TEAM NEWS HEADLINES
#DRAvSTO
Chris Hollis will make his Dragons RFC debut against his former side DHL Stormers
Sti Sithole, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Angelo Davids all return from injury to be named in DHL Stormers match day squad
#EDIvZEB
Two changes for Edinburgh Rugby as centurions Viliame Mata and Mark Bennett both start
Geronimo Prisciantelli named at full-back with Simone Gesi, captain Giovanni Licata and Andrea Zambonin return to Zebre Parma match day squad
#BULvGLA
Ruan Nortje returns to match fitness & captains the Vodacom Bulls
Grant Stewart & Sione Tuipulotu will make their 50th appearances for Glasgow Warriors
#SHAvBEN
Hollywoodbets Sharks make changes in the pack which sees Corne Rahl replace Emile van Heerden and Gerbrandt Grobler gets a start, with Vincent Tshituka shifting to eight in place of Phepsi Buthelezi
Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex make up the centre pairing for Benetton
#SCAvULS
Ryan Elias will captain Scarlets
Mike Lowry to make his 100th appearance for Ulster
#LIOvCAR
Quan Horn returns from injury for his 50th appearance for the Emirates Lions
Gabriel Hamer-Webb will make his first appearance since returning back to Cardiff Rugby
#MUNvCON
Jack Crowley will make his 50th Munster appearance
Bundee Aki and Tom Farrell continue the centre pairing for Connacht
#LEIvOSP
Tommy O’Brien returns from injury for Leinster with first appearance since February
Jac Morgan returns from injury for Ospreys and is named among the replacements
FRIDAY, MAY 10
Dragons RFC v DHL Stormers
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 41st league game)
AR 1: Maickel English (WRU) AR 2: Gareth Newman (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Dragons RFC: Jordan Williams, Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes (CAPT), Aneurin Owen, Chris Hollis, Will Reed, Dane Blacker, Rhodri Jones, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Matthew Screech, George Nott, Sean Lonsdale, Harri Keddie, Aaron Wainwright
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Rodrigo Martinez, Dmitri Arhip, James Benjamin, Taine Basham, Morgan Lloyd, Angus O’Brien, Sio Tomkinson
DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Wandisile Simelane, Dan du Plessis, Angelo Davids, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Sti Sithole, Joseph Dweba, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat (CAPT), Ruben van Heerden, Willie Engelbrecht, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos
Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Neethling Fouche, Adre Smith, Hacjivah Dayimani, Stefan Ungerer, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Dragons RFC Head Coach Dai Flanagan said: “We have seen that it is full metal jacket from the Stormers and that’s great for us. We’re at home in front of our people and it is our last game at Rodney Parade – we ned to make it count. I thought our intensity was superb against Connacht and we need to match that and be more accurate because we know they are coming. Connacht want to get in the play-offs, Stormers want to get into the play-offs, Ospreys want to get into the play-offs. How good would it be to knock one of them, maybe two of them, off?”
DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson said: “There is little room for error as the play-offs get closer and having had all of last week to prepare, we are determined to give our best on Friday night. We know that Rodney Parade is a tough place to play, so it will require a big effort to get the result that we need,”
Edinburgh Rugby v Zebre Parma
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, league debut)
AR 1: Ru Campbell (SRU) AR 2: David Sutherland (SRU)
TMO: Ian Davies (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Matt Currie, Mark Bennett, James Lang, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben Healy, Ali Price, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist (CAPT), Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata
Replacements: Dave Cherry, Boan Venter, Javan Sebastian, Marshall Sykes, Luke Crosbie, Ben Vellacott, Cammy Scott, Chris Dean
Zebre Parma: Geronimo Prisciantelli, Jacopo Trulla, Fetuli Paea, Enrico Lucchin, Simone Gesi, Giovanni Montemauri, Thomas Dominguez, Muhamed Hasa, Giampietro Ribaldi, Juan Pitinari, Matteo Canali, Andrea Zambonin, Giacomo Ferrari, Taina Fox-Matamua, Giovanni Licata (CAPT)
Replacements: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Samuele Taddei, Riccardo Genovese, David Sisi, Bautista Stavile, Gonzalo Garcia, Damiano Mazza, Lorenzo Pani
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt said: “This is a massive match for our play-off aspirations, and we’ll need to be fully focused and disciplined to secure a positive result at Hive Stadium. Zebre Parma are a much-improved side and will travel to Edinburgh with nothing to lose. They bring physicality and can score from anywhere on the park, so we’ll need to match their energy from the get-go. We’re right in the battle for the play-offs and the squad know that every game in this run-in is a cup final. The backing of our supporters will once again be crucial, so we encourage everyone to get behind the team tomorrow night for this vital encounter.”
Zebre Parma Head Coach Fabio Roselli said: “Despite the many serious injuries in the last period, the team had a very good week, showing great ability to react effectively to difficulties. Edinburgh need five points: we know their strengths and we know how to put them in difficulty. The team is very united, we know we have to be more accurate in some details and the players are looking forward to the game. All together we will do our best to finish the season as we deserve”.
SATURDAY, MAY 11
Vodacom Bulls v Glasgow Warriors
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria – KO 13.00 IRE & UK / 14.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 99th league game)
AR 1: AJ Jacobs (SARU) AR 2: Dylen November (SARU)
TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Vodacom Bulls: Willie Le Roux, Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Chris Smith, Embrose Papier, Gerhard Steenekamp, Akker van der Merwe, Wilco Louw, Ruan Vermaak, Ruan Nortje (C.CAPT), Marcon van Staden, Elrigh Louw (C.CAPT), Cameron Hanekom
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Jaco van der Valt, Devon Williams
Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Sebastian Cancelliere, Tom Jordan, George Horne, Jamie Bhatti, Grant Stewart, Murphy Walker, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Nathan McBeth, Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie, Henco Venter, Jamie Dobie, Duncan Weir
Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith said: “Training this week has been highly competitive, with everyone focused on producing our best performance tomorrow afternoon. The Bulls provide one of the sternest tests in the URC; they have one of the strongest home records in the competition at Loftus Versfeld, as well as a blend of physical forwards and dynamic backs. We know that we will need to be at our best to compete tomorrow, and everyone is looking forward to the challenge.”
Hollywoodbets Sharks v Benetton
Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – KO 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 81st league game)
AR 1: Morne Ferreira (SARU) AR 2: Hanru Van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Hollywoodbets Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am (CAPT), Francois Venter, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Masuku, Grant Williams, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Corne Rahl, James Venter, Gerbrandt Grobler, Vincent Tshituka
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Lappies Labuschagne, Tino Mavesere, Cameron Wright, Boeta Chamberlain, Diego Appolis
Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Brex, Onisi Ratave, Leonardo Marin, Andy Uren, Federico Zani, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Simione Ferrari, Niccolò Cannone, Eli Snyman (CAPT), Alessandro Izekor, Sebastian Negri, Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Destiny Aminu, Giosuè Zilocchi, Edoardo Iachizzi, Riccardo Favretto, Dewaldt Duvenage, Jacob Umaga, Marco Zanon
Benetton Head Coach Marco Bortolami said: “There are some players injured after the match against Gloucester, which also caused the long journey, it was challenging to try to recover. The choices were dictated by these conditions, but I believe we have a balanced and competitive team to get the most out of the match against the Sharks”
Scarlets v Ulster
Parc Y Scarlets, Llanelli – KO 15.05 IRE & UK / 16.05 ITA & SA
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR, 31st league game)
AR 1: Maickel English (WRU) AR 2: Elliot Mayor (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Tomi Lewis, Johnny Williams, Eddie James, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies, Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias (CAPT), Harri O’Connor, Morgan Jones, Jac Price, Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis, Carwyn Tuipulotu
Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Jarrod Taylor, Ben Williams, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Scott Williams
Ulster: Mike Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, Will Addison, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney, Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Scott Wilson, Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (CAPT), Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Nick Timoney
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andrew Warwick, James French, Harry Sheridan, Reuben Crothers, Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore, Dave Ewers
Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “Ulster are in the hunt for the play-offs and they will come here with that in mind so it is going to be a hard challenge. But we have steadily been improving; there was a good feeling at the end of the Sharks game and I thought we played some good stuff in that game. It is important we continue that momentum.”
Emirates Lions v Cardiff Rugby
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 18th league game)
AR 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR 2: Cwengile Jadezweni (SARU)
TMO: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
Live on: SuperSport, S4C, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Emirates Lions: Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Erich Cronje, Marius Louw (CAPT), Edwill van der Merwe, Sanele Nohamba, Morne van den Berg, Ruan Dreyer, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Willem Alberts, Ruan Delport, JC Pretorius, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn
Replacements: Jaco Visagie, JP Smith, Conraad van Vuren, Reinhard Nothnagel, Emmanuel Tshituka, Hanru Sirgel, Jordan Hendrikse, Gianni Lombard
Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Theo Cabango, Tinus de Beer, Gonzalo Bertranou, Rhys Carre, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, Seb Davies, Rory Thornton, Ben Donnell, James Botham, Mackenzie Martin
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Alun Lawrence, Ellis Bevan, Jacob Beetham, Max Clark
Munster v Connacht
Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 17.15 IRE & UK / 18.15 ITA & SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 36th league game)
AR 1: Peter Martin (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)
Live on: RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Munster: Simon Zebo, Calvin Nash, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien, Shane Daly, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, RG Snyman, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Peter O’Mahony, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Mark Donnelly, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Antoine Frisch
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, Shane Jennings, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Byron Ralston, Jack Carty (CAPT) Matthew Devine, Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Oisín Dowling, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Paul Boyle
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Sean Jansen, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Jarrad Butler
Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins said: “Firstly we’re incredibly excited about tomorrow’s game. These interpros, especially ones of such importance, are the kind of days you train for and look forward to all year. We’ve picked a 23 that we know can deliver a physical and committed performance from the first minute, because that’s what will be needed. Munster have quality players all over the field and are always a challenge to play in Limerick, but I’m confident in our squad and our game plan that we can give ourselves every opportunity if we play to our potential.”
Leinster v Ospreys
RDS Arena, Dublin – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 43rd league game)
AR 1: Keane Davison (IRFU) AR 2: Oisin Quinn (IRFU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (IRFU)
Live on: TG4, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath, Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Will Connors, Caelan Doris (CAPT)
Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Michael Milne, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Charlie Ngatai, Tommy O’Brien
Ospreys: Max Nagy, Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Rhys Henry, James Ratti, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Justin Tipuric (CAPT), Morgan Morris
Replacements: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Tom Botha, Victor Sekekete, Jac Morgan, Luke Davies, Jack Walsh, Evardi Boshoff
Ospreys Head Coach Toby Booth said: “Leinster are a very good team and effectively the juggernaut of the BKT URC. You don’t put in a performance like they did against La Rochelle by accident. We’ve competed there before though, and we’re going to compete there again and see how far it takes us.”
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