Round Up – 23rd May

Arix Viadana will be the opponents for the Cardiff Blues in their Heineken Cup play-off game on 29 May at the Stadio Invernici, Brescia (1700 BST). In the semi-finals of the Italian Super 10, Ghial Calvisano ousted Viadana and Benetton Treviso beat Amatori Catania to win automatic Heineken Cup spots. The play-off match will be televised live by Sky Italia.
Cardiff Blues were the highest placed non-Heineken Cup qualifying team from Wales, Scotland and Ireland in the 2004 / 2005 Celtic League.

The Ospreys will be dropping the prefix Neath-Swansea from their name and the decision is proving to be popular with people all over the Ospreys region according to the Western Mail some 3,000 Ospreys season tickets have already been sold in the first three days of sale.

There was also good news on the pitch for the Ospreys with Wales trio Shane Williams, Barry Williams and Jonathan Thomas all signing new contracts until 2007.

Meanwhile, Richie Pugh and Matthew Jones have committed themselves to the region until 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Long serving prop Rod Snow had a testimonial match at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

Snow has been at Rodney Parade for ten years, through the bad years and the good, but has always been a favourite of the supporters. Brown was responsible for the 'Rodney Parade revolution' which saw the good times return and world famous players turn out in the famous colours.

Supporters Club Chairman, Dennis Bennett, said "Rod Snow has always been a favourite at Rodney Parade, mainly due to his commitment to the Newport cause, his professionalism and genuine affinity with supporters."

The game ended 68-73 to a Dragons XV against Snow's side, those who played included Gary Teichman and Shane Howarth.

PENALLTA, the Division Five South East winners, defeated Rhydyfelin, the Division Three South East champions, in a magnificent Silver Ball final played at Sardis Road, Pontypridd.

Despite being 13-7 down, Penallta hit back to lead 24-13 at the interval and went on to win by 43-30 and take the Bowl for the first time in their history.

The game attracted a crowd of almost 1,500, while Penallta, who are only a probationary Welsh Rugby Union club, had the man-of-the-match in prop forward Nicky Thomas, but centre Shaun Powell must have run him close.

In our question of the week:

Question: Is Sir Clive right to call up Jonny?

Yes 44% No 56% Number of votes: 39

Jonny should not be in the squad.

And finally………………

Cardiff Blues sign All Black Xavier Rush, the signing of a high profile star should mark a turning point for the Blues.