Hanno Dirksen signs on for another two years

Posted on May 17, 2012 in Ospreys

The Ospreys have announced that they have secured the services of young winger and crowd favourite, Hanno Dirksen for another two years, contracting him until the end of the 2013/14 season.

The 21-year old has been a huge success for the Ospreys this season, scoring eight tries in 24 appearances, including the RaboDirect PRO12 Try of the Season against Edinburgh at Murrayfield in February.

Dirksen commented:

“I’m very happy. The Ospreys are the best team in Wales and I’m really happy to be a part of the organisation. I feel at home here, everybody has made very welcome and this is my region so I’m happy that I can continue playing for the Ospreys.

“I’ve been given some chances this season and I think I’ve taken them the best I can. It’s great to be playing and training with top class players, Wales internationals and Lions, it’s been an absolutely amazing year for me. It’s nice to be in a squad with so many top class players that I can learn off.

(more…)

Leinster and Ospreys meet in Rabo Direct Final

Posted on May 14, 2012 in Leinster, Ospreys

Leinster have reached their third successive RaboDirect PRO12 Final and will have home advantage over the 2010 champions, the Ospreys, at the RDS, Dublin, on Sunday, 27 May (kick-off 4.00pm).

Their 19-15 home semi-final win over Glasgow Warriors not only earned them a ticket into the Final, but also guaranteed them home advantage after they finished as the No1 seed from the regular season.

The Ospreys beat reigning champions Munster 45-10 at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night to book their ticket into their second Final in three seasons. They were champions in 2010, beating Leinster at the RDS, and semi-finalists last season.

The two teams will be eligible for up to 50% of the tickets in each category and details of sales will be issued by both clubs asap.

RaboDirect PRO12 Final, 2012

Sunday, 27 May – 4.00pm

LEINSTER RUGBY v OSPREYS

RDS, Dublin

Leinster outside half Johnny Sexton was named as the RaboDirect PRO12 Man of the Match against Glasgow after scoring 14 points, but Ospreys No 10 Dan Biggar toped that with a 25 point haul against Munster to pass 300 for the season and 1,000 in his career at the Ospreys.

"The Ospreys were pretty outstanding against Munster and it’s going to be a difficult game". said Jonny Sexton, "They beat us in Dublin two years ago in the final, and they beat us at the RDS this season as well.”

The RaboDirect PRO12 Final will bring down the curtain on one of the great professional careers when Ospreys wing Shane Williams plays his final game for the Welsh region. Williams has already won three titles in this competition, two Grand Slams and been named the IRB World Player of the Year.

He scored a record 58 tries in 87 Tests for Wales and also scored two tries for the British & Irish Lions in four Tests on two tours. He was the RBS 6 Nations Player of the Tournament in 2008.

“It has been great been involved in some small way with Shane’s career and it would be wonderful to send him into retirement with another title. But we know that Leinster are the best team in European rugby and the RDS is one of the toughest places to go and play,” said Biggar.

“It was great to play so well in beating Munster, but you don’t win anything in a semi-final. We are under no illusions as to how hard it is going to be in Dublin and how well we are going to have to play.”

Leinster will be hoping it will be third time lucky in the Final having been beaten 17-12 by the Ospreys in 2010 and going down 19-9 to Munster at Thomond Park last year.

Rabo Direct Pro12 final venue permutations

Posted on May 11, 2012 in RaboDirect Pro 12

As the RaboDirect PRO12 Play-Off semi-finals get ready to kick-off in Swansea tonight (Friday, 11 May) RaboDirect PRO12 Chief Executive John Feehan has confirmed the arrangements for the Final on the weekend of 26/27 May.

As stated at the start of the season, and in accordance with the way the final venues were determined in the previous two seasons, the top ranked team from the regular campaign will enjoy home advantage.

The final rankings from the 22 rounds of RaboDirect PRO12 matches were as follows:

1. Leinster

2. Ospreys

3  Munster

4  Glasgow Warriors

This means the three possible venues for the RaboDirect PRO12 Final at RDS, home of Leinster, the Liberty Stadium, home of the Ospreys, and Thomond Park, home of the reigning champions Munster.

One of the three venues will be ruled out after the first semi-final in Swansea tonight, when the Ospreys host Munster. Whichever team wins will still have a chance of hosting the Final.

However, if Leinster beat Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Saturday night then they will host the Final due to their No1 ranking.

“Ever since we introduced the Play-Off system at the start of the 2009/10 season we have wanted to reward the team finishing in the top two positions in the regular season. This means they get home advantage in the semi-finals and then, possibly, in the Final,” explained Feehan.

“We have enjoyed full houses at both previous Finals – 19,500 for Leinster v Ospreys in 2010 and 26,100 for Munster v Leinster in 2011 – and look forward to another world class, capacity occasion at the end of this month. Each team will be able to ask for up to 50% of the tickets for the Final.

“Due to the Republic of Ireland international football match against Bosnia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 26 May, PRO12 decided, after discussions with both Leinster and our TV partners, to avoid any potential clash and switch a Dublin Final to Sunday, 27 May.

“It was also felt by all parties that due to the tight turn-around between the semi-finals and Final, it would be better to confirm the RDS as Leinster’s home venue, rather than consider a possible switch to the Aviva Stadium, to help with the ticketing, policing, travel and administration of the Final.”

(more…)

Paul James bolsters front row for Bath Rugby

Posted on May 10, 2012 in Latest Rugby News

34 times Welsh capped front row Paul James will be joining Bath Rugby next season, the Club confirmed today.

A very solid and technically sound scrummager, Paul made his debut for Wales in 2003 and most recently appeared for them during their 2012 Grand Slam, winning the RBS 6 Nations campaign.

The athletic loosehead prop, who can also play on the tighthead side of the scrum, has made 177 appearances to date for the Ospreys, a record for the region, and has scored seven tries. He also captained the side who beat Australia in 2006.

Speaking about the move, Paul said “I’ve been with the Ospreys since 2003 and feel that I need a new challenge to keep developing my career. Bath is a very ambitious Club and I’m excited by the prospect of being a part of that. The Aviva Premiership is one of the toughest leagues and I can’t wait to get started.”

Bath Rugby Chief Executive, Nick Blofeld, added “Paul is a very experienced prop with a lot to offer us, both in the scrum and around the field. He has a great attitude and is a tough customer who will add considerably to our team. We are very much looking forward to him joining us”.

O’Gara named in Munster squad for Ospreys clash

Posted on May 10, 2012 in Munster

Ronan O’Gara has been named in a 27 strong Munster squad for the RaboDirectPRO12 semi final clash with Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Friday 97.35pm). It’s the first time he’s been included in a Munster squad since the Heineken Cup quarter final.

O’Gara suffered a leg injury in that game that has kept him sidelined until this week and his return comes at a more than opportune time as Munster’s latest bout of injury removed Paul O’Connell and Damien Varley from the Swansea equation.

A big crowd is expected at the Liberty for what may be a final goodbye from wing legend Shane Williams to the Ospreys fans

Coach Steve Tandy confirmed today that Williams, will be in his starting XV on Friday.

Munster will name their starting XV tomorrow at midday before flying out to Bristol in the afternoon.

Munster Squad: F Jones, D Barnes, J Murphy, I Dineen, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo, T O’Leary, C Murray, S Deasy, I Keatley, R O’Gara, D Kilcoyne, W du Preez, S Archer, J Ryan, M Sherry, D Fogarty, S Henry, BJ Botha, Donncha O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, D Ryan, T O’Donnell, Dave O’Callaghan, P O’Mahony, P Butler.