Ravens team to face Carmarthen Quins (Away – Cup)

The Bridgend Ravens team to face Carmarthen Quins (away) in the Swalec Cup has been named. Due to call ups for the bulk of the Ospreys contracted players, there are a number of changes from the defeat to Carmarthen in the league last saturday.

Dan Griffiths returns at 10, to partner Kyle Barrett, in an ex-Newport half back combination, with Dai Flanagan at Full Back, John Leyshon and Elliot Jones (Swansea University) on the wings. Jamie Murphy and Gareth Howells make up a strong centre pairing. In the pack, Chris Francis (Swansea University) makes his first start, to partner Matthew Dwyer and newly selected Wales U20 Prop Dan Suter in the front row. Captain Ben Thomas and Lee Davies combine in the second row, with Ben Rose, Matthew Llewellyn and Jonathan Vaughan completing the back row.

On the bench is Arthur Ellis, Jonathan Thomas, Owen Cotton, Kyle Maiden, Andrew Waite, Rory Pitman, Tom Grabham, Luke Morgan and Hugo Jafari (Swansea University).

The Bridgend Ravens team is as follows:

15    Dai Flanagan
14    John Leyshon
13    Jamie Murphy
12    Gareth Howells
11    Elliott Jones
10    Dan Griffiths
09    Kyle Barrett
08    Matthew Llewellyn
07    Ben Rose
06    Jonathan Vaughan
05    Lee Davies
04    Ben Thomas (Capt)
03    Dan Suter
02    Matthew Dwyer
01    Chris Francis

Replacements From:
16    Arthur Ellis
17    Jonathan Thomas
18    Owen Cotton
19    Kyle Maiden
20    Andrew Waite
21    Rory Pitman
22    Tom Grabham
23    Luke Morgan
24    Hugo Jafari

Ospreys team to face Dragons

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.”

4 Ravens in Wales U20′s 6 Nations Squad

Four Bridgend Ravens players have been named in the final Wales squad for the 2012 U20 Six Nations campaign. The players named are Prop Daniel Suter, Luke Morgan, Nathan Edwards and Ross Jones. A number of further candidates have been left out as they are likely to be involved at regional level over the coming months.

The U20 team will play all their home matches for the first time in North Wales at Eirias but first head to Dubarry Park to face Ireland on February 3. They return to Wales to play Scotland on February 10 in the first of three home matches at the new North Wales facilities.

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Riverside Hardware look forward to Ospreys’ visit

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.”

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Steve Tandy’s Dragons Press Conference

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.