Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, April 1.
Cardiff record £1.6m loss
Cardiff Rugby has recorded a loss of £1.6million for the year ending 30 June, 2021. As part of accounts filed with Companies House, Cardiff say the financial impact of Covid has been "catastrophic".
Cardiff said the club "would not have survived" without salary cuts on earnings more than £25,000 and staffing cuts, with 14 positions being made redundant after a restructure. The Welsh outfit said they "remain reliant" on support from the Welsh Rugby Union, their "various funders" and the goodwill of fans, sponsors, directors and shareholders.
They say they received £2.7m of the £13.5m grant funding secured by the WRU from the Welsh Government in 2021 to help them through the 2020-21 campaign. Cardiff's rugby costs for the year were £8.9m, compared to £9.8m the previous year and £10.5m in 2018-19. The £1.6m loss was an increase from £317,000 in 2019-20 and £405,000 the previous year.
"Without this sacrifice by the company's employees, the club simply would not have survived," the accounts said. Cardiff said "one real positive" was the number of fans who had donated the costs of season memberships or match tickets to support the region. Cardiff received £65,000 in donations, with £50,000 requested in credit and £48,000 in refunds.
The accounts said there had been in an uptake in commercial numbers, membership and ticket sales on the back of the decision to drop the word 'Blues' from their name from the start of this season. Cardiff may also train long-term at Pentwyn Leisure Centre, having moved there during the pandemic, and negotiations are ongoing over lease to play at the Arms Park.
Glasgow to pay tribute to ex-player killed in Paris
Glasgow will pay tribute to their former player Federico Aramburu at Friday's United Rugby Championship match against Zebre. The Argentine, who played for Warriors from 2010 to 2011, was shot dead in Paris a fortnight ago, aged 42.
Several of Aramburu's friends and ex-team-mates, including Chris Cusiter and Ruaridh Jackson, will be in attendance at Scotstoun on Friday, with a minute's applause to be held before the game against the Italians.
Glasgow managing director Al Kellock, who played alongside the former Los Pumas centre just over a decade ago, said: "Fede was a truly gifted rugby player, but above all he was one of the greatest human beings you could ever have the privilege to meet. We're proud to come together as a club, including our network of past players, to honour the memory of a true Warrior at our final home game of the regular season."
It promises to be an emotional night at Scotstoun, with record appearance holder Rob Harley playing his first game since announcing this week that he will be leaving at the the end of the season. It could end up being the 31-year-old's last-ever home outing for the club if they slip out of the top four and fail to secure a home quarter-final.
Wales set for World Cup test
Wales will be bidding to lay down a World Cup marker when they host Scotland in the Women's Six Nations this Saturday. The Scots recently qualified for the postponed World Cup in New Zealand this autumn and have been drawn in Wales' pool, with the two sides meeting on October 9.
A second consecutive Six Nations win is the number one priority for Ioan Cunningham's unchanged Wales team, but developing consistency and combinations for the World Cup start in October is also an aim. Wales - who are set to welcome a record crowd to Cardiff Arms Park (4.45pm kick-off) - will bidding to build on their bonus-point 27-19 win in Dublin last weekend, while Scotland are hurting from a heavy 57-5 defeat to reigning champions England.
Wales wing Jasmine Joyce said in her BBC column: "If we can come away with a win, that will be two of the three games we have targeted wins in. Scotland are coming off the back of a heavy defeat against England, but they are going to be coming with confidence having qualified for the World Cup. We have got them in our pool so they are going to want to prove a point on our home turf, and they have been together pretty much all season because they have had their qualifiers."
Dai Young wants more than 'best team in Wales' tag
Dai Young insists his side must aim for higher than just being the "best team in Wales" as they prepare for back-to-back Welsh derbies against the Scarlets. Young's team travel to Llanelli on Saturday before welcoming Dwayne Peel’s men to the capital the following week.
“When you play against each other, the rivalry is there, the bragging rights are there and you want to get one over your mates,” explained the former Wales prop.
“But we have a responsibility to demonstrate high skill levels, play with intensity and blow away the doom and gloom that people have thrown our way. But just being the best in Wales isn’t something that hugely excites me. It’s something everyone would rather be, of course, as opposed to being the worst. But the big thing for me is that we want to be competitive, playing in Europe season-on-season.
"We want to be in the top eight. Those are our goals and along the way you need to beat the other Welsh teams. But it’s not the focus for us. There’s no point winning the derbies if you’re not winning other games."
Davies extends Ospreys stay
Wales and Ospreys lock forward Bradley Davies has signed a one-year contract extension with Toby Booth's team. The 66-cap Wales international has been with the region since 2016.
"The Ospreys were always Wales' leading region, having won more silverware than any other side and that was the reason I signed for them initially," said 35-year-old Davies. "The ambition among the players, coaches and staff at the Ospreys is to do the same again.
"I feel I have a lot to offer as a player but I know my job here now is about sharing my experience with the younger players and [helping to] see them reach their potential. My body feels good and I am performing to my best for the team and my numbers stack up. I just want to finish the job and get the Ospreys back where they should be."
Davies has completed his Welsh Rugby Union coaching badges and is part of the Ospreys A side coaching team.
