Welsh rugby fans can look forward to six Welsh derbies over the Christmas period with vital PRO14 points to be won.
The festive programme will also provide an opportunity to impress Wayne Pivac ahead of the Wales head coach’s first Guinness Six Nations squad announcement next month.
The Scarlets travel to Rodney Parade on Saturday to face a resurgent Dragons side who are full of confidence after their European Challenge Cup triumph over Worcester Warriors.
But Brad Mooar’s men from west Wales are also on a high having beaten French Top 14 outfit Bayonne on successive weekends and will want to climb back into the Conference B play-off places.
The west Walians will welcome back Wales World Cup stars Ken Owens and Hadleigh Parkes with giant Fijian lock Tevita Ratuva also back in action.
Dean Ryan’s Dragons will be hopeful of a strong Christmas showing with some of the best young talent on their books including Aaron Wainwright, Ollie Griffiths, Cory Hill and Taine Basham.
The Dragons are currently fifth in Conference A so need to make their mark over the next month to remain in contention. “The Dragons at Rodney Parade will be a massive challenge,” said Mooar.
“These derbies are going to be a beautiful prospect. The last time I was working on Boxing Day I was probably lifeguard at the local swimming pool.
“To have the privilege to come to work at Parc y Scarlets in front of a full house against the Ospreys on Boxing Day will be outstanding. It’s part of why we are in the game and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Playing the Dragons, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues over the festive period has a nice ring to it.”
The Cardiff Blues open their Christmas campaign with a tough trip to Swansea to face the Ospreys on Saturday before hosting the Dragons on Boxing Day and the Scarlets on January 3.
John Mulvihill’s side will be hoping to stay in the PRO14 play-off hunt and will be hopeful of some derby day victories. The Blues have one of the most potent back-lines in the PRO14 with Wales’ World Cup revelation Josh Adams now part of their ranks. Wales back-row hard man Josh Navidi is also expected to return from injury soon.
The Ospreys will also be boosted by the return of Wales and British & Irish Lions stalwarts Alun Wyn Jones, George North and Justin Tipuric. It has been a difficult start to the season for the Liberty Stadium outfit, but two gutsy performances in Europe against French powerhouses Racing 92 will give them confidence they can get one over their Welsh rivals.
“Interestingly enough it’s the 10th year in a row we’re going to play down at the Liberty over Christmas,” said Blues head coach Mulvihill. “We owe the Ospreys one. They’ve beaten us the last few times we’ve played against each other, albeit in close games.
“They had a good game plan against us and we know even though they lost to Racing 92, they’ll take confidence into this game. The Christmas derbies should be fantastic.
“This time of year always brings out the best in the players and the best in the stands so we’re looking forward to going away and then hosting a couple of games at our place.”
Tickets are still available for this weekend’s Guinness PRO14 Welsh derbies.
Click on the following links to purchase tickets.
Ospreys v Cardiff Blues (7.35pm)
