In Cardiff Blues’ recent defeat to the Glasgow Warriors, Filo Paulo, Cardiff’s New Zealand born lock, hit Jonny Gray, Warriors’ lock, with a meaty challenge that sent the younger brother of Lion Richie hurtling to the ground.

Gray would have the last laugh, however, as Warriors would go on to claim a relatively comfortable win in what has been a great start to the season for the Scottish side.

Youtube Credit: Habi Aftabi

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A clause in Sam Warburton’s dual WRU-Cardiff Blues contract dictates that the open-side can only make sixteen appearances for the Blues each season.

Warburton missed the Blues’ defeat to Ulster last weekend and it was originally thought that the former Lions’ captain absence was due to player management, but, today, the Arms Park club’s Director of Rugby, Mark Hammett, revealed that Warburton, under the terms of his new deal, can only represent the Blues on sixteen occasions per season.

However, Hammett, speaking to the BBC, stated that it was at Cardiff’s discretion when the twenty five year old would play and not the WRU’s, who pay 60% of Warburton’s salary.

“From game time there’s a figure of 16 games… we are not told when a player can or can’t play,”Hammett admitted.

“But we have agreed to negotiate and talk together with the player.

“So if we use Sam as an example, we talk with Sam, obviously the Blues and the Welsh Rugby Union to work out what is the best schedule for Sam – not just what’s best for Wales or what’s best for the Blues, but a combination.

“I’ve had those conversations around Sam with Gats [Wales coach Warren Gatland], with Sam himself.

“We’ve got to keep in mind because of the way rugby is there are injuries, there are illnesses, things like that so it’s a living document, it’s a best guess in a way.”

Source of information: Planet Rugby

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This is what is known in the Rugby-sphere as a meat and two veg tackle as Sam Hobb’s of Cardiff Blues rumbled Ulster’s South African born Irish international back-row Robbie Diack.

Diack would have the last laugh, however, as his side, Ulster, would cruise to a 26-9 win at Arms Park

Clip Credit: Le-Rugbynistere-Daily Motion

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Remarkably, according to reports in the French media, Leigh Halfpenny’s Toulon future is in peril after the Mediterranean clubs president, Mourad Boudjellal, claimed that the Lions star could have his contract annulled.

The former Cardiff Blues full-back had surgery on a shoulder complaint at the end of last season and has had his Toulon debut placed on ice as he awaits the green light in his recovery from a groin niggle.

Halfpenny’s injury issues have prompted Boudjellal to claim that Toulon might take what would be seen as a harsh step in cancelling the Welshman’s contract.

In the French publication, Varmatin, Boudjellal, Toulon’s eccentric President was quoted as saying:

“Today, we must address this issue because we need a world class goalkicker. We’re awaiting the medical update.

“It would have been another two or three weeks. But the problem that we have now is that we think he may have arrived at Toulon with that injury. Now we have the impression that yes, he was injured when he signed for Toulon.

“If this is the case, we haven’t ruled out terminating his contract.

“We pay enough for players (for when they’re away with their national teams). We don’t feel like preparing Halfpenny for Wales just for the Rugby World Cup.

“We’re conducting an investigation. I will know the whys and hows this week.”

Should Halfpenny leave Toulon, there has been murmurings that he could return to the Cardiff Blues and the WRU on a central contract

Source: www.walesonline.co.uk

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Youtube Credit: Pro12Rugby

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Thankfully, after injuring his spinal cord in June, Cardiff Blues have confirmed, via a statement, that their player, Owen Williams, is continuing to make progress in his rehabilitation.

The statement reads:

Cardiff Blues has today (Friday, September 5) announced that Owen Williams continues to make progress at Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff after suffering a serious spinal cord injury in June.
Owen has been at the Welsh Spinal Injuries and Neurological Rehabilitation Unit since early July, where he continues his long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

Owen is now tolerating periods of time sitting up in a wheelchair, allowing him the chance to spend short periods of time outside the hospital. He is also starting to use the gym at the hospital for early upper limb rehabilitation.

It remains very early in his recovery, but support for the #StayStrongForOws campaign worldwide has been a huge inspiration for Owen, his family and friends.

Over 14,000 #StayStrongForOws wristbands have now been sold and fundraising continues, in association with the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, to support Owen.

Cardiff Blues would like to reiterate its thanks to the media for the privacy and respect shown to Owen and his family over the last four months.

The region will continue to share updates when available.

Thank you for your support and #StayStrongForOws

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As per a squad photo tweeted by the Cardiff Blues today, it appears that legendary Welsh prop Adam Jones has swapped the Ospreys for their regional rivals, The Cardiff Blues.

Although advancing in years, Jones is still capable at performing at the highest level and his signing, if and when it is confirmed, will be a major coup for the Blues.

With over 100 caps for Wales and 6 caps for the British and Irish Lions, he is truly a solid player.

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Walsh will add depth to Cardiff’s squad.

Cardiff Blues squad recruitment drive shows no signs of abating as they added Pontypridd RFC utility back Geraint Walsh to their squad for the upcoming season.

Walsh, 26, who is comfortable at full back or either of the centre roles, was last year voted the Principality Premiership Player of the Year is relishing his chance his chance at the fully professional game.

“I’m really pleased to get the opportunity to go into the professional environment at Cardiff Blues. At 26 I am determined to take the chance and show I can perform at this level. “I know a number of the boys that Cardiff Blues have signed over the last fewyears so there will be familiar faces that will help me settle in.

“The plan is to keep the form from last season going and kick on again. I was really pleased with how I went last year, but I feel I can only benefit from being with the Blues and the players around me pushing up standards., said Walsh, a key component in Pontypridd’s League and Cup winning campaign last season.

Relative to the talent at their disposal, Cardiff have consistently underachieved but will hope that the signings of Walsh as well as the double Southern Hemisphere coup of Gareth Anscombe and Director of Rugby Mark Hammett will see an upturn in their fortunes.

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Anscombe finally seals Cardiff move.

Finally, after months of conjecture, Gareth Anscombe has finally completed his move to Cardiff Blues.

The utility back, son of former Ulster coach, Mark, has been linked with a move to Wales for several months now, since he met with the Welsh coach, Warren Gatland, to discuss his options last winter.

The Chiefs player, who qualifies for Wales through his Cardiff born mother, Tracey, has been earmarked as a future Welsh fly half with the incumbents, Rhys Priestland, Dan Biggar and James Hook all failing to cement their place in the Welsh ten jersey.

Anscombe confirmed his departure to his team mate’s at a Chiefs dinner in Hamilton recently and will join the Blues at the culmination of the Super Rugby season.

For those not familiar with Anscombe, he is a dangerous broken field runner, whether or fly half or full back, and has a incisive Rugby play-making brain. Anscombe is also a composed place kicker, but not to the extent that he will wrestle that responsibility away from Leigh Halfpenny in the National Team’s shirt.

In the video below, you can see some of Anscombe’s best moments in a Chief’s jersey

Video credit: TheGreatRugbyWorld

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