Representatives of the four Regions who will go into battle at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 28 April (3.05pm: Dragons v Scarlets / 5.35pm: Cardiff Blues v Ospreys) gathered in Cardiff to look ahead to the big day.
Already more than 45,000 tickets have been sold and a crowd in excess of 50,000 is expected for one of the biggest rugby days in the PRO14 calendar. With the Scarlets and Blues chasing play-offs places, and the Blues and Ospreys still very much in the hunt for Champions Cup qualification, there is a huge amount to play for.
STEPHEN JONES – Scarlets defence coach
“It is going to be a big challenge for us to hold onto the PRO14 trophy and we have some big games ahead of us. Unlike last season, we are fighting on two fronts which is going to challenge our mental toughness.
“Last year we had all our eggs in one basket, but it is wonderful we are involved in two competitions this season. It is a going to be a typically passionate local derby against the Dragons and we will be playing in the best stadium in the world in front of a very big crowd.
“There are players who will be playing for places on the Wales tour in the summer. Most of the players know each other very well and we know it is going to be as difficult a game as ever.”
JAMES CHAPRON – Dragons Academy Manager
“Playing against the Scarlets will be a great experience for our younger players. They will be running out at the Principality Stadium and that will bode well for their futures.
“We will be up for the challenge. Our performances have been better of late and it was a good second half display in Treviso last weekend where a lot of our younger players stood up
“It is all about having a go and putting in a decent performance against the Scarlets. We have given professional debuts to 15 players this season and it is all about giving them game time to help develop them for the future.
“They are coming through as a group and we are looking to them to stick tight together and come through in the next three to five years.”
ALLEN CLARKE – Ospreys Interim Head Coach
“Wouldn’t it be great if our game against the Blues turned out to be a shoot-out for a Champions Cup place. We will know what we have to do to stay in the mix after we’ve played Ulster in Belfast this weekend.
“We need to keep our destiny in our own hands and that is our primary focus. It will be brilliant for Judgement Day if it truly was ‘Judgement Day’!
“That’s what we are aiming for and it’s great, considering the season we’ve had, that there is still something tangible to be aiming for.”
DUANE GOODFIELD – Blues Academy Manager
“A lot of our Academy boys have come through in the last year in particular – Dillon Lewis, Jarod Evans and Seb Davis are all doing exceptionally well. Developing your own talent is the best way forward because the players understand the region and the values we hold.
“The games against the Ospreys are always massive and last year was really exciting – and particularly good for us. Hopefully we can have the same again.”
Judgement Day is organised in joint partnership between the WRU, Pro Rugby Wales, Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Scarlets and Ospreys.
Tickets are on-sale now from www.wru.wales/tickets or via each of the four regions, prices are £10 for each seat in the ground with a £1-per-ticket online booking fee, as well as postage (Print at home etickets are also available), payable at the time of purchase.
