URC
Edinburgh side named for home finale
A strong side is named for the ‘Fan Appreciation Night’ clash which sees the club pay tribute to the capital faithful who’ve backed the team throughout the 2022/23 campaign, with a range of activities planned across match night including free food vouchers, player signing sessions and Q&As, and live music in the supporters’ clubhouse and fanzone.
More info on F.A.N can be found here!
Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie skippers the team while tighthead prop WP Nel is handed a start having this week penned a new deal which will take the club centurion into his 12thseason with the club.
Lock Marshall Sykes comes into the boiler room in the place of Grant Gilchrist who misses out with a foot injury.
In the backs, Ben Vellacott gets the nod at scrum-half having provided a spark from the bench in recent weeks, while Damien Hoyland starts on the wing in what will be the hometown centurion’s final home fixture for the club.
Ahead of the match-up, Head Coach Mike Blair said: “This is a massive game for both our players and the fans. The results haven’t gone our way, but we’ve been working especially hard in training to change this around and we want to put in a display that will make the Edinburgh supporters proud.
“It’s Fan Appreciation Night and we’re expecting a really good crowd at DAM Health Stadium for our home finale. It should be an electric atmosphere from kick-off which will drive our players on.
“There are guys playing their final home game for the club, while there are also guys who’ll be keen to show what they’re about ahead of a big summer of rugby. Every player pulling on the jersey will be motivated for what is a really important match for the club.”
In the back-three, Argentine internationalist Emiliano Boffelli starts at full-back alongside Hoyland and Graham on opposite wings.
The familiar centre pairing of Mark Bennett and James Lang continues in the capital midfield as stand-off Blair Kinghorn links up with Vellacott at half-back.
Hooker Dave Cherry packs down alongside props Pierre Schoeman and Nel, as locks Sykes and Sam Skinner complete the tight-five.
Star back-row duo Hamish Watson and Ritchie are paired on the flanks as Fijian number 8 Viliame Mata anchors the pack.
Edinburgh Rugby team to face Ospreys at DAM Health Stadium in the BKT United Rugby Championship
Saturday 15 April (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Viaplay
15. Emiliano Boffelli (29)
14. Darcy Graham (58)
13. Mark Bennett (86)
12. James Lang (37)
11. Damien Hoyland (104)
10. Blair Kinghorn (132)
9. Ben Vellacott (37)
1. Pierre Schoeman (96)
2. Dave Cherry (69)
3. WP Nel (186)
4. Marshall Sykes (40)
5. Sam Skinner (12)
6. Jamie Ritchie (96) CAPTAIN
7. Hamish Watson (138)
8. Viliame Mata (114)
Replacements
16. Stuart McInally (175)
17. Boan Venter (44)
18. Luan de Bruin (20)
19. Jamie Hodgson (52)
20. Connor Boyle (30)
21. Henry Pyrgos (82)
22. Chris Dean (134)
23. Duhan van der Merwe (73)
Unavailable: Jack Blain, Luke Crosbie, Matt Currie, Grant Gilchrist, Wes Goosen, Nick Haining, Henry Immelman, Ben Muncaster, Harry Paterson.
Content & Images from – Edinburgh Rugby
The Munster squad are preparing at the HPC ahead of Saturday night’s URC Round 13 clash against Cardiff at Thomond Park.
The game kicks off at 7.35pm with tickets from €20 available here.
In player news, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony have all returned to the HPC after helping Ireland to the 6 Nations title.
On the injury front, Academy back-row forward Ruadhán Quinn suffered a hand injury against Ospreys on Friday night and will be sidelined for a number of weeks.
Oli Jager and Fineen Wycherley have started their rehab following minor procedures for respective knee injuries.
Alex Nankivell is completing the RTP protocols and his availability will be determined later this week.
Simon Zebo was unavailable for the Ospreys game due to a low-grade hip injury and is due to return to training this week.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
There were 15 Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.
In Division 1A, Fionn Gibbons and Chris Moore helped Young Munster beat Dublin University with Gibbons among the tries.
Mark Donnelly lined out for Cork Constitution as they were beaten by Terenure College.
Kieran Ryan, Darragh McSweeney and Daniel Okeke couldn’t prevent Shannon falling to a defeat to City of Armagh.
In Division 1B, Colm Hogan, Jack Oliver, George Hadden, Max Clein, Cian Hurley and Jack Daly helped Garryowen to a win over Queen’s University. Hogan, Clein and Cronin were among the tries with Oliver kicking a conversion.
Scott Buckley and Andrew O’Mahony were in action for UCC as they lost to St Mary’s College.
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
The Munster squad are continuing preparations ahead of Friday night’s URC Round 12 clash against Ospreys in Swansea (7.35pm).
On the injury front, there is good news for John Hodnett (finger), Jack O’Donoghue (knee) and Simon Zebo (knee) as they all return to training this week.
Oli Jager (knee) and Fineen Wycherley (knee) are both due to see specialists this week for possible surgery.
Alex Nankivell is following the return to play protocols following a head injury in training last week.
On the international front, Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman have returned to the squad after Ireland’s 6 Nations triumph at the weekend.
Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).
Tickets
URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30
Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here
Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13
Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11
Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1
Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Sutherland to join Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors can confirm that Scotland prop Rory Sutherland will join the club this summer.
The British and Irish Lion joins the Scotstoun-outfit from French side Oyonnax, making the move to Scotstoun on a two-year deal as Franco Smith’s squad continues to take shape.
The confirmation of the loose-head prop’s move to Glasgow also comes on the eve of his involvement in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin, where he is in contention to win his 30th cap for Scotland, part of the match day squad.
The 31-year-old Sutherland will bring a dynamic ball-carrying presence to the Warriors in addition to a solid platform at the set-piece.
After making his debut for Edinburgh in 2014, the prop went on to make 91 appearances in the capital before a summer switch to Worcester Warriors in 2021.
A short-term stint with Ulster followed after Worcester’s demise in 2022, running out on 12 occasions for the Irish province.
Sutherland’s form for Scotland across the 2020 and 2021 campaigns saw him selected for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, joining future Glasgow team-mate Zander Fagerson amongst the front-row options.
He became the first Scottish prop to represent the invitational squad since the late Tom Smith when selected for the first Test, playing just under an hour in the 22-17 victory over the Springboks.
Sutherland said: “The past couple of years have been tough since I had to leave Worcester. I’ve been at a few clubs and I haven’t had the consistency I’d have liked in my game. This move to Glasgow, and back to Scotland, offers me the chance to work on getting that back into my rugby.
“Glasgow is a really successful team, so to be offered the chance to come to Scotstoun is attractive for any player. For me, it allows me to come back home, and be closer to my family, which will work wonders for me.
“I’ve gotten close to some of the Glasgow players while in camp with Scotland and they talk highly of Franco and the culture in the club. I’m looking forward to that and getting back to the homeland!”
Head Coach Smith added: “We are pleased to be able to add a prop of Rory’s calibre to our squad ahead of next season.
“His qualities will make him a real asset to our playing group, as we continue to develop our strength in every position.
“We look forward to seeing him in action at Scotstoun over the next couple of seasons and we know that the Warrior Nation will welcome him to our club.”
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