The Riverside Hardware Brewery Field will host a landmark game between a Premiership select XV against Georgia.
A team of players from amongst all 14 Premiership teams will face one of the emerging powers of the European game at the Riverside Hardware Brewery Field in Bridgend on March 27th (KO @ 7pm).
Our final seven games run in, Premiership play-off clarification, Tandy’s Osprey reaction & Wales Under 20′s…
With only seven games left of the regular season in the Principality Welsh Premiership, Bridgend Ravens bid to reach the end of season play offs will be put to the test with a series of testing fixtures.
Next up for Bridgend is a tricky away trip to Llanelli (11th February, 2:30pm). Following that, there is a week break to allow for the Six Nations. The Ravens consequent game is also away, at Ospreylian rivals Swansea. The game has been moved forward, and will now be held at St Helens on Friday 24th February, kicking off at 7:15pm.
The Ospreys team to play Newport Gwent Dragons on Friday 27th January 2012 at the Riverside Hardware Brewery Field (KO 7.05pm) in the LV= CUP is as follows:
15 Ross Jones
14 Hanno Dirksen
13 Sonny Parker (Capt)
12 Stefan Watermeyer
11 Eli Walker
10 Matthew Morgan
9 Tom Habberfield
1 Cai Griffiths
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Aaron Jarvis
4 Lloyd Peers
5 James Goode
6 Chauncey O’Toole
7 Sam Lewis
8 Morgan Allen
Replacements:
16 Mefin Davies
17 Joe Rees
18 Jonathan Thomas
19 Sam Williams
20 Rory Pitman
21 Tom Grabham
22 Sam Davies
23 Luke Morgan
Stefan Watermeyer makes his Ospreys debut. Lloyd Peers makes his first Ospreys start. Jonathan Thomas (Prop), Sam Williams (Second Row), Rory Pitman (Back Row), Sam Davies (Outside Half) and Luke Morgan (Wing) will make their Ospreys debuts if they come off the bench.
Ospreys Coach, Steve Tandy, commented:
“It’s a big night for the Ospreys, and for Bridgend, and it’s going to be something special. We’ve had some really good nights at the Brewery Field over the last two seasons, games against Leicester, Wasps and Northampton, and Friday night should be memorable as well, the first Welsh regional derby in Bridgend since 2004.
“When you look at the squad list there are a lot of boys who come from and Bridgend or have played for Bridgend, so for them, it’s going to extra special. Likewise for their friends and families, who’ll get a rare chance to see them playing in an Ospreys shirt at their home club. I know that we’re expecting a big crowd on Friday. The game has caught the local imagination and I’m expecting a great atmosphere on the night.
“This competition has been good for the Ospreys in terms of player development. You’ve only got to look at the players who’ve been involved with the first team this season who have benefited from the LV= Cup. The likes of Tipuric, Beck and Webb have all used this competition to kick on, graduating to the first team and now the Welsh squad, while people like Matthew Morgan and Eli have also been playing European rugby. That makes it clear to some of the young boys coming in for this match that if they make their mark then they could also step up.
“We’re all looking forward to it, it should be a memorable occasion for everyone, an evening that the Ospreys and Bridgend will be able to look back on in seasons to come with pride.”
With the Ospreys soon to be back playing at the Riverside Hardware Brewery Field for the first regional Welsh derby since 2004, Riverside Hardware MD Ryan Woodbridge is looking forward to another fantastic occasion at the Ospreys‘ second home.
After the defeat to a near full strength Northampton Saints in October, Ryan Woodbridge commented on the interest that’s surrounding the big game. “The interest in the game has been unbelievable and there’s a real buzz around the occasion. After a fantastic performance against Northampton Saints in front of a vocal crowd at the previous Ospreys match in October, as main sponsors of the ground, Riverside Hardware are proud to be associated with such a prestigious event. It’s great to see the Ospreys back playing in Bridgend, and shows how committed the Bridgend public are to the Ospreys‘ cause.”
As he takes charge of the team for LV= Cup game against Newport Gwent Dragons at the Riverside Hardware Brewery Field on Friday evening (KO 7.05pm), Ospreys and Bridgend Ravens Coach Steve Tandy speaks to the press at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.
