoughtful possesion passing, while forest seemed to be keen to exploit the fast breaking counter attacking pace of there forward players with experienced playmaker Jonathan Greening trying to pick the pass to put our defence to the sword......with little success.

The first real clear cut chance of the match fell to Cardiff, as a good passing build up, lead to Kenny Miller being put clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat. Unfortunately he lost his footing and only managed to flick at the ball and not capitalise.

Not long after Cowie broke down the right on the end of a wide ball and put in a cross that beat Wittingham in the air and fell to Conway, who side footed over, but there seemed to be a real belief everytime City broke forward.

A goal mouth scramble in the Nottingham's box raised a loud cheer from the fans, but not the score line, as it remained goal less on the half hour mark as Cardiff failed to find the net, and forest failed to creat a genuine scoring opportunity.

With 5 minutes of the first half remaining, forest broke forward, with their usual counter attack. Gerrard was first to step forward from the blueburds defence, his tough tackle left him lying on the floor as the opposition continued forward around him. Rising star Lewis McGugan darted into the box and shaped to shoot, thwarted by the outsretched body of Don Cowie who ghosted in from nowhere to block his shot in a magestic fashion that would Gerrard himself would have been proud of.

Moments later with Cardiff down the other end, a cross from one side struck a defenders hand, the obvious shouts for handball, were ignored completely by the officials and then a cross from the other side was met with the head of Gunnarson which resulted in probably the widest header in the history of professional football.

All of this in the longest 40th minute of all time as the cardiff city clocks seemed to have a moment of silence for the standard of shooting we were witnessing, as another attack ended with a city player shooting over. Either way, 3 minutes of the clock showing 40:00 is either excessive mourning, or a hangover from the 40 minute halves of the rugby that was held here last thursday. Maybe the shooting boots were also a throw back to the conversions. The whistle blew for half time, and personally, I hoped to watch some football in the next half rather than reporting on my first ever rugby league match.

The second half commenced with no changes being reported but a definite change in the flow of the game. Nottingham forest came out determined to change the game. Their attck seemed more structured, and they looked to have spread wider when going forward. In the first 10 minutes there was a succesion of half chances and a couple of corners, and even a claim for a penalty of their own, again it was denied by the officials, but this time, the attacking player was booked.

In the 55th minute, came Cardiff's first shot of the match, this time from action man Kevin McNaughton, who cut inside, and struck the ball, which flew........you guessed it, over the bar.

Again, the action went straight down the other end with a remarkable 8 city players making it back into their own box to defend, the attack sizzled out and 10 seconds later, every player on the pitch, in red or Blue was in the other half of the pitch, excluding Dave Marshal, which goes to explain just how end to end this match was at times, even though the game remained scoreless.

Joe Mason made it onto the pitch for a half hour run out, just in time to see a Wittingham free kick smashed into the box, just over millers head, and a Cowie cross drilled in from the other side, which was met by the head of a defender, and both teams reset their stalls. Everyone in the ground was wondering if they had braved the cold, in vain, and I started to feel this match had started to resemble many of the matches I watched under Dave Jones, where, city were the architects of their own demise, with their continued inability to put the match to bed, inspired the confidence of their opponents that they could nick an extremley valuable three points, at the risk of losing one.

When you are 17th place in the league and its 0-0 after 60 plus minutes, away at Cardiff. you have a decision to make.

Luckily for Cardiff it seemed the decision had been made, with the Nottingham strikers doing all the pressure work, while the majority of the players sat back to defend.

The third penalty claim of the match resulted from another Kevin McNaughton cross which again raised the scream of handball from around the ground, and again, it was denied, b ut Cardiff remained in and around the City box, and eventually Wittingham got a free kick out wide. It was delivered hard and low which produced some classic goalmouth scrambling action with the ball eventually coming back out to Wittingham, who this time put a superb cross, which met the head of fresh legged Joe Mason, who glanced the ball across goal and past the goalkeeper to put Cardiff......finally.....1-0 up.

73 minutes in, and now in the business of defending a lead, Wittingham who of course created the goal, was chasing former bluebird Chris Gunter, who was a little too quick for him, and the challenge was late which earned him Cardiff's first yellow card.

On 75 minutes it was announced that the attendence was 22 thousand plus, and more importantly, Stephen McPhail made way for who I think looks an oustanding prospect, Joe Ralls.

While I watched the subtlties of Joe Ralls game, trying to get a glimpse into how good this kid couod be, it was Peter Wittingham who showed him how the pro's do it, as he struck a thunderous shot towards goal, which was saved, but spilled, and finally gathered, but it wasn't over, and forced a save, which was a massive bonus considering the shooting on display in yhe first half.

As we entered the final 10 minutes of normal time, it was still all Cardiff, as the attacks continued to come, Joe mason played a perfect slide rule pass out wide, which was picked up by Miller who fed the ball to Joe Ralls for his first real contribution to the match, a curling low cross into the box which was cleared away.

Quite a few fans decided to start to evacuate the ground in order to save what must be valuable seconds in the race to ensure they got home intime for the X-Factor, which is a decision I always find strange, but even more today, as Cardiff's continued efforts to attack, left gaps at the back, and Nottingham Forest seemed to get closer to scoring than they had previously in the match. The match was far from over.

Four minutes of injury time were announced just as Forrest got ready to take a corner. Joel Lynch rose to meet the ball, and directed the ball with good power behind it, but fortumatley it was headed wide.

Forest continued to attempt to get back to a draw as the crowd passionately whistled at a deafening volume to somehow make the four minutes go that little bit faster, maybe they too wanted to get home for the X-Factor, or maybe they were worried that this may be an all to familiar story as we have seen points like these vanish in the past, however under new management, this is far more rare, and today was no different. The full time whistle blew and Captain for the day Kevin McNaughton was announced as Man of the match.

The rest of the fans poured out of the stadium and for city fans thoughts no doubt turned to Blackburn midweek in the cup.

I'm sure for Forest fans, there was talk of playing in another league next season, and it wasnt the Premiership.

JENKINS COMMITS TO WALES

2011-11-26T09:27:00.001Z

Neil Jenkins is the latest coach to pledge his future to the Welsh Rugby Union, it was confirmed today.
Jenkins, who has been the contracted skills coach since 2006, has now been employed as a full-time member of staff by the WRU meaning he will remain a part of the national squad coaching set-up indefinitely.
The former British and Irish Lions and Wales fly-half and world record points scorer has been an integral part of Warren Gatland’s coaching staff, alongside assistant coaches Shaun Edwards, Rob Howley and Robin McBryde, since Gatland’s appointment and also joined his colleagues on the coaching staff of the Lions tour of South Africa in 2009.
WRU chief executive Roger Lewis, says Jenkins has a specific set of coaching attributes which make him invaluable to Welsh rugby and he plans to make full use of his skills at all levels of the game.
"Neil is a unique individual, with a unique set of skills," said WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis.
"He's one of the great points-scorers of all time, an amazing coach, an amazing mentor and you couldn't meet a nicer, more honest man.
"There's always been offers for all of our coaches consistently over the past four years and Neil is a person who will be in huge demand.
"That's why I'm so pleased we've secured his services for the long term."
Jenkins will continue as National Squad skills coach and, like Edwards and Howley who have both recently re-committed themselves to the national cause as the squad builds for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, he will have daily contact with the WRU National Academy sides when he is not in camp with Wales.
“I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be at the moment than with Wales, there are exciting times ahead of us,” said Jenkins.
“We have a great group of young players with the national squad and more coming through the system every year.
“The production line is alive and well in Welsh rugby and we are all relishing the opportunity at national level to work with these young players in the seasons ahead.”

WRU head of rugby and performance Joe Lydon said: “Neil's continued commitment to Wales, linked with a desire, matched only by ability, to work to develop the younger talented players is another huge lift for Welsh Rugby.
“Whilst we recognise it would be impossible to replace Neil our collective goal is to identify and develop the next Neil Jenkins, to find another Welsh Rugby great.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland added: “Neil is a rich resource in terms of worldly experience rugby and the technical skills he has at his disposal and is able to bring into his coaching.
“He is known around the world for what he was able to do on a rugby pitch, but he has developed into an astute coach and is an integral part of the current Wales set up.
“What he has offered, and will continue to offer, Welsh rugby is invaluable, he is a huge asset and it is great news for the youngsters coming through that they will be able to reap the benefits of the expertise and knowledge that he possesses about the game in the years ahead.”
Wales face Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 3 December in a replay of theirWorld Cup bronze medal play-off, with tickets still available from www.wru.co.uk

Heat up the BBT for the 25th anniversary weekend

2011-11-26T09:18:00.001Z

Millennium Stadium wins Rugby Expo award

2011-11-24T12:27:00.001Z

The Millennium Stadium has been declared the best rugby venue of the year over competition from around the world.
The honour was presented by the Expo Awards 2011 organisation which recognises excellence from both the professional and grassroots game.
The stadium was announced as the Rugby Venue of the Year at an award ceremony held at the Spirit of Rugby in Twickenham stadium in front of guests from around the world.
As the best rugby venue the Millennium Stadium had to prove it offered exceptional entertainment, comfort and customer service in rugby and fended off the challenge of other finalists Eden Park, which staged this year’s Rugby World Cup final, and Wembley.
The prize was presented to the WRU Group Financial Director, Steve Phillips who said: “This is a great honour for Welsh rugby and the Millennium Stadium.
“We’re very proud of our stadium especially as nowadays we attract around a million paying visitors a year to see the games and events we stage.
“We stay ahead of the game by investing in the future and a great example of that is the £3m we invested in a stadium vision system to transform the way we engage with fans.
“The Welsh Government supported that initiative because they clearly recognise the benefits the stadium brings to Wales now and will do in the future.
“Of course the stadium boasts a closing roof, a removable pitch and a great city centre location but we also have a tremendously hard working and efficient team of people who make it work for rugby and for Wales.
“This is a prestigious award and will give us even greater incentive to continue to achieve excellence in the way the stadium is operated and developed.”
The Millennium Stadium is the home of Welsh international rugby but also staged other major games including the Heineken Cup final last year.
International soccer regularly features along with speedway, world title boxing , motorsport and an array of community events each year.
It has also played host recently to the Michael Forever tribute concert and last year held the Ryder Cup Concert to celebrate the opening of the major golf tournament in Wales.
Take That, the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Paul McCartney have all held concerts at the stadium which is now a major international music venue.
The next major event at the stadium will be the Wales v Australia rugby international on December 3 between the two teams which last met in the third place play of at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Blues side selected to face Aironi

2011-11-24T11:24:00.001Z

Cardiff Blues return to RaboDirect PRO12 action tonight when they take on Aironi, 7.30pm kick off.

The Blues have won their last two games in the RaboDirect PRO12, but both were played away from home. At Cardiff City Stadium the Blues have lost their last two in this competition and will aim to rectify that trend against Aironi.

Aironi Rugby’s last two encounters in the RaboDirect PRO12, against Munster and Glasgow, both were tryless games which ended in 6-18 defeats. The two teams have already met this season, with Blues winning 37-26 in Viadana in round six.

Speaking ahead of the match Cardiff Blues backs coach, Gareth Baber, said,

“When we went out to Italy in October to face Aironi both teams wanted to play open rugby and it was a nice, fine afternoon which allowed both teams to play a running game.”

“The weather at the moment might mean we have to deicide to play a slightly different game,” added Baber.

“Aironi are a physical side and although they scored four tries in our last encounter, two of them came from scrums on our five meter line and one was from a driving lineout.”

“That gives you an indication of how they build their game and where they feel their strength lies.”

“I think that this game will be a physical, competitive one again and we are going to have our wits about us to allow us to get want we need.”

15 Chris Czekaj 14 Richard Mustoe 13 Gavin Evans 12 Dafydd Hewitt 11 Tom James 10 Dan Parks 9 Richie Rees

8 Maama Molitika 7 Josh Navidi 6 Michael Paterson 5 Paul Tito (C) 4 Cory Hill 3 Taufaao Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas 1 John Yapp

16 Marc Breeze 17 Nathan Trevett 18 Sam Hobbs 19 Macauley Cook 20 Ellis Jenkins 21 Lewis Jones 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Casey Laulala

AIRONI
15 Ruggero Trevisan; 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Sinoti Sinoti, 12 Gilberto Pavan, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti; 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tito Tebaldi;

8 Josh Sole, 7 Filippo Ferrarini, 6 Nicola Cattina; 5 George Biagi, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (cap); 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Tommaso D’Apice, 1 Alberto De Marchi.

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Salvatore Perugini, 18 Lorenzo Romano, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Frans Viljoen, 21 Tyson Keats, 22 Roberto Quartaroli, 23 Matteo Pratichetti.

Tiger Bay Brawlers opening season comes to an end with Brawl I want for Christmas

2011-11-24T09:49:00.001Z

After a storming first season on the roller derby circuit, Cardiff’s Tiger Bay Brawlers are set to take on Central City Rollers’ B Team, the Slay Belles. Brawl I want for Christmas will be held in the Newport Centre on Saturday 3 December and will be the Brawlers’ last bout of 2011.

Since making their bouting debut in January 2011, the Tiger Bay Brawlers A Team has played eight public bouts and notched up six wins; a phenomenal record for such a young league. They were the first roller derby league in Wales to be affiliated with the UK Roller Derby Association (UKRDA). The Brawlers recently debuted their B Team and are looking to expand the league with the implementation of a rolling recruitment programme.

As if that's not exciting enough, the Tiger Bay Brawlers are also preparing for their biggest challenge yet when they face off against London Rollergirls’ (LRG) team the Ultra Violent Femmes in their opening game of an already jam-packed 2012 season.

BB Bombshell, Tiger Bay Brawlers league member and former head coach said “when I joined the Brawlers 18 months ago I immediately had high expectations but I had no idea of what the future held and just how successful the league would be; these women have progressed from hobbyists to highly focused athletes. Our bouting calendar for next year sees us up against some tough opponents, but we are ready for the challenge and whatever 2012 has to throw at us!”

Tiger Bay Brawlers vs. Central City Rollers’ Slay Belles is on Saturday 3 December at Newport Centre, Newport, NP20 1UH. Doors open at 17:30 with wheels in motion at 18:30. Tickets and information are available now from www.tigerbaybrawlers.com. Tickets are £7.00 in advance or £9.00 on the door (under 12s go free).

For information about sponsorship opportunities please contact Claire ‘Boba Fettish’ Andrews on sponsorship@tigerbaybrawlers.com. For any media queries or to attend this event in your capacity as a media professional, please contact Laura ‘Lola Coaster’ Joyce via PR@tigerbaybrawlers.com.

Tuesday Night Sports Show - 22/11/2011

2011-11-22T22:15:00.001Z

Coming up on tonight's Tuesday Night Sports Show - 22nd November 2011

2011-11-22T17:17:00.001Z

We’re here at 7pm on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online at www.radiocardiff.org with award-winning sporting discussion and debate.

- Coming up tonight we look back on another away win for Cardiff City as they continue their excellent run in the Championship and ask if the Bluebirds are genuine promotion prospects.

- In the Premier League pressure mounts on Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas after defeat at home to Liverpool and we’ll debate the controversial corner which led to Blackburn’s second goal against Wigan.

- The Cardiff Blues made it two wins out of two in the Heineken Cup, plus coaches Gareth Baber and Justin Burnell will take charge until the end of the season. We’ll also have our reaction to the Wales squad to face Australia.

- Simon looks back at the weekend’s Cardiff Devils and ice hockey news and Yousef brings us up-to-date with the latest UFC and Ultimate Fighter news.

- Plus we have our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown.

You can get involved with the show by sending us your thoughts about any sporting issue.
Give us a call on: 02920 235 664
Send us a Text: 07728 758 759
Email: sports@radiocardiff.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RadCardiff_TNSS
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RadioCardiffTNSS

ROB HOWLEY AGREES NEW CONTRACT TO REMAIN AS A WALES COACH THROUGH TO 2016

2011-11-21T13:57:00.001Z

Wales Assistant Coach Rob Howley has agreed a new contract with the Welsh Rugby Union which will ensure he continues at the helm of the senior team for at least a full season after the next Rugby World Cup in 2015.
The agreement means that Howley is assured to represent a continuation of the current coaching regime policies until the middle of 2016.
It is a move which removes the potential for a scenario in which all currently contracted coaching staff could theoretically decide to move from Wales at the same time following the next Rugby World Cup.
It is currently commonplace throughout rugby for senior coaches to be contracted up to and including Rugby World Cup competitions.
Howley is a key member of Warren Gatland’s coaching team and has been his Assistant Coach in charge of attack since 2008.
He played for Bridgend and Cardiff winning 59 caps for Wales, 22 as captain before joining London Wasps where he completed his playing career.
Howley also earned selection for two British & Irish Lions tours to South Africa in 1997 and Australia in 2001 where he won two Test caps.

He started his coaching career at Wasps under Warren Gatland before moving to Cardiff Blues from where he was recruited to the Wales coaching line up.
He said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have spent with the national team so far so I am delighted that work can now continueat least until 2016.
“As a coaching team we have achieved a lot of our aims in recent years but there are still a lot of exciting and challenging opportunities ahead.
“We have the right structures and systems in place, a team brimful of young talent alongside some valuable experience and a mouth watering fixture schedule.
“I am personally ambitious to become the best coach I possibly can be and it is fantastic for me to be able to continue to advance my skills here in Wales with the Welsh team.
“As a coach I understand the importance of continuity and I know the strengths and weaknesses of our players and the youngsters who will be challenging for selection in the near future.
“I want to spend the next few years focused on Welsh success and I am determined to develop my own repertoire of skills so I can make a valid and worthwhile to rugby in Wales.
“I am a proud Welshman and anyone who works with me knows I want nothing more that success for Wales.
“The Rugby World Cup proved to us as a coaching team that we are heading in the right direction and that just inspires me for the future.”
Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland, said: “I am delighted that Rob will be working with us through until the next Rugby World Cup and will be continuing that work on into 2016.
“When I asked him to join the coaching team in Wales I knew the level of professionalism and skill he would bring with him and that has proved to be the case.
“He is already an accomplished coach, but I know the experience and opportunities he will have in the years ahead will improve him even more.
“There is a lot of hard work ahead, but the coaches around me have grown in stature over our time together and the continuity we now look forward to will help us achieve our aims.
“At this level we are often criticised if our performance doesn’t meet outside expectations, but the biggest endorsement I can give of Rob is that, after the Lions experience in 2009, a high number of players commented to me that he was the best backs coach they had worked with, which speaks volumes.”
Howley signed his new contract for Wales following close discussion with Warren Gatland and detailed negotiations with the Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis.
Lewis said: “I am delighted Rob has decided to commit his coaching future to Wales through to the summer of 2016 at least.
“I viewed it as vitally important for us to retain a coach of his stature in an agreement which ensured Wales achieved coaching continuity after the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
“Moreover Rob has also agreed to work with Joe Lydon our Head of Rugby to assist in the development of our National Academy age grade teams.
“We know we now have in place, under Warren Gatland, a coaching line up which is the envy of the rugby world and there will be intense pressure from other nations for their services when the opportunity arises.
“That is right and proper, but the systems and structures the WRU have put in place must be retained and developed for the benefit of Welsh rugby as whole.
“Rob is a good manand a determined and talented coach who I know will take every opportunity to develop and expand his skills in the years ahead.
“We have created an environment here in Wales which helps players and coaches achieve their full potential. We will ensure those systems and structures remain robust and continue to develop. “This has been achieved by the sound financial management of the WRU.
“With Warren and his coaching team of Rob, Shaun Edwards, Neil Jenkins and Robin McBryde now in place we can look forward to some exciting and engaging rugby ahead from the national team.
“I must also pay fulsome tribute to the unsung heroes of the coaching team Prav Mathema, Adam Beard and Rhys Long. Their contribution this year to Welsh rugby has been immense. Most importantly they also will advise on the development of our National Academy.
“Our future, based upon long term planning around the right people, is very exciting indeed.”

WALES SQUAD v AUSTRALIA

2011-11-20T13:23:00.001Z

Sam Warburton will continue as national captain for Wales’ Dove Men Challenge clash with Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 3 December (2.30pm)– and he leads a 28-man squad which retains the majority of Wales’ much heralded 2011 Rugby World Cup side.
Shane Williams, who has announced his retirement from international rugby, plays his final match in Welsh colours, but the game is also billed as a ‘homecoming’ for the Wales squad which boosted national pride by reaching the RWC semi-finals in New Zealand and is a re-match of the tournament’s third-placed play-off game, which saw the Wallabies victorious last month.
Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees, who was originally set to lead Wales in New Zealand before withdrawing through injury, returns to the squad alongside two other players who featured in head coach Warren Gatland’s preliminary RWC training squad - Blues prop Scott Andrews and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric,
Ospreys pair Dan Biggar and Ian Evans both return to the international fold, with 22-year-old fly-half Biggar set to add to his eight caps after last featuring for Wales in November 2010 against Fiji.
Lock Evans, 27, made his last appearance three years ago, against New Zealand in November 2008 at Millennium Stadium,and will bid to add to the 16 caps which saw him make his debut on tour to Argentina in 2006 and earned him a Grand Slam winners medal with four RBS 6 Nations appearances in 2008.
Elsewhere three uncapped players join Wales’ RWC stars, Dragons flanker Lewis Evans, Blues wing Alex Cuthbert and Scarlets full-back Liam Williams all look to make their Wales and Millennium Stadium debuts.
“As we have gone with the majority of our Rugby World Cup squad we have maintained continuity by selecting Sam again as captain for this game, but it is a significant boost for us to have someone of the experience and stature of Matthew Rees back in the squad which, in turn, means there is considerable competition in the hooker’s position with both Huw Bennett and Lloyd Burns also with us,”said Gatland.
“The fans have a chance to show the players how proud they are of them after their World Cup performances and it should be quite an occasion at the Millennium Stadium, especially with the Shane Williams factor thrown in, but we won’t be sitting back and soaking up the atmosphere - Shane will want to go out in style and this squad wants to, and needs to, get back to winning ways.
“We have another chance to beat a Southern Hemisphere team, which is always a yardstick by which we measure ourselves, we have the opportunity to avenge the play-off defeat in New Zealand, but we can also send a message to our Six Nations opponents next year, that our RWC performances should not be seen in isolation and this young squad will continue to be a force to be reckoned with as we build tothe next world cup in 2015.”
Welsh qualified players based overseas were not made available for selection.
Wales squad, Dove Men Challenge v Australia (alphabetical order)
FORWARDS: Scott Andrews, Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Lloyd Burns, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Lewis Evans, Toby Faletau, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Danny Lydiate, Matthew Rees, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (Captain)
BACKS: Dan Biggar, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Tavis Knoyle, George North, Rhys Priestland, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Lloyd Williams, Scott Williams, Shane Williams

Heineken Cup Round 2 - Cardiff Blues v London Irish Teams

2011-11-17T14:27:00.001Z

Cardiff Blues v London Irish Teams

Cardiff Blues: C Czekaj, A Cuthbert, C Laulala, D Hewitt, T James, D Parks, L Williams, G Jenkins, T Thomas, T Filise, B Davies, P Tito [capt], M Paterson, S Warburton, X Rush
Replacements: M Breeze, J Yapp, S Andrews, M Molitika, J Navidi, R Rees, C Sweeney, G Evans

London Irish: T Homer, T Ojo, J Ansbro, S Shingler, A Thompstone, D Bowden, R Samson, C Dermody [capt], D Paice, F Rautenbach, N Kennedy, M Garvey, D Danaher, R Thorpe, J Sinclair
Replacements: J Buckland, A Corbisiero, P Ion, J Sandford, J Gibson, J Spratt, A Jarvis, P Hodgson

Referee: Jerome Garces (France)

Watch the Tuesday Night Sports Show!

2011-11-16T22:05:00.001Z

If you've never heard the show, you've certainly never seen it! So, take a look at the video of our show from 8th November 2011 and tell us what you think!

If you enjoy what you see/hear then download our latest shows via the links on the right menu.

Thanks for watching!

SHANE SET TO GO OUT IN STYLE

2011-11-16T16:05:00.001Z

Shane Williams is currently the first name on Warren Gatland’s team sheet for the “Dove Men Challenge” clash against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 3 December (kick-off 2.30pm).
Gatland names a 26-man squad this Sunday for the ‘re-match’ with the Wallabies, which replicates the 21-18 Rugby World Cup third place play-off defeat in New Zealand less than a month ago – the game which finally ended Welsh RWC medal hopes.
And the national head coach has declared that the 86-times capped Wales record try scorer (57) will not only be in the squad, but is guaranteed to start his final game for his country, assuming fitness.
“Shane is playing well at the moment, we will be selecting him on Sunday and we want him to start against the Wallabies,” said Gatland.
“He has been a magnificent servant, not just to Welsh rugby, but to the world game and fans who believe he deserves a magnificent send-off will not be disappointed.
“This game is important to us, it will help us put the disappointment of those final two matches in the World Cup behind us and can be a springboard to our 2012 Six Nations campaign.
“We will name a 26-man squad this weekend which will largely contain everyone in that World Cup squad who is available to us.”
At 34-years-old Ospreys wing Williams, who won the IRB World Player of the Year award in 2008 and has featured on two British & Irish Lions tours (2005, 2009) - scoring a further two tries to add to his total for Wales - had suggested he would retire after the RWC in New Zealand, but has been persuaded to postpone his decision.
But Gatland says he will now allow Williams to go gracefully into the international retirement he so richly deserves and resist any temptation to try to persuade him to return should future circumstances tempt him to do so.
“Shane is still playing very well and you never say ‘never’ as a coach, but if this was the first game of the Six Nations we would be selecting players who we know will be around for the next RWC and he would not be in that category,” said Gatland.
“In the New Year the philosophy will very much be to start planning for 2015, so if fans want to see the top try scorer Welsh rugby has ever seen in international action for one last time at the Millennium Stadium, then this game with the Wallabies should be their final opportunity.”

2011-11-16T12:16:00.001Z

Coming up tonight on a special 2-hour Tuesday Night Sports Show - 15th November 2011

2011-11-15T16:11:00.001Z

We’re here on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online at www.radiocardiff.org with 2 hours of sporting discussion and debate.

- Up until 8pm we have special studio guests Sunil Patel and Simon Richards from Show Racism the Red Card Wales and Welsh footballer, Nana Baah.

- With more and more allegations of racism in sport, particularly football, surfacing in the wake of the John Terry incident, we discuss the role charities, campaigners, sportsmen and women and the public can play in eradicating the problem.

- We also hear about peoples’ personal experiences of racism in the sporting environment and about the work of Show Racism the Red Card Wales in schools and local clubs.

- Is the lack of black and Asian managers and coaches indicative of racial problems in football, or is it more a cultural consequence.

- And within Wales and the UK what more need to be done to eradicate racism once and for all?

We want to hear your views on this issue so get in touch with the show.
Give us a call on: 02920 235 664
Send us a Text: 07728 758 759
Email: sports@radiocardiff.org
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In our second hour we feature our usual mix of award winning sporting discussion and debate, including the Cardiff Blues, Wales 4-1 defeat of Norway, Simon's Ice Hockey round-up, the latest boxing news and Yousef's UFC and Ultimate Fighter report.

A Special Tuesday Night Sports Show!

2011-11-15T16:07:00.001Z

Tune in to the Tuesday Night Sports Show from 7pm on RadioCardiff 98.7FM for a 2-hour special!

We feature studio guests Sunil Patel and Simon Richards fromShow Racism the Red Card Wales and footballer Nana Baah for a debate aboutracism the sport, both here in Wales and the UK between 7-8pm.

Between 8pm-9pm we have our regular hour of award winningsporting discussion and debate.

Join us on 98.7FM and onlinehttp://radiocardiffsport.blogspot.com

Call: 02920 235664

SMS: 077298 758759