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MATCH DAY PROGRAMME
CONTENTS TOBY BOOTH’S WELCOME
WIN MATCH DAY TICKETS!
WELSH RUGBY TERMS
PLAYER Q&A: MORGAN STRONG SPOTLIGHT: G. THOMAS
OPPOSITION: RACING 92
OPPOSITION: ULSTER RUGBY
OSPREYS IN THE COMMUNITY
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST: S. CROSS
STARTING XV’S
OSPREYS SUPPORTERS CLUB
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A warm welcome to this Heineken Champions Cup pool stage match as we anticipate once again elite clubs and top players producing the brilliance and drama which have for long been the trademarks of our truly world-class tournament. The two fixtures this month will determine the eight clubs in each pool which will qualify for the knockout stage and continue on the road to the Marseille finals weekend, so the stakes are high. We can then look forward to an innovative Round of 16 with home and away legs, followed by traditional quarter-finals and semi-finals which will guarantee a further series of compelling matches culminating in the 2022 showpiece final at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday, 28 May. In addition, the three clubs ranked ninth to 11th in each pool will have the opportunity to compete for silverware by qualifying for the knockout stage of the EPCR Challenge Cup. We are delighted to be joined on this season’s journey to Marseille by our long-standing title partner, Heineken, as well as by our newest official partner, DHL, who are providing customised logistics solutions for both the Heineken Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup, and we would also like to thank Tissot, the Financial Times, Gilbert and Kappa for their continuing support.
We acknowledge the superb coverage provided by our TV partners BT Sport, beIN SPORTS, France Télévisions, Channel 4, Virgin Media, S4C and Sky Italia whose output is complemented by the wide range of linear and OTT platforms which broadcast the Heineken Champions Cup globally. We recognise that these are particularly challenging times for players, club staff and supporters, however, rest assured that we are continuing to work with the leagues and unions so that as many fixtures as possible can be played safely.
We remain optimistic that this season’s tournament will be completed successfully, and on behalf of all at EPCR, enjoy the match and best wishes to you, the fans, as well as to your club’s players and staff for what promises to be a compelling conclusion to the pool stage. Yours in rugby, Dominic McKay, EPCR Chairman (interim)
WELCOME
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“They are without question one of the best teams in Europe and many will see us as underdogs for this game, and rightly so but we are relishing the prospect of testing ourselves against the best. “Racing are a squad full of international players from around the world and it will be a real challenge for us as a group of coaches and players.”
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11 DYSGWCH EICH TERMAU RYGBI GYMRAEG ENGLISH TERM
TERM GYMRAEG
TERMES FRANÇAIS
TRY
CAIS
UN ESSAI
CONVERSION
TROSIAD
UNE TRANSFORMATION
PENALTY GOAL
GÔL GOSB
UNE PÉNALITÉ
DROP GOAL
GÔL ADLAM
UN DROP
ENGLISH TERM
TERM GYMRAEG
TERMES FRANÇAIS
REFEREE
DYFARNWR
L’ARBITRE
LINESMAN
LLIMANWR
JUGE DE TOUCHE
CALLING THE MARK
GALW’R MARC
FAIRE UN ARRÊT DE VOLÉE
FIELD OF PLAY
MAES Y CHWARAE
LE TERRAIN
HIGH TACKLE
TACL UCHEL
UN PLAQUAGE HAUT
PROP
PROP
UN PILIER
HOOKER
BACHWR
UN TALONNEUR
SECOND ROW
AIL RHENG
LA DEUXIÈME LIGNE
FLANKER
BLAEN ASGELLWR
UN TROISIÈME LIGNE AILE
NUMBER EIGHT
WYTHWR
UN TROISIÈME LIGNE CENTRE
SCRUMHALF
MEWNWR
UN DEMI DE MÊLÉE
OUTSIDE HALF
MASWR
UN DEMI D’OUVERTURE
CENTRE
CANOLWR
UN CENTRE
WINGER
ASGELLWR
UN AILIER
FULLBACK
CEFNWR
UN ARRIÈRE
SUBSTITUTE
EILYDD
UN REMPLAÇANT
14 MORGAN STRONG
“My first memory of the Ospreys was when Gavin Henson was playing here. I remember having the jersey and Lee Byrne, who was from Bridgend, played for the team. I remember the first time they won their first title and it was just massive for everyone. Players like Tommy Bowe were just great to watch and that’s where the Ospreys want to be.”
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WHO WILL BE NEXT?
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THE GREATEST WEEKEND IN RUGBY 27-28 MAY, STADE VÉLODROME
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GARETH THOMAS GARETH THOMAS
The loosehead prop’s emergence during Toby Booth’s reign as Head Coach at the Ospreys, means there are three international calibre props competing for the No 1 jersey. And Thomas, Nicky Smith and Rhodri Jones are all doing the same at Test level with Wales. All three are carrying the torch of the tradition of being loosehead props for the Ospreys READ MORE and Wales.
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If exceptional tries are what you like, you can always count on ASM Clermont Auvergne wing, Damian Penaud, to deliver. Fans witnessed some great scores in Round 1 of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup including Penaud’s spectacular effort against Ulster Rugby. “Great break from JJ Hanrahan to expose the opposition front row and beat him one-on-one, followed by a perfectly-timed pass to Penaud, who has the kick accuracy, speed and a worldclass finish to score a superb try,” was how BT Sport’s Sam Waburton described the score. Warburton’s verdict, combined with the public’s votes, determined the winner, and although Penaud fully deserved the accolade, it was a close call between his effort and Anthony Jelonch’s memorable try for Stade Toulousain against Cardiff Rugby.
EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR
For the sixth season in a row, the Try of the Round activation is launched on the Monday after each round, and fans will also be able to vote for the Try of the Season immediately after the Finals Weekend next May. Cheslin Kolbe won the award for the best try last season, Juan Imhoff topped the poll in 2019/20, then it was Maxime Médard in 2018/19, Tadhg Beirne in 2017/18, and first of all, Nick Abendanon back in 2016/17. Who will succeed all these great names of European club rugby? You can make the difference by voting for your favourite!
YOUR ACCE S S TO T H E H E ART OF EURO PE A N RU G BY H AS NEVE R BE E N BE T T E R
HEINEKENCHAMPIONSCUP.COM
#HeinekenChampionsCup
FOUNDED 2001 CAPTAIN HENRY CHAVANCY HEAD COACH LAURENT TRAVERS GROUNDS PARIS LA DÉFENSE CURRENT FORM L L W L W
RACING 92 Racing Club was actually founded 132 years ago in 1890, but didn’t emerge as they are known today until their merging with US Métro in 2001. It’s surprising to think that until 2009, Racing competed in the second division French league and were promoted to the Top 14 after being crowned champions of the Pro D2. Since then, Racing 92 have won the French championship and reached the Champions Cup final on three occasions. The Parisians currently sit 8th in the Top 14 table. Known for its superstar squad and theatrical home ground, Racing is a formidable opponent for any team, boasting a winning record of 41 wins, 4 draws, and 32 losses in the competition. Ospreys have come up against Racing 92 on five occasions, losing four and drawing one game. However, Racing 92 have a losing record when they hit the road, winning 15 and losing or drawing 23 away from home. A big challenge lies ahead.
RADAR
GAËL FICKOU
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You’d be forgiven for thinking Fickou a much older man based on his experience and 66 caps for France; but the 6ft 3in, 16st centre is still only 27 years old, and made his international debut 9 years ago. Fickou’s pace and stature makes him a versatile player, capable of playing on the wing or in the centre, and can vary his game from being a battering ram to cross the gain line to a weaving trickster. Previously of Toulouse and Stade Français, it’s worth keeping an eye on this Frenchman.
JUAN IMHOFF If it’s outright pace that gets you out of your seat, then look no further than the Argentinan international, Imhoff. The speedster has aged like a fine wine within this Racing 92 team, joining over a decade ago and tallying 50 tries for his side in 118 appearances. Not a bad strike rate at all.
WENCESLAS LAURET Lauret can play at both lock and in the back row and is an impressive athlete in either position. Born in Tarbes in France, the 32-year-old, formerly of Biarritz, joined the rising Racing 92 squad in 2013 and has since represented them 131 times, and has racked up 27 international appearances to his name too. A natural leader, Lauret is never far from the heart of the action, and can be found relishing the loose play as much as the nitty gritty of the work up front.
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IN THE COMMUNITY
Our ever popular 3-day rugby camps are back at the Ospreys High Performance Centre for February half term! We kick things off on Monday 21st February where children aged 6-12 can join us on our 3-day camp where they not only get to hone those rugby skills, but also make friends and have lots of fun!
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SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
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STARTING G. THOMAS D. LAKE T. FRANCIS R. DAVIES A. BEARD W. GRIFFITHS J. MORGAN E. ROOTS R. WEBB (C) G. ANSCOMBE L. MORGAN K. WILLIAMS O. WATKIN A. CUTHBERT M. PROTHEROE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
E. B. AROUS T. BAUBIGNY A. OZ L. JONES B. PALU I. DIALLO B. CHOUZENOUX A. HEMERY M. MACHENAUD F. RUSSELL J. IMHOFF G. FICKOU O. KLEMENCZAK T. THOMAS K. BEALE
The Shr li
SUBSTITUTES E. TAIONE
16
J. MAÏAU
N. SMITH
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G. GOGICHASHVILI
M. FIA
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C. GOMES SA
W. HICKEY
19
V. MOREAUX
S. CROSS
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C. CHAT
R. MORGAN-WILLIAMS
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A. GIBERT
J. THOMAS
22
V. VAKATAWA
M. COLLINS
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38 SUPPORTERS CLUB There can be few Ospreys supporters that weren’t disappointed with the result at the Sports Ground, Galway last weekend. Dreadful conditions did little to ease the difficulty of playing Connacht in their home fortress, but today is a different challenge, which sees us welcome the men of Ulster here to the home of Ospreys Rugby. There is little doubt that we will have to be on our best form, to be successful tonight.
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