Wales go Old School.

[IanD]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/27332469

WRU confirm Wales senior trial match ahead of South Africa tour

The Welsh Rugby Union have announced a senior trial match will be held ahead of Wales' summer tour to South Africa.

The game at the Liberty Stadium on Friday, 30 May, between Probables and Possibles sides, will be the first trial match in 14 years.

It will be a final chance to impress the Wales management ahead of the tour to South Africa.

"It's great that we are able to resurrect the famous Wales trial," head coach Warren Gatland said.

Wales will play the Springboks in two Test matches, in Durban on 14 June and Nelspruit on 21 June, with a warm-up match against Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on 10 June.

The failure of the Welsh regions to qualify for the Pro12 play-offs meant there would be a five-week gap between the end of the season and the first Test.

Wales assistant coaches Rob Howley and Robin McBryde, who both played in the last Wales trial in 2000 at St Helen's, will lead the coaching teams for the Probables and Possibles respectively.

The two squads, which will be announced on Tuesday, 13 May, will prepare for the clash separately.

Howley's coaching team including Shaun Edwards and Scarlets forwards coach Danny Wilson while Neil Jenkins and Cardiff
Blues' Dale McIntosh will join McBryde in preparing the Possibles side.

Wales head coach Gatland will announce his 31-man squad for the two-Test tour in a post-match press conference.

"It's a good opportunity for the players but it's also important for us in our short-term as well as long-term preparation," Gatland added.

"The trial will enable us to work with the extended squad and see those players in our environment as preparations ramp up for next year's World Cup.

"It's a chance for players to experience the set-up and round off a week's training with us in a meaningful match and hopefully put their hand up for this summer's tour.

"The tour itself is going to be extremely tough and the game will be important in ensuring we don't head into it cold."


If nothing else it will be interesting to see the attendance numbers.

[simonokeeffe]

makes sense with no Welsh sides in league playoffs

wonder will Liam Williams get his own citing commissioner for the game?

[ronk]

Innovative, I like it.

Not so much the announcing the squad post match, but too reality TV for me.

[IanD]

Innovative, I like it.

Not so much the announcing the squad post match, but too reality TV for me.

That is a great idea. WRU could make a fortune on people voting for their favorites.

Matthew Rees to win with his cancer story - everyone needs a good backstory.

[Morf]

Innovative, I like it.

Not so much the announcing the squad post match, but too reality TV for me.

That is a great idea. WRU could make a fortune on people voting for their favorites.

Matthew Rees to win with his cancer story - everyone needs a good backstory.

Liam Williams needs an alibi . . .

[enby]

Presumably Gatland will have a pre-match press conference to warn the ref about the Possibles' scrummaging technique and breakdown work

[simonokeeffe]

they should rename it undroppables v injury cover

BREAKING: Mike Philips heard the word trial and pleaded guilty to a public order offence outside a takeaway

[IanD]

English Clubs to scupper Wales Trial match. Where is the Chap wanting unity and support across rugby gone now?


http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/27356468

English clubs block Wales players from trial match

England's leading clubs will not allow their Welsh players to take part in a senior trial match that will help decide the squad to tour South Africa.

The Probables v Possibles will be the first trial match in 14 years and will take place on Friday 30 May in Swansea.

A spokesman for England's Premiership said that because the game is not a Test match they do not have to release non-England players.

The trial squads will be announced on Tuesday and Wales hope to reach a deal.

A WRU spokesman said: "Depending on selection we would liaise with Premiership Rugby, the clubs and the players to discuss availability to the Wales senior trial ahead of our summer tour."

However, a Premiership spokesman said: "Premiership Rugby has a policy to only release non-England players under the conditions of the International Rugby Board's regulation nine.

"This regulation covers international release for every Test country across the world. This trial match does not fall under IRB regulation nine."

The availability of some Wales players will also be in doubt because the Aviva Premiership final takes place a day after the trial match.

French clubs are also not obliged to make players available.

Wales announce the Possibles v Probables trial squads on Tuesday, 13 May and the game takes place at Swansea's Liberty Stadium 17 days later.

Leicester fly-half Owen Williams has been touted as a potential Wales tourist to South Africa for two Tests and a warm-up game.

But he could be at Twickenham for English club rugby's showpiece final on 31 May.

However, if Leicester fail to reach the final, the trial would have been a chance for the 22-year-old to press Test claims.

Uncapped Williams could also possibly soften the blow of Rhys Priestland's potentially tour-ending knee injury, suffered in Scarlets' last Pro12 game of the season.

The Tigers face George North's Northampton in the Premiership semi-finals on Friday 16 May.

North is the only Wales player with a contract clause that ensures he can be available for all international training and playing duties.

But it seems unlikely that the WRU would invoke their right to North's services for the trial if Saints are in the final.

But the situation regarding the rest of the England-based, Welsh players are not in doubt.

Second-tier Bristol are party to Premiership Rugby's agreements, so back-five forward Ryan Jones, who switched from
Ospreys for the final stages of the season would not be available for the Wales trial.

Saracens prop Rhys Gill, Bath prop Paul James and centre Gavin Henson, Gloucester scrum-half Tavis Knoyle and Sale hooker Marc Jones could also be unavailable to press claims at the trial.

Racing Metro trio Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Dan Lydiate remain on course for a French Top 14 final on 31 May.

But Clermont Auvergne full-back Lee Byrne, who last played for Wales at the 2011 World Cup may be surprised to find himself at a loose end after their shock home play-off defeat by Castres - a result ended Clermont's 77-match winning streak at home.

[simonokeeffe]

Dont think anyone expected PRL to release players involved in PRL final

anyone who is not in playoffs/barrages will play

so will only likely miss anyone at Saints, Sarries, Ryan Jones and thats it

[ronk]

Dont think anyone expected PRL to release players involved in PRL final

anyone who is not in playoffs/barrages will play

so will only likely miss anyone at Saints, Sarries, Ryan Jones and thats it

No. PRL policy is not to allow clubs to release non English players except when compelled by regulation 9.

It's not up to the clubs to make a decision.

[IanD]

I am not so sure.

PRL Quote is
However, a Premiership spokesman said: "Premiership Rugby has a policy to only release non-England players under the conditions of the International Rugby Board's regulation nine. This regulation covers international release for every Test country across the world. This trial match does not fall under IRB regulation nine."

So they will withhold their players with no matches for end of season training. I assume they have to do something after Northampton were fined for North and the continuing fines they are going to rack up in the future.

[simonokeeffe]

would be amazed if they do so at the end of the season/players dont go bezerk over that
can understand mid season eg extra November test but for Bath players whove been off for 2 weeks its crazy, they even still at the club (technically)

[Vamos los azules]

would be amazed if they do so at the end of the season/players dont go bezerk over that
can understand mid season eg extra November test but for Bath players whove been off for 2 weeks its crazy, they even still at the club (technically)

Bath have an Amlin final on 23 May. Those players aren't exactly kicking around at a loose end at the moment. This possibles v probables business would cut in to their beer drinking time after that final, which is the case of Henson could be a good thing because it is beer drinking time that is always his undoing.

[simonokeeffe]

would be amazed if they do so at the end of the season/players dont go bezerk over that
can understand mid season eg extra November test but for Bath players whove been off for 2 weeks its crazy, they even still at the club (technically)

Bath have an Amlin final on 23 May. Those players aren't exactly kicking around at a loose end at the moment. This possibles v probables business would cut in to their beer drinking time after that final, which is the case of Henson could be a good thing because it is beer drinking time that is always his undoing.

whoops
guess last year was the only time I paid much heed to that comp

[offshorerules]

Looks like Gavin Henson will miss out on the trial match. Bath not releasing him.

[ronk]

Looks like Gavin Henson will miss out on the trial match. Bath not releasing him.

Fair

[IanD]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/27556040

Paul James: Wales prop worried over South Africa tour spot

SENIOR TRIAL MATCH: PROBABLES V POSSIBLES
Venue: Liberty Stadium, Swansea Date: Friday, 30 May Kick-off: 19:05 BST
Coverage: Live on Scrum V Live, BBC Two Wales

Prop Paul James says he could miss out on a place in Wales' squad for the tour to South Africa if he does not play in the senior trial match.

Bath's James, 32, has been included in the Possibles squad for the game against the Probables in Swansea.

But England's leading clubs will not allow their Welsh players to take part in the trial match.

"If there's a trial going on and you're not playing in it, of course you're going to be under threat," he said.

The trial match at the Liberty Stadium will help decide who is included in Warren Gatland's final squad for the two-Test tour to South Africa in June.

A total of 52 players have been split between the two squads with six of those players based in England and a further five playing for French clubs.

There has been no definite indication yet whether Welsh-qualified players at French clubs will be available for the trial match, the first to be held by Wales for 14 years.

But a spokesperson for England's Premiership clubs said that because the game is not a Test match they do not have to release non-England players.

The Welsh Rugby Union hopes to reach an agreement with Premiership Rugby, but the trial match takes place the day before the Aviva Premiership final.

James, who has won 53 caps, made five appearances during Wales' 2014 Six Nations matches, coming off the bench in four matches.

The former Ospreys prop, who played in Bath's Amlin Challenge Cup defeat by Northampton in Cardiff, is worried he could miss out on a tour spot by not playing in the trial match.

"I've spoken with Possibles coach Robin McBryde but if boys play in the trial and play well then obviously it's going to jeopardise my position," James added.

"It's out of my hands and I can't do nothing about it. All I can do is sit back, wait and see what happens.

"There's no better place to go than South Africa to test yourself as an international.

"If they're picking a team on form and picking a squad on form hopefully I will be all right."


Wonder if this and the George North Northampton fine issue slow the move of Welsh international players to England.

[offshorerules]

Doubt it. They need to sort out which teams will actually exist next year first.

[JB1973]

BIg wins for the possibles, shows a big gap between our first choice and second choice players.

We are always a few injuries away from struggling

Bath disgusting treatment of Henson says a lot about the PRL and how much they care about the development of their players and the game as a whole

[simonokeeffe]

BIg wins for the possibles, shows a big gap between our first choice and second choice players.

We are always a few injuries away from struggling

Bath disgusting treatment of Henson says a lot about the PRL and how much they care about the development of their players and the game as a whole

Know its a but different for Henson and his nomadic career but could other players have just told clubs where to go and played?