News Round Up - 7th March

Friday
Dragons 42-15 Borders

Saturday
Blues 30-20 Munster

Sunday
Leinster 12-16 Ospreys

On Friday night the Dragons secured a comfortable bonus point win over the Borders, the final try by Gareth Wyatt was a gem and Jon Bryant put his name forward for selection. Percy had a 1^st half to forget.

The Blues were inspired to a win over Munster by the returning Nicky Robinson who will be vital to Wales on the summer tour. A disappointing 3,500 crowd watched the encouraging win.

The Ospreys extended their lead at the top of the league in a dire dire game at Donnybrook, it capped a 100% weekend for the Welsh who were without their star players.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock confirmed Michael Owen will replace the injured Gareth Thomas as Wales captain when his side travel to Scotland in the RBS Six Nations Championship a week on Sunday.
"We know he has the right credentials for the job and he is a player I have worked with before at both regional and international level for some time. He is a popular player who shows true leadership qualities both on and off the pitch and he was one of the top performers in the interview process we held in September and could easily have been awarded the job then."

Welsh fans are queuing up to buy the new WRU 125th Anniversary Debentures with over 125 of the 800 issue already having been bagged. That means more than £750,000 has been cashed since launching the issue last week.

"The feel good factor in Welsh rugby is all being driven by the success of the national team and we are seeing unprecedented levels of interest in our new debenture issue and many other commercial activities," said WRU chief executive David Moffett.

Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper and hooker Mefin Davies are doubts for next Sunday's RBS Six Nations showdown against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Cooper limped out of the IRB Rugby Aid game with an ankle injury, while Davies has a fractured bone in his thumb.

Cooper, a replacement for Dwayne Peel in Wales' three Six Nations wins, described his leg as "very sore".

Wales now face an anxious wait over the pair's fitness before they continue their Grand Slam quest at Murrayfield.

Davies sat out Gloucester's Powergen Cup semi-final loss on Sunday with the injury to the tip of his thumb, and is rated as 50/50 for the Scotland game.

Chris Horsman confirmed he is to play for Wales when his residency is served "My eligibility for Wales comes up in May and there's talk about England," said the 27-year-old Horsman.

"But Wales are in regular contact so, yes, when the eligibility comes through if they choose to select me then I'm going to go with Wales."

Under-fire referee Jonathan Kaplan is "unlikely" to be replaced for the Six Nations match with Scotland and Wales, says the International Rugby Board.

England are contemplating a protest over Kaplan's performance in last Sunday's defeat by Ireland.

But an IRB spokesman told BBC Wales Sport that any complaint would have little bearing on Kaplan's planned involvement in the Murrayfield match.

He added: "Referees are assessed across several matches and not just one game."

Former All Blacks prop Dave Hewett who only recently was announced as a Llanelli recruit has signed a two year contract with Edinburgh.

Gavin Henson, currently the hottest property in rugby, has signed a new four year contract which will keep in Wales until 2009.
Henson said: "It's fantastic to be re-signing with the Ospreys.
"I never really wanted to consider any other Welsh side let alone look outside of Wales, and it's great to know I'll be staying for the next four years."
"I think the side has grown immeasurably over the past year and that's been reflected in our performance.
"The Ospreys are now setting the pace in Welsh rugby, on and off the pitch, and becoming the model for others to follow.
"I'm just happy to continue playing my part in such a successful side."

Cardiff have beaten off bids from top Zurich Premiership sides for the signature of international prop John Yapp.
On his return from France 21 year-old Yapp said, "Having come up through the ranks with Cardiff youth and under-21s I am delighted to be staying with the Blues. I can only benefit from staying here and continuing to be coached in my position by Dai Young".

Wales today confirmed Dwayne Peel, Ceri Sweeney, John Yapp and Jonathan Thomas will take part in the Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere invitation match in aid of the Tsunami disaster fund at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.

The four stars of the currently unbeaten Welsh RBS Six Nations Championship squad have been selected by British Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward and consequently released by the Welsh Rugby Union.
Peel (Scarlets), Sweeney (Dragons), Yapp (Blues) and Thomas (Ospreys) are representing each of the four regional sides in Wales as well as the nation.
And WRU general manager Steve Lewis would like to thank each of the regional sides in particular for ensuring that the players are available.
"This game has our full support, but also the support of the Regions, without whose agreement we would not have been able to release the players," said Lewis.

Wales hooker Mefin Davies has committed himself to English side Gloucester by signing a new two-year contract.

The 32-year-old has proved a hit in the Zurich Premiership since Gloucester got him as an emergency replacement on a four-month contract in December.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys had wanted to sign Davies, but he has opted to play his future club rugby at Kingsholm.

Llanelli Scarlets say they are on the verge of signing Wales international Alix Popham from Leeds Tykes.

Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher said: "We have agreed terms with Alix but he still has another year remaining on his contract with Leeds.

"We are not anticipating any hitches and hope to secure Popham's signing very soon."