Tune in from 7pm BST on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online via www.radiocardiff.org for the best sporting discussion and debate.
Our final show! 8th June 2015.
Tune in from 7pm BST on 98.7FM in Cardiff and online via www.radiocardiff.org for the best sporting discussion and debate.
Coming up on this week's Monday Night Sports Show - 17th December 2012
- And coming up on the show we review the weekend’s football including Cardiff’s first home defeat of the season at the hands of the not-so-mighty Peterborough United.
- We have our Premier League review, including a home defeat for Liverpool and a first win of the season for Harry Redknapp’s QPR.
- England’s cricketers completed a sensational series win in India this morning. We’ll discuss the series and ask if all is well again with English cricket.
- Simon brings us his regular ice hockey report from the Cardiff Devils and we have a match-used stick to giveaway tonight.
- Yousef updates us on all things UFC.
- Plus have our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown…
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Coming up on tonight's Monday Night Sports Show - 3rd December 2012
- And coming up on the show we review the weekend’s football including Cardiff’s win over Dave Jones’ Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday keeping them top of the Championship.
We have our Premier League review, plus our reaction to the continued speculation regarding Rafael Benitez’s position as Chelsea manager.
- Wales suffered last minute agony at the hands of the Australians on Saturday in their final Autumn international. We hear from Warren Gatland, Sam Warburton and Scrum-half, Mike Phillips.
- We have studio guests Mac Faulkner and Chris Blight from the Cardiff Devils to update us on all the latest from their 2012/2013 campaign, plus news of a superb ice hockey giveaway in time for Christmas.
- Plus, after 2 exciting Gameweeks we have our latest Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown…
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Wales Team to Face Australia Announced
Wales Make Four Changes For Wallabies Test
Wales have made four changes – all to the pack – for the final clash of the 2012 Dove Men Series, against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm)
In the front row prop Scott Andrews, is handed his second Wales start and he is joined by prop Gethin Jenkins. Jenkins, who has been released by the French club for the fixture which falls outside the IRB international window, replaces Bath’s Paul James, who by contrast has been made unavailable. Elsewhere lock Ian Evans completes his return from injury to replace Bradley Davies and flanker Aaron Shingler replaces, Ryan Jones, in the back row.
The same backline which started against New Zealand last time out is selected, with fly-half Dan Biggar coming in for another player returning to his club, Perpignan’s James Hook. Uncapped tight-head Samson Lee has the potential to make his international debut after joining the training squad on a full time basis this week in the final change to the match-day 23.
“We need to pick up again where we left off in the second half last week” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland. “We managed to retain 73% possession after the break against the All Blacks and win the territory battle, and we need to put Australia under similar pressure from the outset."
“We have played them regularly over the last couple of years and have come close to winning on a number of occasions, but have not quite been able to get ourselves over the chalk of the finish line. Both sides have had injuries to cope with, but there is every reason for optimism. The Millennium Stadium crowd will be in full voice again, they were outstanding last week, and we are aiming to reach the end of a tough series on Saturday and finish off on a high.”
WALES SQUADLeigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Scott Andrews, Ian Evans, Luke Charteris, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau.
REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Scott Williams.
Wales have made four changes – all to the pack – for the final clash of the 2012 Dove Men Series, against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm)
In the front row prop Scott Andrews, is handed his second Wales start and he is joined by prop Gethin Jenkins. Jenkins, who has been released by the French club for the fixture which falls outside the IRB international window, replaces Bath’s Paul James, who by contrast has been made unavailable. Elsewhere lock Ian Evans completes his return from injury to replace Bradley Davies and flanker Aaron Shingler replaces, Ryan Jones, in the back row.
The same backline which started against New Zealand last time out is selected, with fly-half Dan Biggar coming in for another player returning to his club, Perpignan’s James Hook. Uncapped tight-head Samson Lee has the potential to make his international debut after joining the training squad on a full time basis this week in the final change to the match-day 23.
“We need to pick up again where we left off in the second half last week” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland. “We managed to retain 73% possession after the break against the All Blacks and win the territory battle, and we need to put Australia under similar pressure from the outset."
“We have played them regularly over the last couple of years and have come close to winning on a number of occasions, but have not quite been able to get ourselves over the chalk of the finish line. Both sides have had injuries to cope with, but there is every reason for optimism. The Millennium Stadium crowd will be in full voice again, they were outstanding last week, and we are aiming to reach the end of a tough series on Saturday and finish off on a high.”
WALES SQUADLeigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Scott Andrews, Ian Evans, Luke Charteris, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau.
REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Scott Williams.
Blues name squad for Ospreys encounter
They now take on an inform Ospreys side who are unbeaten at Liberty Stadium since Glasgow Warriors were the visitors on the 14th September.
Ospreys are unbeaten in their last four fixtures with the Blues in all competitions. The Blues only triumph on Ospreys soil since the regions were formed in 2003 a 28-9 win at Liberty Stadium on 22 December 2005 and the capital city region will be looking to end this run on Friday.
Speaking ahead of the match Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Phil Davies said,
“Since the start of the season we have got better week in week out but we have not had the rewards on the scoreboard, which is the most important thing, as obviously we want to win every game.
“We were very unlucky against Munster, but had a good win against Wasps and played well against the Scarlets, a little ill discipline cost us the game.
“We did end that game with a bonus point meaning we finished the LV campaign in joint top of the group, which is pleasing.
“It was a really good game against Zebre last weekend.
“I thought we played very, very well and if we had been a bit more clinical we could have scored three or four more tries.
“We have said since the start of the season that we are in transition and we have a lot of young players coming through.
“What we have done over the last few months, although it has been painful at times with some of the results, is create some depth and given a lot of players opportunities.
“We have given opportunities to twelve or fourteen players many of whom are under the age of 22.
“This is good for us and the sort of experience we are gaining with them will help us on Friday night.
“We have a good chance against the Ospreys; they are in the same position as we are.
“It will be the next generation of stars on show and hopefully it will be an excellent game.”
Dan Fish and Tom James were injured in the Zebre game.
Tom James is out for approximately six weeks with a broken bone in his foot while the Blues are awaiting scan results for Dan Fish.
Cardiff Blues 15. Rhys Patchell 14. Tom Williams 13. Gavin Evans 12. Dafydd Hewitt 11.Owen Williams 10. Ceri Sweeney 9. Lloyd Williams
8. Robin Copeland 7. Josh Navidi (c) 6. Rory Watts-Jones 5. James Down 4. Michael Paterson 3. Taufa’ao Filise 2 .Marc Breeze 1. Sam Hobbs
16. Andi Kyriacou 17. Nathan Trevett 18. Benoit Bourrust 19.Macauley Cook 20. Andries Pretorius 21. Lewis Jones 22. Gareth Davies 23. Jason Tovey
Not available for selection through injury
Chris Czekaj- foot ligament – mid January return
Jake Cooper Wooley – Cruciate ligament knee – March return
Tom Davies – Cruciate ligament knee – March return
Dan Fish- shoulder injury – Awaiting scan results
Tom James- Fractured bone at base of toe – January return
With Wales squad
Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Harry Robinson, Scott Andrews, Bradley Davies, Sam Warburton, Lou Reed
Devils v Steelers - THIS SUNDAY NIGHT!
GET DOWN TO THE BIG BLUE TENT IN CARDIFF BAY THIS SUNDAY NIGHT TO WITNESS ONE OF THE GREAT RIVALRIES IN BRITISH ICE HOCKEY!
Coming up on tonight's Monday Night Sports Show - 26th November 2012
- And coming up on the show we review the weekend’s football including Cardiff’s return to the top of the Championship, the Premier League results and the managerial merry-go-round which has been in full swing this past week.
- England’s cricketers have achieved an historic victory over India in Mumbai. We discuss Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook’s innings, plus the impact of spinner Monty Panesar.
- Wales suffered another defeat on Saturday, this time against the All Blacks, but should Welsh hearts be gladdened by the improved second half display.
- Simon Williams rounds up the week’s sport including Sebastian Vettels 3rd consecutive Formula 1 world title and his regular Cardiff Devils ice hockey update.
- There’s our Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown…
- Plus special studio guest Cara Moseley from Mind in Sport who’s here to discuss sports psychology.
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Coming up on this week's Monday Night Sports Show - 19th November 2012
- And coming up on the show we review the weekend’s football including Cardiff’s 1-0 home win over Middlesborough which secured their second place in the Championship.
- The Premier League rarely fails to deliver great results and there were goals galore this weekend. We’ll review all the results later.
- Welsh rugby is in turmoil after two straight defeats in the autumn international series. We ask how we’ve gone from the ultimate highs of World Cup semi-finals and Grand Slams to the doldrums.
- Simon Williams rounds up the week’s sport including the US Grand Prix and his regular ice hockey update.
- Yousef has a big UFC update.
- And of course there’s our Fantasy League Top Ten Countdown!
As always you can... Give us a call on: 02920 235 664
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Cardiff City 1 Middlesbrough 0 - MATCH REPORT
On Middlesbrough's last two visits to Cardiff City's shiny new stadium, they have left the victors. By my mathematics that means that they have won everytime they have been here. If ever there was a day for Cardiff to buck that trend, today was the day. Cardiff were at the business end of a record breaking 8 home wins in a row. The only team in the football league to have won every home game.
Cardiffs away form had been more of a concern and although the start to the season has been a resounding success, Cardiff had surrendered 1st position in the league and todays match saw them in 3rd place, facing 2nd place Boro.
3 minutes into the game a vicious tackle on birthday boy Craig Noone brought the first yellow card which is quick by anyone's standards. There was a free kick in Peter Wittingham's single favourite spot on the pitch which ended up hitting the top of the wall.
Early on the teams looked to be set up for a open expansive fast paced game of football. Middlesbrough looked confident in attack with lots of cheeky flicks and deft touches.
The game continued at a good pace, both teams playing good attractive football although the best opening of the game after 10 or so minutes was intercepted with style by former boro player Andre Taylor.
On 15 minutes Ben Turner was injured and had to make way for Ben Nugent to make his home and championship debut.
18 minutes in and a break away pass to mason seemed to be going nowhere. Mason improvised to flick a header towards Helguson who stopped and turned. Kim Bo-Kyung was rushing in to support and Cardiff were 3 on 3. Helguson decided to hold the play up to the dismay of the crowd. He played it wide the way it originally came to him and a wicked low cross fizzed in but was cleared out for a corner. Great play from Mason and a good decision by Helguson despite what the majority of the crowd thought.
Wittingham whipped the corner in with a minimum of fuss and it beat everyone except Connnoly at the far post. 1-0 to Cardiff.
Craig Noone was dazzling up the right wing and Cardiff in general were in control now. Hudson brought the ball forward and was encouraged to shoot, which he did, and it was a well struck shot that just whistled wide. Less than half an hour in and Cardiff had to make their second substitution and again it was in defence. This time Andrew Taylor whose match came to an end and he was replaced by the young Joe Ralls who interestingly slotted in at left back.
Grant leadbitter hit a speculative shot from far out that dipped and nearly beat Marshall who acrobatically tipped it over the bar.
Kim Bo-Kyung strode forward with the ball and opted not to play what looked like a good ball wide to Mason, and chose to keep his run going while support flew past him into good positions. He played it to Gunnarson who would only have had to line up a shot but slipped instead and the ball rolled to the keeper.
Marvin Emnes warmed up near the Canton stand to find out that once a jack, always a jack! As chorus after chorus of one of Cardiff's favourite chants rang In his ears. He probably felt pretty hard done by after only going there temporarily and briefly on loan. He played a grand total of 4 games for Swansea scoring 2 goals.
5 minutes of injury time was signalled by the officials as the end drew near on a good half of football. Scott McDonald found himself one on one with the keeper, only to lob the ball well clear of the crossbar.
HT Cardiff 1-0 Middlesbrough
The second half started and Middlesbrough had clearly had a rollocking at half time. They came out looking determined and after 4 minutes they had a couple of chances and a couple of corners however to no avail.
5 minutes in and Ledesma whipped in a cross that Scott McDonald headed over. In the aftermath of which Hudson remained on the floor for quite some time. He got up and ran down the tunnel for some maintenance. Connolly the onl goalscorer at this point moved to a central position and Gunnarsson moved to right back. So at this point Cardiff had a centre back that didn't start the game next to a centre back that started at right back, and in the full back positions they had two midfielders.
The second half really sparked into action and the flowing football from the first half resumed. Hudson returned to the pitch with no number on his shirt.
Number 17 Lukas Jutkiewicz had boros best chance of the match, which flew over Marshall and turned out to be his last touch of the game making way for Marvin Emnes, which delighted the Cardiff city fans.
Then it was Cardiff's turn to make their third and final substitution bringing on Craig Bellamy for Gunnarsson who had taken a knock just before Hudson's re-introduction.
The first thing that Bellamy saw was a Penalty appeal from Cardiff strongly turned down from Referee Langford, a name that rings bells for many City fans.
Things seemed to go a little flat with Middlesbrough dominating possession but unable to craft out a decent chance on goal. They didn't look like a side that were 2nd in the League. Worrying however for Cardiff hadn't grabbed a second goal for all the control they had been in.
Emnes was at the Centre of what little Boro managed to create which added to the frustration of the crowd. The game was becoming disjointed, lots of little fouls, and the crowd seemed to be worrying about dropping points.
Boro were pouring forward hoping to salvage a point which left gaps for Cardiff to exploit on the break. Mason ran at the defence but got tackled, some short sharp passing created another good counter which resulted in a corner but really we didn't look like capitalising.
42 minutes in and Bailey whipped in another low cross that McDonald again managed to miss.
The closing minutes were dramatic, boro pushed more and more men forward, Cardiff ciunter attacked time and time again. Another penalty claim, again for handball, again turned down. A long ranger from Chelsea starlet McEacheran just wide of a full stretch Marshall. Four minutes of added time.
Into injury time now and the ball was being punted from one end to another, craig noone broke down the right and floated a beautiful cross to an unmmarked Helguson who headed it over, Boro break again but run the ball out of play.
A huge a kick from Marshall, it has to be full time, its not, the ball comes back, its Emnes running straight down the middle, he had options, he chose to play it out to the left, the shot comes in.....blocked by a city defender and it is cleared out to the sound of the full time whistle.
That see's Cardiff climb into the automatic promotion slots albeit with a long way from securing automatic promotion!!! On the back of a record breaking season regarding their home form, long could it continue.
FT Cardiff 1-0 Middlesbrough
Blues name side to face Wasps
Speaking ahead of the game Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Phil Davies said,
“The LV=Cup is a fresh competition so it’s a fresh start for us.”
“We have made a couple of changes to last weekend’s team but it will be a mix of the squad we have now.”
“We want to take the competition as seriously as possible and win enough games to make it through to the semi final.”
“Without our internationals last weekend we saw some of the younger members of the Blues stepping up.”
“I hope all of our players, when wearing a Blue shirt, run out with pride and passion.”
“Dan Fish, Robin Copeland and Lou Reed are all showing their class on the field with Josh Navidi’s captaincy style quietly driving the team forward.”
“It was the perfect example of the boys stepping up and developing.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting the London Wasps.”
“Dai Young and myself have had a few head to heads over the years, but this one will be a bit more potent than most, being the first game in the LV=Cup.”
“Both teams have something to prove.”
“David did a great job here as a player and as a coach and it will be great to welcome him to the Arms Park.”
“We don’t want to make his visit too pleasant of course but with a few old boys coming back it will certainly add a bit of spice to this fixture.”
Tickets for the Cardiff Blues v London Wasps, which kicks off at 7.30pm on Friday are available now online at www.cardiffblues.com/tickets starting at just £1 for under 16’s
Cardiff Blues 15. Dan Fish 14. Tom Williams 13. Owen Williams 12. Gavin Evans 11.Tom James 10. Gareth Davies 9. Lewis Jones
8. Robin Copeland 7. Josh Navidi (c) 6. Luke Hamilton 5. James Down 4. Lou Reed 3. Taufa’ao Filise 2. Rhys Williams 1. Sam Hobbs
16. Marc Breeze 17. Nathan Trevett 18. Ryan Harford 19. Macauley Cook 20. Thomas Young 21. Rob Lewis 22. Ceri Sweeney 23. Dafydd Hewitt
Jamie Roberts to leave the Blues
Educated at Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, Roberts is a product of the Blues Academy and represented the region at age grade level before stepping up to play for Cardiff RFC in 2005-06, scoring and impressive five tries in 11 games.
He made his competitive senior Blues debut on the wing in the 17-15 win over the Ospreys in August 2007 and has gone on to make 81 appearances for the region during his six seasons with the senior team, scoring 17 tries.
Roberts formed a formidable partnership with New Zealander Casey Laulala in the 65 games that the former All Black played for the Blues during his three years in the Welsh capital.
During his first year of senior rugby Roberts made his Wales debut on the wing against Scotland at the start of the 2008 Grand Slam season, going on to win 44 caps.
He was named as the British & Irish Lions Player of the Series on the 2009 tour of South Africa, where he partnered Brian O’Driscoll in the Lions midfield in the first two Tests.
He played two full games for the Blues during the 2011/12 season and played 15 games for Wales before a knee injury forced him out of action for six months before retuning to action against the Dragons in September.
A medical student at Cardiff University Jamie will sit his final exams during the 2013 Six Nations tournament.
Cardiff Blues Chief Executive Richard Holland said,
“The offer that we made to Jamie was an extremely attractive one and would have seen him become certainly the highest paid player in the Blues squad, and arguably in the UK.”
“As a business we simply don’t have the resource to compete with the offers that Jamie has received.”
“Naturally we are disappointed that Jamie has decided to leave the region but we wish him the best of luck with his career.”
“Given news of Jamie’s departure we will begin the search to find a suitable marquee player who will be eligible to play for us throughout the entire season.”
Cardiff Blues Chairman Peter Thomas added,
“We have invested a lot of time, money and effort developing Jamie as a rugby player from an early age after identifying him as a star of the future.”
“We have stuck by him through thick and thin and supported him during last season when he only completed two matches for the Blues because of his knee injury and international duties, playing 15 matches for Wales.”
“It is impossible for the Welsh regions to compete with the kind of money that is on offer from other clubs in other countries.”
“The time has come that the Welsh benefactors should not be responsible for funding the professional game.”
“The chairman of the regions can guide companies but if we want to keep Jamie Roberts and other international players in Wales then the governing body has to intervene.”
“The player drain out of Wales, which has a negative impact on the Welsh regions and the national team, will only continue without increased funding from the governing body.”
“As an example with our recent game against Leinster, the IRFU pay for fourteen of their players and additionally fund the province for the remaining players in excess of 4 million euros. Compared to the cost of the Cardiff Blues squad that’s almost double.”
“You’ll never win the Heineken Cup with that margin to compete with.”
“The governing body has to take far more responsibility.”
Wales Team to Face Argentina Announced
In the backs Scarlet Tavis Knoyle replaces Mike Phillips at scrum-half, with Phillips providing cover from the bench and another Scarlet Scott Williams replaces his regional team mate Jonathan Davies in the centre. Davies was unavailable for selection this week after failing to fully recover from the groin injury he sustained whilst on Scarlets duty against Clermont in the Heineken Cup.
“One or two injuries have forced our hands in certain areas in terms of selection, but the fact that we are still able to field a side packed with Grand Slam experience shows that we have been able to develop some depth in recent years,” said Wales interim head coach Rob Howley.
“We all know how important a good start against the Pumas will be to our November series, they arrive battle-hardened after a tough Rugby Championship campaign. They will be looking to silence the Millennium Stadium crowd from the outset and we know we can’t afford to let that happen, with a successful campaign this Autumn vital to our ambitions for the future.”
WALES SQUAD
Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, George North; Rhys Priestland, Tavis Knoyle; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Aaron Jarvis, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton (Captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Bevington, Paul James, Rob McCusker, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Liam Williams
Where can you get your Wales v Argentina tickets?
Until Thursday 8th November:
Selected Tesco stores across Wales & HERE
or 08442 777 888
Up to and including matchday:
Ticketline UK 029 20230130; the WRU Ticket Office
in St David’s Dewi Sant, Cardiff
Matchday Only:
Cardiff Blues Ticket Office
Cardiff Takes Centre Stage for Start of ICC Champions Trophy
At the launch the First Minister reiterated the city’s standing as one of the top destinations for hosting world class cricket matches, and also Cardiff’s track record for holding successful global sporting events.
Cardiff will be one of three destinations, along with Edgbaston and the Oval, to host five fixtures during the three-week ICC Champions Trophy England & Wales 2013 tournament, which starts in Cardiff on June 6th and features the world's top-eight one-day teams.
The opening contest in the 50-overs-a-side competition is a heavyweight clash between the current ICC World Cup holders India and South Africa, winners of the inaugural Champions Trophy tournament in 1998. This fixture alone will ensure the eyes of the world are on Cardiff, attracting an anticipated global television audience of 100 million viewers.
As well as opening the tournament, South Africa will complete their group fixtures against West Indies in Cardiff, whilst New Zealand also have two trips to the welsh capital against Sri Lanka and then England on June 16.
The eight teams in the competition are divided into two pools of four. Group A will feature Australia, England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka with India, Pakistan, South Africaand West Indies contesting Group B. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals, hosted at the Oval and Cardiff, with the winners then progressing to the final at Edgbaston on Sunday 23 June.
Fans can register their interest in the tournament now at www.icc-cricket.com (before tickets go on sale), which will speed up the ticket purchasing process on 5 November.
Adult tickets are priced in three categories – Gold, Silver and Family Stand – and prices for the games in Cardiff range from £20 (for a group game in the Family Stand) up to £50 (Gold ticket for the Semi Final).
Tickets for under 16s are priced at £5 for the entire tournament (including the Final), but juniors must attend with an adult. A new pricing structure also sees the introduction of tickets for under 21s, priced from £10 to £25.
The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones AM, said: “Our reputation for hosting top class cricket goes from strength to strength with this competition. The ICC Champions Trophy Tournament builds on Cardiff’s strong track record as a city that can host truly global sporting events and provides another great platform for raising Wales’ international profile.
"I am pleased to announce that this stadium, which has already hosted an historic and very successful Ashes test and will host another in 2015, will stage the opening game of the ICC event on 6thJune 2013. The matches in Cardiff will guarantee fantastic entertainment for cricket fans and it is wonderful for Wales that the very first fixture is certain to attract one of the biggest ever television audiences for a sporting event in this country.”
Glamorgan President, David Morgan said: “The opportunity to stage prestigious ICC Champions Trophy fixtures in Cardiff is an exciting one. Players, officials and supporters alike are immensely fond of the 50 over one-day international format and this event sees the best of the best in action.
“This is a great time for Welsh sport, and to be able to mark Glamorgan’s 125th anniversary in this way is a real accolade for us and recognition for the successful way international cricket has been staged in Cardiff.
“With two games on weekends and affordable ticket prices, I hope the tournament appeals to cricket supporters across Wales and the west.”
England Captain Alastair Cook (not present at the launch), said: “The ICC Champions Trophy is a very important event for us as a side. We don’t often get the opportunity to
play at home in a world tournament. I think we have only won one ICC tournament and we would love to win another one. We’ve got a really good home record. Clearly conditions suit our style of play so we’ve got an opportunity as a side to do something very special.
Fans can register their interest in tickets and the tournament now at www.icc-cricket.com. Tickets go on sale at 10:30 on Monday 5 November at www.icc-cricket.com and via 0844 249 2013.
Blues select side to face Munster
The Munstermen have won their last two encounters, against Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup and Zebres in the PRO12, however, away from home the Irish province have lost their last four games since their visit to Edinburgh on the opening weekend of the PRO12.
The Blues don’t have the best of records against Munster, having lost their last four encounters, but Munster have only been victorious at the Arms Park in this tournament once before: 18-16 on 4 November 2005.
Speaking ahead of the match, Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby, Phil Davies said,
“It was clear for all to see that last weekend’s game against Leinster wasn’t a very positive night for us.
“We all knew when we started in June that it would be a massive challenge.
“Looking at the game we have ahead of us, Munster, regardless of what fifteen they put on the pitch they are going to be hard and uncompromising up-front.
“I suspect that they will have BJ Botha and Marcus Horan in the front row, who are both extremely experienced players.
“Casey Laulala, is always a threat and is likely to start, but we are looking forward to facing him on our home ground.
“Both sides have got a new coaching group who are trying to develop and change.
“Supporters can look forward to a very competitive match, as it always is against Munster.”
The game is sure to be a great way for families to round off the half term, with plenty of pre match entertainment. The Heineken Fan Zone will have live music, player signings and have a Halloween theme!
Cardiff Blues are encouraging children to come in fancy dress and to collect a treat in the Fan Zone, which opens two hours before kick off and remains open for an hour after final whistle.
Tickets can be purchased from the Ticket Office on 029 2030 2030 or online atwww.cardiffblues.com/tickets or in person at Cardiff Arms Park.
Please note that when purchasing over the phone or online booking fees apply.
Cardiff Blues 15. Dan Fish 14. Tom Williams 13. Gavin Evans 12. Dafydd Hewitt 11. Tom James 10. Jason Tovey 9. Lewis Jones
8. Andries Pretorius (c) 7. Josh Navidi 6. Robin Copeland 5. James Down 4. Lou Reed 3. Taufa’ao Filise 2. Rhys Williams 1. Campese Ma’afu
16. Andi Kyriacou 17. Sam Hobbs 18. Ryan Harford 19. Macauley Cook 20. Luke Hamilton 21. Rob Lewis 22. Ceri Sweeney 23. Owen Williams
Not available for selection:
Wales Squad
Harry Robinson
Leigh Halfpenny
Jamie Roberts
Alex Cuthbert
Lloyd Williams
Sam Warburton
Bradley Davies
Scott Andrews
Benoit Bourrust – calf – mid November
Jake Cooper-Woolley: ACL reconstruction expected return in April
Chris Czekaj - foot - expected return December/January
Michael Paterson - recovering from shoulder injury – available for LV matches
Rhys Patchell- shoulder injury - available for LV matches
Tom Davies – ACL reconstruction 1 week ago - expected return 6 months
Rory Watts-Jones - MCL injury - expected return 4-6 weeks
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