Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, August 18.
Hewitt targets Wales shirt
Welsh wing Ashton Hewitt believes he can force his way into Wayne Pivac's thinking as he prepares to make his comeback after the horror injury that has wiped out more than a year of his playing career.
The Dragons star is expected to be fit for the start of the new season, having not played since April 2021 when he sustained a major knee injury playing against Northampton.
It has been a long, difficult road back for Hewitt, but he's told the WRU he intends to return to his very best. The 27-year-old has been named in previous Wales squads, only for injury to rob him of the chance to win an elusive first cap.
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“I’m playing it safe at the moment, so I don’t do anything too much coming off the back of the injuries I’ve had in the last two years. I’m feeling good, running with the physios and just ensuring I don’t overdo it,” said Hewitt.
“There are no doubts in my mind I can come back and reach the same level as before. Everything is measured in training – speed, strength, skills – and I’m confident I can get back to where I was. I still think I can have a shot at getting into a Welsh shirt. That’s why we play the game, to try to reach the levels we feel we can achieve – I just need a bit of run of luck.
“It will start with getting into the Dragons team, helping them and taking things from there. Competition is what builds performances and pushes everyone to be better and there are lots of good wings at the club.
"That competitiveness is good for the individuals and the squad as a whole. I know I have to put my hand up to get into the team and then maintain my standards to stay there week in, week out. I know the players here aren’t going to make it easy for me, but I’m looking forward to the battle.”
Ospreys the most-watched team in Wales
United Rugby Championship matches involving Welsh teams were three of the most-watched TV fixtures during the regular season, it has been revealed. And the Ospreys were the most-watched Welsh team overall.
The figures have been released by the URC, with organisers trumpeting the fact "over 34 million fans tuned in" to matches throughout the season.
The most-watched match, excluding the play-offs, across BBC Wales, SuperSport and Premier Sports was the Ospreys v Sharks game in the third round of the competition, with 580,026 viewers. Cardiff v Bulls was next (560,886), followed by Munster v DHL Stormers (538,909) and Sharks v Scarlets (531,421). The figures are not broken down to show how many Welsh viewers actually watched on the BBC and Premier Sports in the UK.
The Stormers and Munster were the most-watched teams in South Africa and Ireland respectively, with Ospreys leading the interest in Wales. None of the Welsh derbies featured in "the most-watched derbies", with the Irish matches securing the top five spots.
A total of 1.25 million watched the Stormers beat the Bulls in the final, with 41% tuning in from outside South Africa.
Top 5 Games from Wales
R3 Ospreys v Cell C Sharks (580,026 viewers)
R3 Cardiff v Vodacom Bulls (560,886)
R5 Ospreys v Munster (480,652)
R4 Dragons v DHL Stormers (445,471)
R3 Scarlets v Munster (330,313)
Martin Anayi, United Rugby Championship CEO, said: “We are blown away by the broadcast audiences in the first season of the United Rugby Championship. It is a tremendous credit to the standard of rugby displayed by our teams and players and the superb work done by our broadcasters to showcase that talent."
English side confirm signing of exciting Welsh prospect
English side Ampthill RFC have confirmed the signing of promising young Welsh back rower Morgan Strong.
Strong turned down a new contract offer from the Ospreys in a bid to play first-team rugby. He has won five Wales U20 caps and is tipped for a bright future in the game. He confirmed his intentions to WalesOnline in an interview earlier this summer.
Forwards coach Mouritz Botha said: "Morgan is a young talent – he was offered another contract by Ospreys but chose to join Ampthill to play more rugby. That says everything about his character and ambition. We’re excited to see what he brings to the team and equally excited to help Morgan realise his potential."
Strong said: “I could have stayed for another two years, but I just don’t think that would have been best for my development. I didn’t want to be 23 and still in the same position I am now. I want to kick on in senior rugby and I felt a new challenge somewhere else was what I needed. With the way it has gone at the Ospreys, I thought it was time for a change and something new.”
Scarlets kids win Welsh derby
Scarlets U18s recorded a comfortable 35-5 win over the Dragons at Ystrad Mynach on Wednesday night.
The home side were missing a host of academy players who won their Regional Age Grade Championship last season and they were outplayed by the visitors.
The game was split into three 25-minute periods, with the Scarlets opening up a 21-5 lead in the first.
Dragons were down to 14 men in the second 25 with Evan Saltmarsh sent to the sin-bin for collapsing the Scarlets maul in a dangerous position.
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