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Wales Online
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Tom Coleman

Today's rugby news as Wales duo ready for farewells and Scarlets get European boost

Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Wednesday, April 26.

Scarlets quarter fit for European semi-final

Leigh Halfpenny, Aaron Shingler, Sam Lousi and Dan Davis will all be available for the Scarlets' Challenge Cup semi-final against Glasgow on Saturday.

The quartet have been deemed passed fit to give head coach Dwayne Peel a major boost for their last-four European encounter at Parc y Scarlets, with all four missing the Judgement Day defeat to Dragons in their last URC game of the season.

It could mean a Parc y Scarlets farewell for Halfpenny and 24-cap Shingler, with the Wales full-back and retiring Shingler among 15 players leaving the region this summer.

Halfpenny suffered a head knock in the quarter-final victory over Clermont earlier this month, while Davis has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring in the win over Sharks in March. Lousi has also been deemed fit after missing the last two games.

Wales wing/full-back Johnny McNicholl returned from injury as a replacement on Judgement Day, with Tom Rogers, Ryan Conbeer and Steff Evans starting in the back-three for the last two fixtures.

Wales aiming to finish on a high

Kelsey Jones says Wales intend to finish their Women's Six Nations campaign on a high against Italy on Saturday.

Wales head to Parma having lost their last two outings against heavyweights England and France following convincing wins over Ireland and Scotland, and hooker Jones insists the mindset heading into the final game of the tournament isn't going to change.

"Our mindset towards this game isn't going to change," the hooker told the BBC. "We want to put on a performance and get as many points as we can. It definitely helps that we've only got one point to get [to finish third], but ultimately why not go for it all?

"Our focus is to go out there, get that fast start and get points on the board as quickly as we can. What we've got to remember is that Italy are still ranked above us [Italy 6th, Wales 8th], so we know they are going to come out fighting.

"We know it is going to be a tough game, we just want to make sure we put that performance out there. Last year was a good tournament, we were building, but if we can get on top this weekend it will show how far we have come."

Glasgow scrum-half ready for Scarlets challenge

George Horne admits Glasgow Warriors have to further step up the standards if they are to end the season on a high note.

The Scotstoun outfit have an exciting but testing two weeks ahead with their first European semi-final to come against Scarlets in Llanelli at the weekend followed by a URC play-off quarter-final against Munster at home.

Horne insists hard work has underpinned this season's progress under head coach Franco Smith but believes they have to perform "even better" to make it a memorable campaign.

The 27-year-old scrum-half said: "We have talked a lot about having done a lot of hard work to get to this position, but we have won nothing yet. So the next few weeks is what matters and it's good that we have come in on the back of a few wins, but we know that we still need to perform even better to beat these top teams so yes, it is going to be a huge challenge.

"We have instilled a mindset of getting out on the training pitch and working hard and that takes it into Friday night or Saturday. We definitely believe in ourselves. We know there are a lot of tough tests to come.

"There are a lot of great teams in front of us depending how far we go but yes, we have a great squad of boys and a great coaching staff so there is no reason why, if we perform to our best, we can't give them a good run.

"There is a good buzz around the place, obviously it is a huge week for us. Everyone is really excited and ready to get going. It would be huge to get to a final. We play the game to win trophies and we are almost there, obviously a massive final to come if we win the semi. But that's why we play this game, to win these cups."

Worcester given takeover deadline

New Worcester Warriors owners Atlas have reportedly been warned that the sale of the club must be completed by May 2.

Atlas saw their bid for both Worcester and their Sixways ground accepted by administrators Begbies Traynor in February, in a move that saw Jim O'Toole and James Sandford appointed as owners.

A 27-page progress report published by the administrators also says Atlas can't dispose of Sixways or the surrounding land within five years of any deal. Atlas will lose a £500,000 non-refundable deposit if the sale doesn't go ahead.

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