Tonight's rugby news as full cost of Cardiff acquisition emerges and Welsh star back from Australia
The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Friday, April 11.
Welsh star returns from Australia
Bridgend Ravens have welcomed back star centre Ryan Wilkins just three weeks after he left Wales to pursue a playing opportunity in Australia.
The former Cardiff academy product has impressed in Super Rygbi Cymru this season, with head coach Scott Baldwin revealing earlier in the campaign that he had attracted interest from Gallagher Premiership sides and a Welsh region, as well as teams in the RFU Championship and the French Pro D2.
Last month it was confirmed that Wilkins would in fact be leaving Brewery Field and heading Down Under to link up with Perth-based club Palmyra and play in the Fortescue Premier Grade - the highest level of domestic club rugby played in Western Australia.
The 22-year-old admitted he was "not putting a timescale" on the move and had booked a "one-way flight" to Perth, leaving on March 22. However, just three weeks later, he will now make a swift return to action for Bridgend with the club confirming he "is back from his stint in Australia and straight back into the matchday squad".
Wilkins has been named among the replacements for the Super Rygbi Cymru clash with Carmarthen Quins on Saturday afternoon, as Baldwin's side look to protect their spot in the play-off places.
Ahead of flying out to Australia, the centre had said: "I'm not sure how long I'll be over there. I've got a one-way flight at this point.
"Hopefully I'll take what I've learned this year to Australia and I can pick up things over there. If I did want to come back, I've had a chat to Scott at Bridgend. He'd love me to come back, but he wants me to enjoy my rugby and pick something up out here. He's been brilliant.
"He said he was gutted to see me go, but he understands why I'm doing it. It's something I've always wanted to do, especially after doing my ACL.. I said to my parents a few years ago that it's always been in the back of my mind, exploring a new lifestyle and style of rugby. When it came up, it felt too big an opportunity to turn down."
WRU reveals cost of Cardiff acquisition
By PA Sport Staff
The Welsh Rugby Union has revealed that its acquisition of Cardiff cost approximately £780,000.
The WRU took control of Cardiff on Wednesday after the club’s legal entity, Cardiff Rugby Limited, was placed temporarily into administration. The move has saved an estimated 150 jobs, including that of the players, according to the WRU, and all match tickets, sponsorships and hospitality will be honoured.
WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood said: “Despite being owned by the WRU, our intention is to treat Cardiff as an independent rugby club, similar to the other regional sides and the WRU will assume the role of ‘owner’.
“We wanted to provide a safe harbour whilst we draw breath and look at what’s right in the longer term.
“The immediate cost of the acquisition amounted to around £780,000, which paid for the assets and funded the costs of the administration and includes the assumption of £300,000 debt.
“Various key supplier contracts were transferred to the WRU subsidiary to enable the Cardiff Rugby business to continue to trade.”
WRU CEO Abi Tierney said: “Our team worked hard to minimise the disruption to the players, employees and stakeholders of Cardiff Rugby and we welcome our colleagues at Cardiff Rugby into the WRU family.”
The WRU also confirmed that its chief operating officer Leighton Davies and chief data and digital officer Steve King have been appointed as the two directors of the club.
Cardiff are currently ninth in the United Rugby Championship and return to action on April 19, where they face rivals Ospreys as part of Welsh rugby’s Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium.
They then take on Munster, the Bulls and Stormers in the URC in the hope of clinching a play-off place, which is awarded to teams who finish in the top eight.
Wales hopeful pens new deal
Wales international Rhys Davies has signed a new deal to stay at the Ospreys.
The Swansea-born forward has made 69 appearances for his hometown club since moving back to the region in 2020 and impressed in the Challenge Cup win over the Scarlets last weekend following his return from injury, having been sidelined since January.
Davies has been tipped to add to his tally of three Wales caps in the coming months, with former Ospreys star Alex Cuthbert saying he will be “100% going on the summer tour” to Japan.
After signing his new deal, the 26-year-old said: "It’s great for me to be continuing my career at my hometown club. A lot of my best mates are here, some that I have grown up playing with, and I feel grateful to be sharing this experience with them.
“I had a long time out with the injury I had, but having the support of the boys, the staff at the Ospreys and my family helped me massively in getting back out onto the pitch.
“The next stage for me now is to keep putting in the hard work and helping to push the club back to where it should be," Davies added. "This group is capable of doing something special, we all play for each other and that shows on a gameday.”
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones added: “I think I can speak for everyone at the club, and our supporters, when I say how happy we are that Rhys has committed his future to the Ospreys.
“He had a tough time out with injury, but he was incredible on his return last time out. That personified the work he’s done behind the scenes to get back, and the work of our medical and S&C team.
“Rhys is a real difference maker for us, whether it’s at set piece time, or in the loose, and he showed that on the weekend. We’re excited to see how he builds on that and by what the future holds with Rhys in an Ospreys jersey.”
Young Wales side stun Ireland
Wales U18s have beaten Ireland 32-24 in the opening round of the Six Nations Festival in Vichy, France.
Despite conceding a try in the opening two minutes, Wales fired back with tries from Thomas Howe and Kai Jones, while Llandovery College star Carwyn Leggatt-Jones knocked over three successive penalties to put his side into a 17-7 half-time lead.
After the break, Leggatt-Jones helped to stretch his side's lead, but Ireland fired back with a converted try from hooker Lee Fitzpatrick, before a score from Connor McVicker reduced Wales' lead to a single point.
Wales edged ahead again as scrum-half Carter Pritchard darted over, with Leggatt-Jones putting them 12 points clear from the tee, but Ireland kept themselves in a contest with a try from Frank Maher.
However, Wales were able to capitalise on a yellow card to Bobby Colbert, with Brogan Leary crossing in the corner to secure the win and deny Ireland a losing bonus point.
The Six Nations U18s festival involves Georgia, Italy, England, Scotland, France, Spain, Wales and Ireland, with four 70-minute matches taking place on each of the three game days. Rolling substitutions are in force to allow all players to get game-time.
"International rugby is completely new for these boys and this programme exposes them to this level of the game," said Wales U18s head coach Richie Pugh prior to the tournament. "They learn good lessons and it is great we will get the chance to play Italy again at the end of the festival.
"Georgia beat France and pushed England all the way last year and we all know the physical edge they will bring to their games. It will be three big tests for the boys. There is real potential within this group and the whole purpose of this programme is to expose players to different environments, styles and challenges."
Wales will play Georgia on Monday at 5.30pm, while the Italians await on Friday at 10am.