All the action from a big Welsh derby this Saturday will be live & exclusive in the UK on Viaplay
Viaplay’s complete live coverage of the BKT United Rugby Championship this weekend brings all the excitement from the Championship battle to secure top eight play-off places - with an enthralling Welsh derby in Swansea set up to entertain fans and put smiles back on faces.
The Ospreys host Welsh rivals Dragons on Saturday afternoon at Swansea.com Stadium (live on Viaplay from 12.30pm) as the URC Welsh Shield battle continues with its winner grasping a highly-coveted European Champions Cup place as reward.
Will a fired-up Dragons team back up their big win against the Ospreys in Round Six last October when they beat them 32-25 at Rodney Parade and complete the double? Or will the Ospreys who are just four points behind current Welsh Shield leaders Cardiff Rugby, keep the pressure on with a home win?
Head-to-head between these two Welsh rivals, who have played 40 times, the Ospreys are on top with 26 wins to the Dragons 13, with one match drawn. The Dragons come into the Welsh derby on the back of eight URC defeats in a row – with the Ospreys looking to get back to winning ways at home after losing their last two URC rounds at home.
With only three pool rounds left to go and Judgement Day expecting to live up to its name as the final round of the regular URC season in just a month’s time – it’s all to play for says Wales’ record try scorer and leading Viaplay rugby commentator, Shane Williams.
Shane Williams is part of the Viaplay TV team bringing every game live from the BKT United Rugby Championship throughout the season including all the knock-out stages and the Grand Final. Tune in from 12.30pm on Saturday afternoon as Shane Williams joins Ross Harries, Tom Shanklin, Rhys Ap Williams and Lauren Smith for live and exclusive UK coverage of Ospreys v Dragons from Swansea.com stadium.
The former Ospreys wing, who appeared 141 times for the region said: “Certainly winning the URC Welsh Shield last season and being able to play in the European Champions Cup has made a big difference for the Ospreys this season. We’ve seen some of their best performances and results in Europe this year including that brilliant win against Leicester. I think Toby Booth will be very proud of that.
“Ospreys and all their supporters will want more of the same next season in Europe and the opportunity to play Champions Cup rugby - it’s been great to watch - but there again so will Cardiff, Scarlets and Dragons; so the Welsh Shield competition is really important and the next three games are big for these teams.
“The Ospreys can still retain the Welsh Shield, they’ve got a decent run in now, Edinburgh haven’t been playing their best rugby this season and the regions are putting out strong teams so I think that tells you want these games mean to them.
“It’s really interesting, the Welsh Regions have something to play for right until the end of the season and winning the URC Welsh Shield might well go down to the Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby game at Judgement Day in the final round. It’s massive – these teams can keep going right to the end of the season and keep everyone on the edge of their seats as well.
“It’s been a tough season for anyone associated with the Welsh Regions or Welsh Rugby this season, and we all want to finish on a high. The Welsh teams will want to finish on a positive for their fans, sponsors and supporters and that is really important right now.”
Shane Williams says Saturday’s Welsh derby will bring out the best in both sides and bring some much-needed ‘positivity’ back to into Welsh Rugby.
“The fact is that the players are playing for pride and these Welsh teams will want to finish the season on a positive note for themselves as players and clubs but equally for their fans and supporters. We need to put a bit of a positive spin back into the game in Wales. The Welsh derbies give the opportunity to put some smiles back on people’s faces.”
Wales’ record try scorer SHANE WILLIAMS is part of the Viaplay TV team bringing every game live from the BKT United Rugby Championship throughout the season including all the knock-out stages and the Grand Final. This Saturday Shane Williams will be joined by Ross Harries, Tom Shanklin, Rhys Ap Williams and Lauren Smith for live and exclusive UK coverage of Ospreys v Dragons from Swansea.com stadium with all the build-up from 12.30pm (with a 1pm kick off).
Visit www.viaplay.com for more information. Viaplay is available on Sky, Virgin TV, Amazon Prime and online through the Viaplay App.
