Y Clwb Rygbi provides action-packed coverage from the Magners League, Heineken Cup, the Principality Premiership and Konica Minolta Cup.
With a new, exciting season of rugby on its way on S4C, everybody's already talking about potential winners and the stars of the coming months in the Magners League. We asked the S4C people in the know who they're tipping. We'll see who's right at the end of the season…
I am looking forward very much to the season which promises to be extremely exciting. The Magners League at last looks a mouth-watering prospect. The current Heineken Cup winners and EDF Champions are Magners League teams, ie. Munster and the Ospreys. Wales are the Grand Slam Champions and there is a Lions tour looming at the end of this season. The ingredients are there for an outstanding eight months of rugby.
I expect the Ospreys to make the strongest bid to win the Championship as their squad – and I mean squad – looks extremely strong. They have the strength in depth everywhere and that is essential where the Mangers League or Heineken Cup success is concerned. Injuries do strike and again strength in depth is key if success is to be enjoyed.
I am looking forward to a new generation of players establishing themselves as the hard core underpinning strong Regional and International rugby.
The players I am referring to are the likes of Lee Byrne; Gavin Henson; James Hook; Mike Griffiths; Jonathan Thomas; Alun Wyn Jones and Richard Hibbard, to name but a few.
From an excitement prospective I am looking forward to the Phillips v. Peel , Roberts v. Henson, the Tom James v. Mark Jones battles, and the battle hooking berth where several promising youngsters are contesting.
With the British Lions tour to South Africa in 2009 it should prove to be an outstanding season with every individual wanting either to realise the ultimate dream or to secure a second Lions tour which makes their careers more than outstanding.
Out of all the regions, the Ospreys are most likely to create the biggest impression this season because of the experience and quality of the international players. They are previous Magners League winners, but this year they will be looking to capture the Heineken Cup, especially after the disappointment of losing in the quarter finals last season against Saracens.
The Blues have finished in second place for two consecutive seasons and last season, Dai Young’s squad scored more tries than any other team in the league. But are they good enough to go one step further and win the Magners League? Will the pack be authoritative enough to inspire victories? Those are the biggest questions about the team from the capital city.
A new era has dawned in Llanelli with Nigel Davies experiencing his first season as head coach. How inspiring will the experienced players be and how successful will they be able to fill the void caused by Dwayne Peel, who left for Sale during the summer? It was a very disappointing season down at the Strade last year, but can they change their fortunes as they move to their new stadium at Parc y Sgarlets?
The Dragons were in battle at the bottom half of the table last season as they fought hard for a place in the Heineken Cup – the biggest competition of all in Europe. But it is a new era in Gwent aswell. This is Paul Turner’s fourth season at the helm and he has managed to attract a number of key players to Rodney Parade, including the new captain and former All Blacks hooker, Tom Willis.
Jamie Roberts has already experienced international rugby and scored his all important first try for Wales during the summer tour of South Africa. If he manages to keep his place among the backs at the Blues, I fully expect him to create a big impression on the regional and international fields. He’s big, strong and versatile, and plays his rugby with a smile on his face!
It will be a key season for Mike Phillips too. Although he’s currently out injured, there’s hope that he will return soon. He has to fight for his position at the Ospreys with Jamie Nutbrown, Rhys Webb and Rhodri Wells proving their worth in his absence. He will certainly have more responsibility now that Justin Marshall has left and he will mature with his new role. One thing’s for sure, there will be quite a battle between Phillips and Dwayne Peel for the Wales number 9 shirt.
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