These are your rugby headlines on Sunday, April 14.
Wales duo close to return to motion
Wales duo Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake will journey out to South Africa this week as they close to their return with the Ospreys.
The Ospreys will fly out to South Africa on Tuesday as they begin the ultimate run-in of their United Rugby Championship marketing campaign.
Toby Booth’s aspect face matches in opposition to the Stormers and Bulls as they goal to safe a play-off place they usually’ll be boosted by the return of Wales’ World Cup co-captains.
Lake has been out injured with a hamstring harm since January, whereas Morgan underwent knee surgical procedure in December. When requested if the travelling social gathering to South Africa will embrace the pair, Booth mentioned: “It will, for positive. That’s a welcome addition coming again within the subsequent few weeks.
“That will definitely assist and take the strain off the squad. We’ll in all probability decide up with the Cheetahs boys once we’re over there, each our children but additionally the boys which were over there this yr.
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“It’s a troublesome schedule. But I’d fairly be in a troublesome schedule with one thing to play for fairly than nothing in any respect. We’ve simply spoken as a group in there round their emotional and bodily restoration.
“We’re not going to do an excessive amount of earlier than we go to South Africa as a result of we won’t, with the numbers now we have and the bodily factor. But as soon as we land in South Africa, we have to be leaving the previous behind us and getting on with the brand new as a result of that is all we are able to do.”
Region face massive choice on ex-All Black
The Scarlets need to preserve maintain of former All Blacks star Vaea Fifita who’s attracting curiosity from France and Japan.
The 31-year-old has a yr to run on his Scarlets contract and could be a horny proposition for many golf equipment. WalesOn-line understands the Scarlets could be ready to promote Fifita if the fitting supply got here in however their choice could be to retain the Tonga worldwide and are discussing the potential for extending his contract.
Fifita is among the most naturally gifted gamers within the United Rugby Championship along with his athleticism and lineout prowess an enormous asset to the Scarlets.
The west Walians succeeded in retaining influential second-row Sam Lousi and the hope is Fifita will observe go well with however his future will change into so much clearer over the approaching weeks.
Sharks and Clermont by means of to semi-finals
By PA Sport employees
Edinburgh exited the EPCR Challenge Cup after struggling a 36-30 quarter-final defeat in opposition to the Sharks in Durban.
Despite main narrowly at half-time, Edinburgh had been finally undone by a Sharks group that put poor United Rugby Championship kind to at least one aspect. Prop Pierre Schoeman, flanker Hamish Watson and hooker Dave Cherry – within the recreation’s last play – scored Edinburgh’s tries, whereas fly-half Ben Healy kicked three penalties and three conversions.
But Sharks’ superior firepower was underlined by means of touchdowns from centre Lukhanyo Am, flanker James Venter and hooker Bongi Mbonambi.Fly-half Siya Masuku transformed all three tries and kicked 4 penalties for an 18-point haul, whereas Curwin Bosch booted a late penalty as Sharks moved right into a semi-final in opposition to Clermont Auvergne.
Clermont crushed Ulster at Stade Marcel-Michelin because the French heavyweights ran in seven tries. Back-row ahead Nick Timoney touched down twice for Ulster, with each scores transformed by scrum-half John Cooney, however the guests had no reply to Clermont’s tempo and all-court recreation.
Number-eight Pita-Gus Sowakula scored two tries, as did flanker Peceli Yato, whereas Alex Newsome, Rob Simmons and Joris Jurand additionally breached the Ulster defence as Clermont romped home by means of 33 unanswered second-half factors. Fly-half Anthony Belleau kicked 4 conversions and two penalties, with Bautista Delguy and Sebastien Bezy every touchdown a conversion.
Leinster finish La Rochelle’s Champions Cup hopes
By PA Sport Staff
Leinster emphatically ended La Rochelle’s bid for a hat-trick of Investec Champions Cup titles by beating them 40-13 on the Aviva Stadium.
Ronan O’Gara’s group defeated Leinster within the final two finals by a mixed margin of simply 4 factors.
But La Rochelle’s quest for silverware ended on the quarter-final stage this time round as Leinster marched on in pursuit of a record-equalling fifth event triumph.
Wing James Lowe (2), scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, flanker Ryan Baird and hooker Dan Sheehan scored tries, whereas fly-half Ross Byrne kicked three conversions and three penalties as Leinster by no means seemed in peril of struggling one other loss to their fierce rivals.
La Rochelle noticed prop Louis Penverne go over for a attempt on the stroke of half-time, with Antoine Hastoy including two penalties and a conversion. But they had been blown away in the course of the second interval, failing to attain some extent, as Leinster stormed into one more Champions Cup semi-final
