Theo Cabango is hoping lightning can strike twice for his family at Cardiff City Stadium, although this time in reverse. The Cardiff Rugby wing will be following in the footsteps of his older brother, Ben, by playing at the football venue at Judgement Day on Saturday 1 June, when he hopes to help his side beat the Ospreys.
It’s Judgement Day for the Ospreys in more ways than one on Saturday and the equation is simple, yet also complicated. Their own objective is clear. To have any chance of making the URC play-offs, they have to secure a bonus point victory against Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium in the second game of the double-header.
Former Wales captain Lloyd White believes the revamped rugby league structure in Wales can tempt plenty of new players from rugby union. The newly-titled JES Group Rugby League Conference kicks off across Wales this weekend in a major step forward for the 13-man code.
Rey Lee-Lo has been hailed as one of Welsh rugby’s greatest ever overseas imports as he heads into Judgement Day continuing to defy Old Father Time. The Samoan international is coming to the end of his ninth season with Cardiff, having joined from the Hurricanes of New Zealand in 2015.
Former Lions and Wales hooker Richard Hibbard insists the Wales No.2 shirt will be up for grabs when some of the front row contenders battle it out on Judgement Day this weekend. An ankle injury for the Dragons’ Elliot Dee has ruled him out of a direct head-to-head against the Scarlets’ Ryan Elias, but the Ospreys’ Dewi Lake is on the comeback trail and he will face off against Cardiff’s in-form Liam Belcher.
At a time when the judgements on Welsh rugby tend mostly to be harsh ones, it would be easy to dismiss this weekend’s Judgement Day as almost an irrelevance when it comes to the business end of the United Rugby Championship. After all, the Ospreys need a series of unlikely and complicated results on the final weekend in order to sneak into the play-offs.
Rhys Ruddock has paid tribute to his family, including father Mike, after announcing this season would be his last. Ruddock will end a hugely successful 15-year stretch this month when he plays his final match for Leinster – bringing down the curtain on one of the most decorated careers of any player raised in Wales.
There will be three very interested spectators at Cardiff City Stadium at Judgement Day on Saturday all hoping for different things out of the regional double-header. The traditional derbyfest ends the season for the four Welsh teams in the United Rugby Championship – unless the Ospreys can squeeze into the play-offs.
The “phenomenal” Gareth Davies has been likened to a top striker in football having just reached a major career landmark. Wales scrum-half Davies took his tally of league tries up to 50 with a double in the Scarlets’ victory over Zebre Parma in the last round of BKT URC matches.
At the end of what has been an up and down season, Llantwit Fardre saved their best for last to secure Worthington’s Mid District Division Two Cup glory. A first half five-try blitz set Fardre up for a 47-27 victory over their Two East Central counterparts Cilfynydd at Sardis Road.
Cambrian Welfare rounded off a triumphant campaign as they came from behind to beat Nelson, 43-27 at Sardis Road and secure the Worthington’s Mid District Division One Cup. It bagged a second piece of silverware of the season for the Welfare, who had already been crowned champions of Division One East Central to earn promotion to next season’s new look Championship.
Wales Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) head coach Rob Davies has named his squad for both the exhibition game against Team Colostomy UK and the full international against a PDRL All Stars side this June.
Wales Wheelchair head coach Alan Caron has named a nine-player squad to travel to the University of Galway to take on Scotland and Ireland in the Celtic Cup on Saturday 8 June.
Cardiff skipper Liam Belcher led his side to a memorable first win of the year in Durban last weekend and has now set his sights on delivering a huge ‘Thank You’ to the fans on Judgement Day. A year ago, Cardiff pipped the Ospreys not only to the Welsh Shield, but also to the final place in the Investec Champions Cup with a superb 38-21 win that enabled them to finish as ‘top dogs’ in Wales in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Llandovery head coach Euros Evans believes the new Super Rygbi Cymru tournament will create players who are driven by long-term ambition – rather than a short-term dash for cash. Evans – who has turned The Drovers into the best club side underneath regional level – admits the new salary cap will mean players will not be making much money from the semi-professional game.
Wales’ first summer opponents South Africa will be without World Cup-winning loose forward Jasper Wiese after he was banned for six matches. The suspension of Wiese will rule him out of Tests against Wales, Ireland, Portugal and Australia.
Those were the words of Deri coach David Iles after watching his side add the Worthington’s Mid District Division Five Cup to make it a league and cup double and cap a tremendous season. Tom Elliott was the star of the show with a 30-point personal haul to steer his side to a comfortable 40-12 victory over Hirwaun in their final showdown at Sardis Road.
Wattstown bagged the Rhondda derby bragging rights as they defeated 14-man Penygraig, 41-13, to lift the Worthington’s Mid District Division Three Cup at Sardis Road. Penygraig had won both league meetings between the rival clubs in Division Three East Central this season, but this time it was the Ducks who came out on top.
Ferndale ended their season by picking up another piece of silverware as they defeated Tonyrefail in their Rhondda derby at Sardis Road to lift the Worthington’s Mid District Division Four Cup. The two sides had both beaten each other once in Division Four East Central this season, where Tonyrefail finished second and earned promotion while Ferndale finished third.
Welsh Rugby Union head of player development John Alder insists the new Super Rygbi Cymru competition can provide a smooth pathway from the club to the international game. Welsh rugby’s new Elite Domestic Competition (EDC) will be branded as the Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) trophy next season.