URC

Van der Merwe back for crunch Euro clash

Published

9 months ago

January 18, 2024

Van der Merwe back for crunch Euro clash

Edinburgh Rugby welcome the return of Scotland and British & Irish Lions winger Duhan van der Merwe for tomorrow night’s crucial EPCR Challenge Cup clash against Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets (Friday 19 January, kick-off 8pm) – live on S4C and epcrugby.tv.

Van der Merwe – who was rested for last weekend’s Gloucester match – returns to the starting line-up as one of six changes made for the Round 4 encounter in Llanelli, where a bonus-point win will guarantee the capital side’s place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

With Darcy Graham (quad), Wes Goosen (quad) and Harry Paterson (shoulder) unavailable for selection, Chris Dean joins Van der Merwe in the back-three, where he is named on the wing.

James Lang returns at inside centre – with Matt Currie shifting to 13 – as Mark Bennett misses out with a knee injury.

Club co-captain Ben Vellacott – who makes his 50^th appearance – takes the place of Ali Price at scrum-half, with the British & Irish Lions 9 named among the replacements.

The capital side make just one change to starting pack as Luke Crosbie returns from injury to start at blindside flanker, replacing Glen Young, who is named on the bench as part of a 6-2 split.

Ahead of the clash in Llanelli, Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt said: “We’ve named a strong and experienced 23 for an important game in our overall season. We know we need a positive result and we’ll be going all out to achieve that tomorrow night.

“We’re delighted to welcome Duhan [van der Merwe], Luke [Crosbie] and Jamie [Ritchie] back to the squad after missing last week’s Gloucester match. They all possess game-changing skillsets, and their experience will be key in helping us deliver a match-winning performance.

“Scarlets are strong at home and both sides know each other well from league competition. It will be an 80-minute battle where we’ll need to be on it from the very first whistle.”

Argentine internationalist Emiliano Boffelli continues at full-back alongside wingers Van der Merwe and Dean.

Centres Lang and Currie link-up in midfield as Vellacott is paired with Scotland stand-off, Ben Healy, at half-back.

Hooker Dave Cherry once again packs down alongside props Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel as an unchanged lock combination of Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist completes the tight-five.

Fijian star Viliame Mata continues at number 8 alongside flankers Hamish Watson and Crosbie.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets in the EPCR Challenge Cup
Friday 19 January (kick-off 8pm) – live on S4C/epcrugby.tv

15. Emiliano Boffelli (34)

14. Chris Dean (141)
13. Matt Currie (28)
12. James Lang (46)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (83)

10. Ben Healy (11)
9. Ben Vellacott (49) CO-CAPTAIN

1. Pierre Schoeman (107)
2. Dave Cherry (81)
3. WP Nel (196)
4. Sam Skinner (15)
5. Grant Gilchrist (197) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Luke Crosbie (92)
7. Hamish Watson (147)
8. Viliame Mata (126)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman (11)
17. Boan Venter (55)
18. Angus Williams (25)
19. Glen Young (34)
20. Jamie Ritchie (104)
21. Tom Dodd (5)
22. Ali Price (7)
23. Cammy Scott (5)

Unavailable: Mark Bennett (knee), Connor Boyle (neck), Wes Goosen (quad), Darcy Graham, (quad), Robin Hislop (knee), Jake Henry (knee), Jamie Hodgson (ankle), Ben Muncaster (foot), Harry Paterson (shoulder), Javan Sebastian (knee), Scott Steele (hip), Nathan Sweeney (hamstring).

Related Clubhouse

18 Jan 2024

Edinburgh Rugby squad update

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URC

Ulster ready to take on Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria

Published

3 days ago

October 4, 2024

Huge Rugby

Ulster ready to take on Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria

10 minutes ago

News

Ulster Head Coach, Richie Murphy, has named his Ulster side to take on Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Round 3 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.

The starting XV features three players who make their first competitive starts in an Ulster jersey.

Hooker, James McCormick, and centre, Ben Carson, are given the nod for their first starts, with academy lock, Charlie Irvine, in line for his Ulster debut, starting in the second row alongside captain, Iain Henderson.

Joining McCormick in the front row is loosehead prop, Andrew Warwick, and tighthead prop, Corrie Barrett, who scored his first try in an Ulster shirt last weekend against Emirates Lions.

The back row features Development talent, James McNabney, at blindside flanker, with Sean Reffell starting on the openside and David McCann coming in at eight.

The half-back partnership sees Nathan Doak start at scrum-half alongside fly-half, Aidan Morgan, who last weekend made it two tries in his opening two appearances for the province.

Jacob Stockdale starts on the left wing, with Werner Kok starting on the right wing. Kok also scored his first try for the province in last weekend’s match in Johannesburg.

Outside Centre, Stewart Moore, joins Ben Carson at twelve, to form the midfield partnership.

Mike Lowry completes the starting XV at full-back.

Murphy opts for a 5:3 split for the reinforcements on the bench.

Two replacements, hooker Tadgh McElroy and development fly-half, James Humphreys, are also in line to make their debuts for Ulster’s senior side.

Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor and Nick Timoney form the forward options from the bench, with Dave Shanahan and Ben Moxham providing the back options.

Vodacom Bulls v Ulster Rugby, Saturday 5th October, 3pm, Round 3, BKT United Rugby Championship, Loftus Versfeld Stadium (Live on Premier Sports)

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (C), Charlie Irvine, James McNabney, Sean Reffell, David McCann

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Ben Carson, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak;

Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.

Images & Content – Ulster Rugby

URC

Gavin Coombes Set For 100th Munster Appearance

Published

1 week ago

September 27, 2024

Huge Rugby

Tomorrow’s Round 2 clash away against Zebre Parma will see Gavin Coombes make his 100th Munster appearance.

Gavin started his rugby career at Skibbereen RFC before lining out with Bandon Grammar School in his teenage years.

Coombes then joined the Munster Rugby Academy ahead of the 2016/17 season where he lined out for Young Munster in Division 1A of the men’s All Ireland League and played a large role in Munster winning the B&I Cup in 2017.

The Skibbereen man made his Munster debut as an Academy player in the opening game of the 2018/19 season against the Cheetahs and went on to make eight Guinness PRO14 appearances over the campaign. The following year he also made a brief appearance in the PRO14 semi-final.

He had an outstanding 2020/21 season, after scoring 15 tries in 22 appearances, a new record for the most tries in one season for the province, and included a try on his Champions Cup debut against Harlequins. He was then named Munster Rugby’s youngest ever Player of the Year at the end of that season.

He missed the start of the 22/23 season due to injury, but returned to full training in October, and ended up scoring 14 tries in 22 Munster appearances in the club’s title winning year.

Last season he played in all 25 games, with 20 of those in the starting XV, playing at number 8 and in the second row. He continued is try-scoring prowess and finished the season with 7 tries to his name.

He has represented Ireland internationally on numerous occasions, including with the U20s, Ireland A, and the Ireland senior squad.

He was called up to the Ireland senior squad during the 2021 Six Nations, made his first two appearances against Japan and the USA in the 2021 Vodafone Summer Series, played against the Maori All Blacks in their 2022 New Zealand tour, and was then selected as part of the wider 2023 Six Nations and World Cup Squads.