#006 Ospreys v Scarlets - Official Matchday Programme by ospreysrugby

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IN TODAY’S ISSUE TOBY BOOTH’S WELCOME

PRO14 WELCOME

CYMRY YN Y CANOL

Q&A: BRADLEY DAVIES

PLAYER FEATURE: SAM PARRY

SCARLETS RUGBY

STATISTICS HEADE-TO-HEAD

SCARLETS RUGBY LINEUP

OZZIES ARMY

OSC

OSPREYS IN THE COMMUNITY

TEAM LINE UP

20/21 FIXTURES

PLAYER SPONSORS

toby boothâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welcome This will be my first experience of the West Wales Derby and it is one we are all really looking forward to, despite the fixture being moved to Parc y Scarlets. This is obviously a reverse fixture from what was intended. It is something out of our control and it is disappointing that we had to move out of the Liberty Stadium for this game. Ultimately, we were told the grass was dying on the pitch and a decision had to be taken to move the fixture so the pitch could be re-laid at the Liberty for the rest of the season. But a derby is still a derby. We would have been more concerned about moving this fixture if they were supporters in the stadium. Moving our home game against our biggest rivals doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean we are surrendering home advantage because there will be no supporters in the stadium anyway. I know the history of the West Wales derby and how hotly contested it is and the role it plays in the festive calendar and how important this game is to the people of the region and how important it is to the people within our camp who come from the region. It is a game borne out of years and years of intense rivalry and is the most important game in the calendar for supporters and the one they look for when the fixture list is published. So, we know how important this game is to the people we represent. There is no doubt the Scarlets have been the most consistent team in Wales over the last few years and this is an opportunity to measure ourselves against them. It is the first of three games that will really stress us, with Cardiff

Blues and the Dragons to follow, but these challenges are why we are involved. There are no outs in these next games and we expect the Welsh derbies to be pretty spicy. As a group we have started to make some progress as the season has begun to unfold. Some of our younger players are learning their trade and have begun to really perform at the highest level and have started to do it on a consistent basis and that is really encouraging and exciting. Any good team, any good organisation or business demonstrates consistency, not just in their outcomes, but in the performances they produce on a regular and consistent basis. The Ospreys have started to show that and what is exciting for the coaches and myself is how much more there is to come from this squad of players. The team thank you for your continued support.

Toby Booth, Head Coach.

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WHY IT MATTERS EIMEAR CONSIDINE | IRELAND & MUNSTER From left: Máire Treasa Ní Dubhbgaill, Máire Ní Bhraonáin, Deirbhile Níc Bháird, Jenny Murphy, Eimear Considine

Whether it’s international rugby or live broadcasting, nobody gets picked unless they’re good enough. Every team I’ve been on has been selected solely on merit.

put strong, capable women on their rugby broadcasts for a number of seasons now. In Ireland, they have certainly been part of the first waves of momentum we see today.

It was no different in November when I was part of TG4’s all-female talent on their Leinster v Cardiff Blues broadcast for the Guinness PRO14. Yes, it was historic to see an all-female team and we all felt great pride (and pressure!), but every person had proven they were right for the job.

An all-female line-up was not about courting publicity. I’ve been involved for three years with TG4 and during that time they have assembled and developed the talent to make it work.

Quite rightly, TG4 has picked up a lot of positive attention and hopefully this is a step in the right direction towards a new normal, where fans get opinions, analysis and commentary from people who have the experience to provide the insights – regardless of gender. I can’t imagine what my young teenage self would have made of this. When I look back to that time in Ireland, I can only think of Sonia O’Sullivan competing at the Olympics as a role model for girls. Now, women’s international sports have such a greater platform and aspiring female athletes today have so many stars to look up to. Twenty years ago, there were very few Katie Taylors, Emily Scarratts, Serena Williams or Megan Rapinoes like we have today – people who have become household names. None of this happens overnight. Women’s sport and female athletes have moved out of the shadows and into the same arenas and stadiums as their male counterparts through support from clubs, sports organisations, broadcasters and sponsors. It’s proven now that if you show women’s sport in prime-time slots, people will watch. For those of you from outside Ireland, TG4 are an Irish-language station that have been very progressive in their broadcasting of women’s sport and promoting female talent for over 20 years. Their support of Gaelic football has led to record attendances for women’s finals and they have been keen to

Our leading host, Máire Treasa Ní Dubhbgaill is a hugely recognisable face in Irish sports broadcasting and she has been phenomenal at her job for over a decade. Deirbhile Níc Bháird has played in the backs and the forwards, played for Ireland, played Sevens and she has an insight that very few can provide. Jenny Murphy conducted interviews and provided analysis and she has an accomplished rugby CV having won a Grand Slam, played Sevens for Ireland and represented the Baa-Baas. Máire Ní Bhraonáin, who works at Clongowes College where she gets to see the latest Leinster talent emerge, was our lead commentator and she has already got plenty of Guinness PRO14 games under her belt now. Our team at the RDS was well proven, that’s for sure. Earlier, I mentioned Emily Scarratt, who is the most talented player I’ve ever come across in rugby. When she won the Player of the Tournament award for the Six Nations, the announcement was made in tandem

with Antoine Dupont’s win for the male award. Guinness’ decision to sponsor the Womens’ Six Nations has massively helped the profile of women’s rugby in Europe. We see it all the time now, especially with the England national team who play at Twickenham – usually on the same day as the mens’ team. Last year another

Irish international, Louise Galvin, and myself were part of eir Sport’s World Cup coverage. I was fortunate to appear in a national TV advert alongside Tommy Bowe, Gordon D’Arcy and Peter Stringer – three icons of Irish rugby, and that again elevated the perception of female athletes. So much so, in fact, that because our training schedule for the national team limited our appearances – an expectancy was created and any time we were not involved, fans were asking about us. All of this visibility and support is making a real difference. My cousin’s daughter, Éowyn, has become obsessed with rugby because she can watch the women’s team play on TV. She can go see Munster and Ireland play live at proper stadiums that make it a great day out for families. Ahead of the men’s World Cup last year the national squad were doing an open training session in each province, but when she arrived at the event in Thomond Park she was distraught because it was the men’s team and not the women’s! That hits home because to her it’s normal to see women playing elite sport, it’s normal to see big crowds attending their games and it’s normal to see female TV analysts. In Ireland we have the 20x20 campaign (#CantSeeCantBe) urging everyone involved in sport to find ways to play their part and it is great to see TG4 being such leaders in this space. We’ve also received great support from our provinces and sponsors but I would challenge everyone to ask what more can they do to raise the profile of women in sport? What other broadcasters and media outlets can follow this path? We’ve proven that if she can see it, she can be it… but we can’t and we won’t stop there.

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Cymry yn y Canol Yn ail bennod ein cyfres o broffiliau ar ddyfarnwyr ifanc ledled y rhanbarth, dyma ddarn ar ddyfarnwr o Benycae ger Abercraf, Steffan Edwards. Gychwynodd Steffan ar ei daith fel dyfarnwr deng mlynedd yn ôl fel bachgen 16 blwydd oed. Cafodd Steffan ei eni â chyflwr scoliosis a oedd y natal ef rhag chwarae rygbi cystadleuol, ond roedd yr awch ‘da fe i gyfranu i’r byd rygbi. “Rydw i dal i hyfforddi gyda thîm Abercraf, a ma’n ffrindiau i i gyd yn chwarae. Yn anffodus dwi ddim yn cael cymryd rhan yn gystadleuol, ond ‘dw i dal yn rhan o’r gymuned ac yn mwynhau bod allan ar y cae, ond fel y dyn yn y canol gyda’r chwiban. “Dwi’n mwynhau cyfathrebu ar y cae, ac ambell i dro gaf ddefnyddio’r iaith wrth reffio hefyd. Mae ‘na lwyth o ddyfarnwyr sy’n siarad Cymraeg hefyd, a mae’n braf weithiau cael tîm o swyddogin i gyd yn siarad yn y Gymraeg. “Dwi’n lefel tri nawr, ac yn dal i gael fy asesu ar fod yn ddyfarnwr yn yr Uwchgynghrair, tra dwi bennaf yn rheoli gemau’r Bencampwriaeth.

Ond dwi’n ifanc o hyd, a gyda llwyth o brofiad, felly dwi’n edrych ymlaen at y dyfodol a chael rhagor o brofiadau dros y blynyddoedd i ddod.” Mae digon o brofiadau difyr yng ngyrfa Steffan, fodd bynnag, wrth iddo ddatgelu un profiad chwithig yn gynnar yn ei yrfa. “Dwi’n cofio teithio i ddyfarnu gêm yn Llantwit Fardre.Roedd popeth yn mynd yn wych, y ddau dîm ar y cae, barod i ddechrau’r gêm… yna’n sylweddoli fy mod wedi gadael fy chwiban yn yr ystafell newid. Roedd rhaid i mi gael un o’r bois i ddod lawr gyda allwedd i ddadgloi’r ystafelloedd newid a chodi’r shutters i gyd. Pan ddes i nôl fyny at y cae, roedd pawb yn chwerthin arna i. “Roedd hi’n gêm dda, a maen nhw’n bobl cyfeillgar iawn yno, ond ces i ychydig o jôcs ar ddiwedd y gêm!” Mae Steffan yn barod wedi cael profiadau cofiadwy iawn, megis rhedeg yr ystlys yn rownd derfynol y cwpan SWALEC yn y stadiwm genedlaethol. “Roedd hi’n neis bod mas ar y cae yno. A chefais gyfle eto i fod mas ar y cae yn y stadiwm ar ôl cael fy newis fel y pedwerydd swyddog ar gyfer gêm gyfeillgar rhwng Cymru ag Iwerddon cyn Cwpan Rygbi’r Byd 2015. Roedd hi’n anhygoel cael bod ar y cae yn canu’r anthem. “Roeddwn i ar y tîm dyfarnu ar gyfer gêm Cymru yn erbyn yr Alban hefyd. Doedd hi ddim cweit yr un peth, gan mai ym Mharc y Scarlets roedd y gêm a dim torf yna chwaith.”

Meddai Steffan bod ef yn eithaf ffodus mewn ffordd, ei fod wedi manteisio o gael profi rygbi o safbwynt y chwaraewyr wrth ymarfer yn wythnosol â chlwb rygbi Abercraf, yn ogystal a chael ei gyflwyno i ddyfarnu yn ifanc. “Mae clwb rygbi Abercraf yn bwysig iawn i mi. Rydych chi’n aml yn clywed am glwb rygbi cyntaf chwaraewyr, ond mae’n arbennig i ddyfarnwyr hefyd. Mae’n hanfodol cofio’ch gwreiddiau a welwch chi bod y chwaraewyr a dyfarnwyr gorau wastad yn falch iawn o’u gwreiddiau. Mae un atgof yn dod i’r meddwl i Steffan pan mae’n meddwl am pwysicrwydd eich clwb cyntaf lleol: “Roeddwn i ar y tîm dyfarnu un tro lawr yn y Liberty gyda’r Gweilch yn cael profiad. Nigel Owens oedd yn y canol y dydd hwnw, a gofynodd e fi mi asesu studs y chwaraewyr i gyd. Pan nes i gyrraedd Adam Jones, sydd wrth gwrs yn gynt o Abercraf ei hun, cymerodd e olwg arna i a gofyn ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ a doedd gen i ddim ateb iddo fe! Mae’n enghraifft neis o ba mor glos yw’r gymuned a nad yw’r lleoliad na’r amgylchedd yn newid dim.” Wrth drafod y llu o ddyfarnwyr ifanc yng Nghymru, roedd Steffan yn meddwl bod wastad angen rhagor o ddawn yn rhengoedd y swyddogion. “Fy nghyngor i i unrhywun sydd am rhoi cynnig iddi yw just cer amdani. Byddwch yn gwneud camgymeriadau di ri i gychwyn, ond cymerwch hi fesyl gêm a pwyll bia hi. Mae pawb eisiau bod y Nigel Owens nesaf, ond mae’n waith caled; ond does neb gallu’ch

beirniadu chi am geisio’ch gorau. Rhowch 100% i bob ymdrech a bydd y cyfleodd yn agor ar eich cyfer. Dwi’n cofio bod yn yr academi rhai blynyddoedd yn ôl, weithiau rydych chi’n cael eich gollwng, weithio rydych chi’n mynd ymhellach. Ond yn bwysigach byth, mwynhewch y profiad. Mae’n hawdd anghofio weithiau mae pwrpad rygbi yw i gael hwyl, a mae hyny’n wir i’r dyfarnwyr hefyd. “Fyddai’n aml yn dychwelyd gartref ar ôl dyfarnu gêm, ac yna’n mynd allan am beint neu ddwy gyda carfan Abercraf. Er mor broffesiynol mae’r gêm yn mynd, mae’r elfen gymdeithasol o rygbi yn bwysig, ac mae’n ymestyn i’r dyfarnwyr a swyddogion hefyd.”

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Q & A:

Bradley Davies 1) YOU ARE A SENIOR PLAYER AND HAVE BEEN AROUND THE SQUAD FOR A WHILE NOW WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHERE THE OSPREYS ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE NOW HEADING UNDER NEW HEAD COACH, TOBY BOOTH? “One thing I do know about this squad of players is that when our backs are against the wall, we come out swinging and we are good like that. We know if we are not on it, we are going to have a difficult time of things. The physical side of things hasn’t really let us down this season; it’s just performances and finding that consistency. The Ospreys were the best, when I was starting out at the Blues, I know we have dropped off now, but no stone is being unturned at this region and we want to get back to that level. The youngsters here now are going to be the next Wales stars, aren’t they? Sometimes teams go through some pain to get where you want to be. Toby Booth keeps telling us to stop dragging the past with us and to drop the anchor of the past. We now pride ourselves on our work ethic and being a tough team to crack.” 2) HOW HAVE YOU FOUND IT AS A PLAYER, PLAYING WITHOUT SUPPORTERS IN EMPTY STADIUMS? “It is pretty weird, we were playing in one game, without a crowd, and I could hear the commentators talking about the game, something you never normally would hear during a game. I was listening for my name but there wasn’t much good said, I think it was Shane and Shanks! As a player we want to be playing in front of crowds.”

Bradley Davies, Lock

3) YOU HAVE BECOME A REAL MENTOR TO THE YOUNGER PLAYERS AT THE OSPREYS, HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THAT ROLE AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT? “I am enjoying it. I was so lucky to have senior players around me when I started out. I had players like Rob Sidoli, Craig Quinnell, Paul Tito and Deiniol Jones, legends like that. All of them were great players to just be around and learn from. They really helped me starting out and maybe that has disappeared from the game a bit because of professionalism. Until you have been out there in the middle, played some games, and listened and learnt from other players, you really don’t know what it’s like. I was so lucky as a young player to have good senior pros to learn from.” 4) YOU STARTED YOUR COACHING BADGES WITH THE WRU A WHILE AGO, WHERE ARE YOU WITH THAT AND HOW IS IT GOING? “All of that I really enjoy. I have done my level three coaching badges and now I am looking at the Wales Head Coach job right now! (laughs), and then I am thinking of the Lions in the summer!”

5) TWO OF YOUR PEERS AT THE OSPREYS AND FELLOW WELSH INTERNATIONALS ALUN WYN JONES AND GEORGE NORTH HAVE ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT LANDMARKS IN THEIR CAREER RECENTLY, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS? “George is greedy. I was outside him when he scored those two tries on his Wales debut against South Africa! I was probably on the floor somewhere being beaten up by some South Africans when he scored. I have always wondered how Alun Wyn keeps training the way he does, but I think I worked it out and I told him the other day. I had a really tough uphill paper round and he was in a sailing club down the mumbles! Seriously, though, they are both great blokes and great players and work harder than most players and they deserve all the accolades that come their way.”

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PLAYER FEATURE:

sam parry Christmas came early for Sam Parry. He made his Wales debut and passed the milestone of 100 caps for the Ospreys in the last few months. But those achievements did not come easy or early in the career of the Ospreys hooker, who is one of the most respected and popular players down at the Liberty Stadium. Parry, who celebrated his 29th birthday in December, has had to work for everything he has achieved in the game. He has done it the hard way, battling adversity and coming back from serious injury. The Haverfordwest-born forward has earned everything he has done in the game and it hasn’t been easy. He was selected twice before for Wales squads, back in 2013 and 2014, but missed out on winning his Test cap back then. Six years later he finally achieved a schoolboy dream of winning his first Wales cap at the age of 28 against France. “It was nice to get the first start for Wales and to get the win and I was just really happy to have been involved,” said Parry. “There were some things I would like to improve on but on the whole it was good and I did enjoy it.“It was obviously a step up because you are playing the best players of every country. The physicality and the Sam Parry, Hooker

speed go up, but I really enjoyed testing myself against the best players from those countries.” Parry has been around for too long to get carried away with his recent landmarks of international recognition and becoming an Ospreys centurion and thoughts of Six Nations selection are definitely on the backburner. “I don’t think that far ahead, when you do you lose track of what is important and that is performing to the level I need to for the Ospreys before then,” said Parry. “If I do that and it means I get selected for Wales again, brilliant. I have four caps and if the opportunity comes again I will relish it. “As a young boy growing up, it’s something you dream of but for me, as I am a bit older now, it was about the satisfaction of all the hard work I have put in.” “The effort you put in when you are playing but also the effort of building yourself back up from the disappointment of being injured and getting back to the levels that mean you are selected for international rugby.”

Parry’s recognition at international level with Wales is recognition and resilience he has shown with the Ospreys. It is also symbolic of the influence of new Head Coach, Toby Booth and the competition for places for the hooker berth developing within the squad. It has driven him to achieve what he had both at Test level and with the Ospreys. He has gone from competing for places with Scott Baldwin for a place in the side to now being driven on with the competition with Scott Otten, Dewi Lake and Ifan Phillips for the No2 jersey. Parry marked his 100th appearance for the Ospreys with a personal two-try display in the victory over Castres in the recent European Challenge Cup clash at the Liberty Stadium. For a player renowned for putting his body on the line for the cause, it was time for reflection of a personal milestone and one he is proud of. “It means a lot to me,” said Parry. “I have had to face a fair bit of adversity with injuries to get there. I am really proud to have made 100 appearances for the Ospreys. “I have had to work hard for it, I haven’t had anything given to me, so everything I have achieved I have had to work really hard for. That makes me appreciate it a little bit more.”

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SCARLETS Rugby HEAD COACH: GLENN DELANEY GROUNDS: PARC Y SCARLETS FOUNDED: 2003 CAPTAIN: KEN OWENS TOP TRY SCORER: WAYNE PROCTOR (173)

LAST TIME OUT There are few rivalries more highly anticipated than that of Ospreys and Scarlets. Two teams separated by the river Llwchwr; and brought together every festive period for a seismic clash. A year ago, the Scarlets hosted the Ospreys in Llanelli and bagged the bragging right for another year with an impressive 44-0 victory. Historically, however, the Ospreys have fared better than the westernmost region; having faced each other 30 times in the Guinness PRO14 to date, Scarlets have come out on top in just 11 of those encounters, with Ospreys claiming 18 victories, and the two sharing the spoils on one occasion. In their most recent clash, albeit a training game, the Ospreys came away from Parc y Scarlets with a 15-25 victory.

THREE TO WATCH

Steff Evans The Llanelli born winger loves to come in searching for action and is often in the thick of things when the Scarlets cross the try line. Still only 26-years old, Evans made his international debut

for Wales in 2017, going on to earn a further 11 caps and has 30 points to his name thus far. A mainstay in the Scarlets line up, Evans is an adventurous attacker and will need to be well contained to prevent the Scarlets making headway out wide.

Josh Macleod The dynamic back rower was unlucky to have missed the Autumn Nations Cup, having been named in Wayne Pivac’s Wales squad, but suffered an injury a week out and missed the entire competition. However, Macleod has recovered swiftly and will be rearing to go in his return to Guinness PRO14 action. A versatile player, Macleod has successfully plied his trade across the back row and is as comfortable running out in the wide channels as he is pilfering ball at the breakdown and carrying into contact. Sione Kalamafoni At 6ft 2in and over 19st, the Tongan international loose forward has a wealth of experience of top flight rugby, having represented Nottingham 42 times, earning 106 appearances for Gloucester between 2012 and 2017, a three year, 64 appearance stint for Leicester Tigers, and 33 appearances for Tonga. Kalamafoni has made 71 carries so far this season, (joint third behind Leinster’s Rhys Ruddock and Ulster’s Marcell Coetzee) and an industrious tackler with 97 successful tackles (just one behind Cardiff Blues duo Kristian Dacey and Josh Turnbull who are joint first in the competition).

HEAD-TO-HEAD Leigh Halfpenny There is no doubting Leigh Halfpennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class and quality. Starting life as a hard-running winger with the Cardiff Blues, Halfpenny transitioned to fullback and never looked back, enjoying his time abroad with Toulon before returning home. British and Irish Lions player of the series in 2013, Halfpenny is nearing his 100th cap for Wales and has clocked up 815 international points so far. The 32-year-old has rediscovered some of his attacking flair and will be keen to make his mark on the game in what is one of the biggest dates in the calendar for Welsh rugby. Dan Evans Ospreys look a different team with Swansea born Dan Evans at fullback. The counter-attacking mastermind took his Ospreys tally to 250 points with his try over Castres Olympique in the European Challenge Cup. Evans has a useful left boot, immaculate positioning, and an eye for a gap when on the run. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a mystery to many why the Welsh speaking fullback, making his 150th appearance against his former side, has only earned two caps for Wales.

DAN EVANS

LEIGH HALFPENNY

AGE

Swansea, Wales

PLACE OF BIRTH

Swansea, Wales

6ft

HEIGHT

5ft 10in

14st 9lbs

WEIGHT

13st 6lbs

149

LEAGUE APPEARANCES

LEAGUE TRIES

250

LEAGUE POINTS

432

STATISTICS HEAD-TO-HEAD OSPREYS

SCARLETS

10TH

ATTACK RANK

9TH

130

POINTS SCORED

109

TRIES SCORED

DEFENDERS BEATEN

102

4TH

DEFENCE RANK

8TH

1069

TACKLES MADE

954

89%

TACKLE SUCCESS

89%

TURNOVERS WON

2ND

KICKING RANK

7TH

10 / 2

PENALTIES SCORED / MISSED

14 / 5

10 / 2

CONVERSIONS SCORED / MISSED

6 /5

KICK METRES

5177

5939

STATISTICS HEAD-TO-HEAD OSPREYS

SCARLETS

4TH

DISCIPLINE RANK

10TH

YELLOW CARDS

RED CARDS

PENALTIES CONCEDED

LINEOUT RANK

80 / 20

LINEOUTS WON / LOST

89 / 19

81%

LINEOUT SUCCESS

79%

LINEOUT STEALS

6TH

SCRUM RANK

6TH

51 / 3

SCRUMS WON / LOST

47 / 3

94%

SCRUMS WON %

94%

SCRUM PENALTIES WON

69 12

SCARLETS RUGBY TEAM LINEUP

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ozzies army It’s that time of the year we’ve all been waiting for. Forget Christmas. Forget Boxing Day sales. Forget New Year’s Eve and any other winter parties… this is the day on the calendar that everyone prepares for more than any other. It’s the big one. The west Wales derby. Ospreys v Scarlets. It’s a wonderful occasion where normally fans from both side of the Llwchwr come together in their droves of scarlet and black to support their respective teams. Unfortunately, this year is the exception, with the pandemic forcing supporters to stay at home this year. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still show your support! Remember to pull on some Ospreys kit, hang a banner in your window, put a message of support on social media, and shout the house down when you see your favourite team run out. It’s your last chance to support the Ospreys this year, so make it as big and loud as possible! Mae’r amser yna’r flwyddyn wedi cyrraedd unwaith eto. Anghofiwch y Nadolig. Anghofiwch dydd San Steffan. Anghofiwch nos galan… dyma’r diwrnod sydd yn cyffroi pawb mwy nag unrhyw un arall. Yr un mawr. Yr un pwysig. Darbi’r gorllewin. Fel arfer, mae’n achlysur anhygoel lle ddaw llu o gefnogwyr o naill ochr y

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Llwchwr at eu gilydd yn eu crysau scarlet a duon i gefnogi eu tîmau. Yn anffodus, eleni mae’r pandemig wedi gorfodi ni i gyd i aros adref. Fodd bynnag, dydy hyny ddim yn golygu na fedrwch gefnogi’ch tîm. Cofiwch wisgo cit y Gweilch, rhowch faner yn eich ffenestri, danfonwch neges i ni ar gyfryngau cymdeithasol, a floeddiwch lawr y stryd pan welwch chi eich hoff dîm ar y cae. Dyma fydd eich cyfle olaf i gefnogi’r Gweilch eleni, felly byddwch mor frwd a swnllyd a phosib!

Where’s the ball?

Ble mae’r bêl?

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OSC Hoffai Clwb Cefnogwyr y Gweilch estyn croeso cynnes iawn i chwaraewyr, swyddogion a chefnogwyr y Scarlets heddiw ! Mwynhewch y gêm The Ospreys Supporters Club would like to extend a warm welcome to the Scarlets players, officials and supporters today! Enjoy the match! Roedd yn ganlyniad gwych i’r Gweilch yn erbyn Castres Olympique, gyda phump cais a phwynt bonws yn y bag, yn stod ein gêm yn Abertawe pythefnos yn ôl! Wedyn, taith lan i Gaerwrangon a phump pwynt mwy, yn dilyn berfformiad sylweddol, unwaith eto! Mae’r ymgyrch Ewrop yn dechrau edrych yn gobeithol iawn! It was a fantastic result against Castres Olympique, with five points in the bag during our last game here in Swansea. Then a trip up to Worcester, resulted in another five points, following a noteable performance! Our European campaign is beginning to look quite hopeful!

New OSC Sponsors

Noddwyr Newydd CCG! We are delighted to announce that we have, not one but two new sponsors! Here is a brief introduction to both of our sponsors! Croeso cynnes iawn Cefnogwyr y Gweilch!

Glwb

A very warm welcome to the Ospreys Supporters Club!

Evans Brewery, Llandeilo, have kindly agreed to sponsor the OSC, we are excited about forming this new partnership! Purveyors of fine

beer, the company are eager to provide offers for OSC members and we look forward to sharing these with you, in the very near future!! Cheers! Rydyn with ein bodd, croesawu ein noddwyr newydd, sef Bragdy Evans, Llandeilo!

Evans Brewery Player of the Month

Bragwyr Evans Chwaraewr y Mis

Cyhoeddwn manylion cynnigion yn y dyfodol agos! Iechyd da!

We are delighted to announce that you, the supporters, selected new singing, Matthew Protheroe as your OSC Player of the month! Since arriving from Bristol, Waunarlwydd RFC product Mat has delighted us with his inspirational running and creative play! Congratulations Matthew and we look forward to presenting you with your Grogg, in the Riverside, when circumstances allow!

Cwpan Rygbi’r Byd 2023 / Rugby World Cup 2023

Mae’ r cefnogwyr wedi dewis Matthew Protheroe fel Chwaraewr y Mis am Fis Tachwedd! Ers cyraedd o Fryste, mae Mat wedi adloni ni gyda’ i rhedeg ysbrydoledig a chwarae creadugol! Llongyfarchiadau Matthew!

Our sponsors sportsbreak.com are delighted to offer packages for the forthcoming competition!

You can vote for your December POM, by visiting our website, www.ospreyssupportersclub.com

Future Star

Seren yn y Dyfodol Pleser yw cyflwyno ein seren heddiw, sy’n dod o Gorseinon ac yn chwarae dros ei dîm lleol! Max Hobson! Pob lwyddiant yn y dyfodol Max ! Today we are delighted to feature, future Osprey Max Hobson. I will hand over to Max’s ever so proud mother, Abi, herself a massive Ospreys supporter, for a quick bio! “This is Max from Loughor. He is 6 years old and has been playing rugby at Gorseinon since he was 4. Max loves his rugby and really enjoys being part of a team with his friends. Max went to watch Wales play for the first time in 2019 and absolutely loved it. Since then he has asked when will he get to play in the big stadium with his

friends. When he is not playing rugby, Max also enjoys swimming, football and gymnastics!” Cyhoeddwn manylion cynnigion yn y dyfodol agos! Iechyd da!

If you have a budding future star, please send a short bio and jpeg image to, keitho@ospreyssupportersclub.com

Ospreys in the Community Ospreys in the Community are delighted to welcome Rhodri Davies to the team as our new Community Hub Officer at Llangatwg Comprehensive School. Funded by Onlwyn and Glynneath Wind Farm Projects, and the Wlesh Rugby Union, Rhodri will work across a cluster of schools and local clubs in the area to develop rugby interest and talent among boys and girls across the region to all ages and abilities. Rhodri may already be known to those of you who have attended our rugby camps and club nights throughout the region, where he has delivered engaging activities as one of the WRUs Rugby Development apprentices. The fomer Maesteg Comprehensive School student has plenty of experience both on and off the field to bring to his new position with OitC having played previously for Maesteg Quins and currently

Nantyffyllon RFC. Rhodri has also taken part in some of our TACKLE sessions on a part time basis, working with disaffected young people, aged between 12-24, who are disconnected with school, employment or education helping them create a better future and giving them opportunities to gain qualifications and employability experience. Speaking about his new role, Rhodri said: “It was great to be working as part of the TACKLE team on a part time basis, but I’m very excited to now have a full time role within the Ospreys in the Community team. I’m looking forward to the new challenge ahead and excelling in my new role.” Croeso Rhodri!

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