It is the first time in 15 years that two Welsh teams have met in Europe and, with the score between the two ancient rivals standing at one win apiece so far this season, Saturday’s game will be a clincher in every sense of the word.
The Blues are the only Welsh side to reach a European final. They were beaten by Toulouse after extra-time in the inaugural European Cup final in Cardiff in 1996 and then won the Challenge Cup in Marseille when they beat RC Toulon in 2010.
The Dragons are shooting for their second Challenge Cup semi-final, having reached the last four in 2007, when they lost 46-20 to eventual winners ASM Clermont Auvergne. Whoever wins at Rodney Parade will go on to face the winners of the game between London Irish and Edinburgh Rugby.
“First and foremost, you have to recognise the magnitude of this fixture and what it means to the players, supporters and all those working with the two Regions. There hasn’t been a Welsh derby in Europe like this for more than a decade, so we shouldn’t underestimate its significance,” said Jones, who led the Ospreys into three successive European Cup quarter-finals.
“Hosting a high profile European quarter-final in our own backyard is great for the game in Wales and on top of that we’ve just come out of a thrilling RBS 6 Nations campaign. So we’re going to see some of Wales’ best players of this generation coming out to contest a European semi-final place on one field in Wales.
“To see Wales’ best players – Sam Warburton, Toby Faletau, Matthew Rees, Alex Cuthbert and others – in their regional jerseys in a fiercely fought sell-out rugby fixture is just great for the regional game. You can feel the excitement building already.
“It’s a knock-out derby and the way these two teams are playing and how they’re coached will make for a good rugby spectacle. I don’t think either side will be afraid to go out there and play and try to grab the game and the win.”
Jones, now playing in the English Championship at Bristol, will be part of the BT Sport commentary team at Rodney Parade. Having started his rugby career at Newport, it will be a trip down memory lane for the back row legend who went on to win 75 Welsh caps, play in three Tests for the British & Irish Lions and make 150 appearances for the Ospreys.
“Rodney Parade is a hostile place when it’s packed, so the atmosphere will lift both sets of players. The Dragons will be buoyed by being at home and it will be a very physical game,” added Jones.
“It’s what you want at this time in the season – big derby games like this one. It’s exciting for supporters who want to see their teams get one up on their neighbours and rivals.”
Jones will be making his TV debut with BT Sport, but will have a familiar face to help him along in former Wales and Ospreys team mate Shane Williams. BT Sport are the main sponsor of Welsh Pro rugby and have created a BT Sport Family Village at Rodney Parade to help mark the big European occasion.
The BT Sport Village will host a central 1,000 capacity Supporters Zone marquee on the green outside Rodney Parade with BT Sport studio for live interviews and analysis pre and post match with Sarra Elgan, Ben Kay, Ryan Jones and Shane Williams.
There will be a live band and a range of fun activities for children with inflatables, fun-fair, face-painting and rugby skills games together with supporters’ bars and hospitality outside the ground.
