The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond
Here are your rugby evening headlines for Friday, May 22.
St Helen’s work begins
Work has begun on the redevelopment of St Helen’s as the Ospreys prepare to move there next season.
On Friday, the club posted images on social media of a digger beginning work. The club’s first game back in Swansea is pencilled in for this October, with Mark Jones’ side beginning their United Rugby Championship season with three consecutive away games.
There’s plenty of work to be done ahead of that clash with the Dragons on October 24.
Fans will be delighted to see work starting in any form, given the uncertainty that the move to St Helen’s has been blighted with.
The club had initially planned to play there this season, but that ultimately didn’t materialise – with the Ospreys instead spending a season in Bridgend.
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The off-field uncertainty around the club also saw Swansea Council refuse to release the full funding for redevelopment until the Ospreys’ future was guaranteed.
However, a deal has since been struck – allowing work to begin.
The Ospreys say that, due to the scale of redevelopment, the project will be delivered through a phased approach – allowing the club to play there next season.
On X, the club confirmed that the “permanent main stand won’t go in for phase one due to the timescales”.
English club announce exodus
Newcastle Red Bulls have announced that 26 players will leave the club this summer when their contracts expire.
The club are set to finish bottom of the Gallagher Prem – having won just one game all season. But, with new backing from the energy drink giants, they have signed 23 new players ahead of next year.
That does mean a whole host of their playing pool will move on.
Wales legend Liam Williams and Italy hooker Hame Faiva have already announced their retirements earlier in the season.
Scrum-half Sam Stuart departs after 134 appearances for the club over the last nine years.
Wing Elliott Obatoyinbo is also leaving, as are locks Seb de Chaves and Jamie Hodgson.
Back-row Tom Gordon leaves after two years, while a number of last year’s summer signings – including Amanaki Mafi, Boeta Chamberlain, Stefan Coetzee and Fergus Lee-Warner – are all heading for the exit door.
Chamberlain had been linked with a move to the Ospreys, but the Welsh club have poured cold water on that particular story.
Former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones has been in charge of Newcastle for most of this season, having stepped up from being attack coach to replace Alan Dickens.
The Welshman will revert to his preferred role next season, with Dan McFarland taking over.
Caelan Doris urges Leinster to take the game to Bordeaux in Champions Cup final
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent
Caelan Doris has urged his Leinster team-mates to rise to the occasion in Saturday’s Investec Champions Cup final in Bilbao by imposing themselves on Bordeaux.
Leo Cullen’s side return to the setting for the most recent of their four European triumphs in 2018 when they edged Racing 92 15-12.
They have since lost in the final three times – on each occasion to French opposition – but Doris is determined for them to take the game to current champions Bordeaux.
“A lot of it is down to trusting. Trusting the group and trusting the ability to trust each other,” the Leinster captain said.
“In the big games you just want to attack it and narrow it down, not think of it as one big massive occasion.
“Moment by moment there are going to be a lot of fights and a big part of it is enjoying it because these are the days that you strive for.
“At the start of the season you’re looking to be on this stage and there are all the sacrifices that the squad, the staff and families have made over the years to get us to a point like this. So we need to attack it properly and enjoy it as well.”
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Bilbao is experiencing a heatwave with Saturday’s temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees for a showdown with one of the game’s most dangerous sides with the ball in hand.
“It’s very different to back home but we have all played in conditions like this with humidity and temperatures right up there,” Doris said.
“A few of us were talking about how the Romania game in the 2023 World Cup was something similar and maybe a bit higher. You just get on with it.
“The medical and nutrition team will manage things. You break it down into smaller pieces in your mind rather than one big thing you’re attacking. Moment by moment.”
Leinster have picked the same starting XV that overcame Toulon 29-25 in the semi-finals but have strengthened their bench with the return of Paddy McCarthy and Tadhg Furlong from injury.
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