The Ospreys team for the opening game vs Ulster has been named and it’s, um, interesting.
No Byrne, no Bowe, no Adam Jones, no AWJ, Byrne, Shane and Paul James on the bench.  This is hardly a first choice line up – yet again showing the problem with starting a league with low key games.  How different would it be for a derby match where the whole country is watching?
That is not to say there isn’t plenty of interest.  How Gareth Owen has developed over the summer, Ben Lewis (hopefully) getting …

Don’t ask me how some awards get decided, it seems a lot of the time a tombola is used to decide who is worth getting an award… and the Magners League awards are no exception.
Ok that’s a tad harsh, a lot of the awards decided are worthy.  For example I may be biased as an Ospreys fan but Tommy Bowe has been so superb this season he is fully deserving of the players player of the year award.  But one that has confused me is that the Dragon;s boss Paul …

If you are a Newport Gwent Dragons fan, or if you have any interest in meeting their players anyway, then this Sunday is teh day for you.
The Dragons are having a ‘meet the players’ day at Motorpoint, where you can ask questions, meet your heroes (or villains) and help support charity – as all money raised on the day will go to Cycle Challenge Wales.
Unfortunately I am away all weekend camping (and no doubt getting soaked to the skin) so won’t make it – but for those who do I …

Personally I am hoping this is just a hoax but Cai Griffiths and Sonny Parker have just been Twittering about the new Ospreys training shirt.  Worse it seems that a number of people on Twitter seem to think that it is a good thing. Which just goes to show how many people there are out there with bad taste.
To quote Prysiau from the Rugby Rebels thread about this
Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m absolutely convinced clubs could make far more money from merchandise if they actually put together a shirt …

Nathan Brew Joins the Dragons
Again. Nathan Brew, 28, has again teamed up with his brother Aled at Rodney parade. The Newport Gwent Dragons have moved to secure his signing from Welsh Premiership side Neath in order to give themselves more strength in depth in the centre and wing positions.
A sensible precaution considering the injury problems they suffered in the centre last season, and the move of Richard Fussell, the talented winger, to the Ospreys.
Nathan Brew
Nathan had played for the Dragons for 7 seasons before leaving to join the …

Mark Jones and Simon Easterby Retire
It is a sad couple of days down at Parc y Scarlets. Not only do they have to cope with the fact that one club legend has retired, but another goes and follows suit straight away. Both Mark Jones and Simon Easterby, stalwarts of the club and two of their best players in recent years, have retired.
Mark Jones
Mark Jones is famous as being the bionic man of Welsh rugby, having had his knees rebuilt. Despite a string of injury problems, which have …

Darren Daniel
The Scarlets have released the Llanelli academy and Llanelli RFC product Darren Daniel.
Darren Daniel, 23, had scored 21 tries in 49 starts for the region – but had struggled for competitive games recently, despite a run of injuries on the wing. He was behind even converted scrum halves in the pecking order – managing just 2 competitive starts last season, 1 in the Heineken Cup, one in the LV= cup.
Carmarthen Quins have moved swiftly to snap up the rapid 5’11″ winger. Presumably this is more …

Jamie Corsi Released
The Llanelli Scarlets have released Jamie Corsi after only one season with the Parc-Y-Scarlets outfit.
The 22 year old tight head prop had previously toured with Wales down under as a teenager, but now finds himself looking for a new team with the season start only weeks away. Jamie Corsi only managed one start for the Scarlets, and that was in the LV= cup, specifically designed for the fringe players. The rest of his rugby last season had been in the Welsh Premiership with Llanelli RFC.
Presumably, with …

So the Magners League fixtures have been announced – and yet again the Magners League underwhelms me.
This is a league that gets much derision for a number of reasons, for teams not taking it seriously, for a lack of fans, for a lack of interest. But yet again we see just how the Magners League address this issue – they do nothing and hope it works.
Now I do think the Guinness Premiership is an over rated league. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a number of things …

The Heineken Cup fixtures have been announced, and with all the Welsh regions taking part again this year (with the Scarlets thankful the Blues won the Amlin cup) all are looking forward to taking on the best that Europe has to offer.
The Ospreys have one hell of a start – away to Toulon, whilst the Blues have life a little easier at home to Edinburgh. The Dragons start away to Glasgow
Ospreys
Sat 9 Oct Toulon V Ospreys – 2.35pm – Stade Felix Mayol – Canal +
Fri 15 Oct …