Ebbw Vale and Newport through to Super Rygbi Cymru semis
With the SRC not following the normal brackets for play-off competitions for some reason, the fourth seeds will now travel to face second seeds Ebbw Vale next weekend.
The Steelmen were given a scare by Carmarthen Quins but retained their unbeaten record at Eugene Cross Park thanks to a 45-35 victory.
Jason Strange's men trailed 24-14 at half-time but turned things around to earn another shot at the Drovers, who they lost to in the final of the SRC Cup at Church Bank.
Third seeds Newport enjoyed a 40-25 win against Aberavon at Spytty Park and will now face famous rivals Cardiff at the Arms Park.
It was tight at the break with the Black and Ambers trailing 13-12 after tries by wing Lloyd Lewis and scrum-half Dafydd Buckland.
However, Jac Lloyd, Iestyn Galton and David Richards (2) to earn the victory and they will now travel to table-toppers Cardiff, who beat Bridgend 31-19.
Full details and reaction to come.
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Wales Online
16 hours ago
- Wales Online
Gareth Bale and Cardiff City: The truth behind the conflicting stories and rumours
Gareth Bale and Cardiff City: The truth behind the conflicting stories and rumours Gareth Bale has said he has submitted 'another offer' as part of a consortium to take over Cardiff City Gareth Bale, Sami Khedira comment for DAZN the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semi-final match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Real Madrid (Image: Getty Images ) Gareth Bale has once again sent Cardiff City supporters' minds racing after a series of appearances on American television on Thursday evening. The former Real Madrid star and ex-Wales captain has said a consortium, of which he is front and centre, has tabled "another bid" to buy Cardiff City, believing the offer to be "more than fair". It comes after he revealed his desire to be part of a takeover bid in order to get his hometown club —which currently finds itself readying for a League One campaign— back to the Premier League. The emergence of Bale as a potential figurehead in a Cardiff City ownership consortium has not only set tongues wagging, but has served as a vehicle for rumour and speculation over the last few weeks. Here, we take a deeper dive into the situation as it stands. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community Bale's second offer claim Let's recap. On Thursday night, Bale made the following claim on FOS Today: "It's exciting news. We have a brand-new offer on the table, which has recently gone in. 'We think it's a great offer. One we think is very fair, if not more than fair, and it's something we hope the current owners will take seriously. Article continues below "We'd love them to accept so we can take full control so we can get on with what we want to do and create Cardiff into a club we know it can be." He also said to ESPN: "We are interested in trying to take over Cardiff. We have actually put in a great new offer that we hope we can get feedback (from). "We think it's a very good offer for where the club is at. It's kind of out of our hands now and we are looking forward to seeing what develops with that. Things are exciting and I'm looking forward to what the future holds." Bale's consortium have clearly registered interest in taking over the club, but it is disputed that serious, official bids have been lodged. Although it is possible that definitions on the term 'bid' differ. By the literal sense in football club takeover terms, a bid would include a heads of terms, proof of funds and full disclosure of who is behind the money, none of which have been submitted to Cardiff City, sources say. Cardiff have received a letter of intent, which includes financial figures, and have had dialogue with those associated with interest in a takeover, but to suggest that means they are at any sort of advanced stage —with any bidder— is wide of the mark. A takeover being at an advanced stage would see Cardiff having to open the books for the interested party in order for them to do their due diligence per an exclusivity agreement. Again, that is not the case at time of writing. Reports have suggested the figure mentioned is anywhere between £20m and £40m. While official numbers are not known, it is understood the proposed offer, for want of a better phrase, is well below that upper number. The group have been told that what they were suggesting is way below what the club would deem a credible offer, if one were to be submitted officially. Supporters are curious as to why Cardiff have not issued an official statement addressing the former Wales star's claims, however they insist their stance has always been to not respond to speculation — and just because Bale is attached to this, they won't make an exception. Would Vincent Tan sell? A key question, really. Vincent Tan has been a divisive figure among City supporters for some time. Some walked away when he changed the kit colour and the badge and never returned. Others recognise the £250m he has put into the club and the two promotions he has also overseen. Relegations do, however, outweigh the promotions at time of writing, of course. Tan's stance has been pretty consistent for some time now, that everything is for sale except for family. However, to suggest he would sell to just anyone is wrong. He continues to insist that he cares deeply about the club and he would not burn through so much money if he did not. Any consortium who takes over Cardiff City has to have vast, vast sums of money and must be willing to burn through £15m to £20m every year — because that is the cost of running such an organisation. That being said, Bale's group is not the only interested party. There are other, well-funded people who have shown an interest in taking over Cardiff and if there are viable investors, who have the cash to back it up, Tan will listen. If an interested party doesn't meet the criteria then Tan is willing to continue putting his money where his mouth is in order to get Cardiff back to the Championship, per his pledge to supporters back in April. Opinions differ on just how willing Tan would be to sell the club. He desperately wants success, he wants Premier League football again. But his pockets have taken a massive, eyewatering hit, he is two promotions away from the top flight and he is 73 years of age now. But it has been reiterated that if Tan was to ever sell, it would be to a credible, well-funded person or group and he is insistent that he cares deeply about who would take on he mantle and does not want to leave the club in bad hands. Does this impact transfers? A prevailing narrative swirling around the lack of transfer activity is that Cardiff are in the middle of being sold and Tan will not invest as a result. That, we are told, is very much not the case. Indeed, the club are hoping to pick up their transfer activity when the first-team squad returns from their pre-season tour of Spain this weekend. It is understood that City are close on one target and understand they have some work to do in order to make Brian Barry-Murphy's squad ready for a promotion or title tilt next season. A centre back, right back, left back and a winger are all thought to be on the shopping list after a summer of exits thus far. Cardiff are the only League One side yet to make any additions to their first-team squad. Other rumours such as all departments being called into a meeting next week to be informed of a pending takeover are also false. Sources state that it continues as "business as usual" until what they deem a credible offer has been formally submitted to them. Article continues below It is impossible to rule out whether that will materialise, of course, with Bale's group or others, and it is likely to be something that runs for some time yet this summer. Cardiff declined to make a comment. WalesOnline have also contacted sources close to the consortium for comment. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Wales Online
16 hours ago
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as axed Welsh coach wanted more time and Wales star surprised by move
Tonight's rugby news as axed Welsh coach wanted more time and Wales star surprised by move These are the rugby stories making headlines on the evening of Friday, July 11 Ioan Lloyd during training (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) These are your rugby headlines on the evening of Friday, July 11 Flanagan opens up on exit Dai Flanagan says he would have liked more time at the Dragons after he sealed a move to Saracens. The Welshman departed the Rodney Parade club at the backend of last year by mutual consent. The season was just five games old at that point, having opened the campaign with a win over the Ospreys. Filo Tiatia took the reins but the Men of Gwent would not win another game that season. Flanagan has since moved on to join English giants Saracens as attack coach and will be working with some of the biggest names in the sport next season. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. However, the former fly-half still keeps very close tabs on what is going on in Welsh rugby and his old club. Article continues below "Ideally, I would have liked longer with the Dragons," Flanagan told the Daily Mail. "But the next step after that would have been to experience a new environment outside Wales, so this has just come sooner than I thought. Everything happens for a reason. When you're a head coach, it's a 24/7 job. You're not sleeping. We all know what's happening in Welsh rugby off the field. "It's tough. Look at this pub. It's full. You can tell there are lots of people in Wales who care about rugby. We've got to keep giving the Welsh rugby public something to cheer about. "I'm a passionate Welshman and it does pain me to see what's going on. I've been at the centre of it with the Dragons. They're my home region. I grew up in Penallta and we trained just down the road. I still speak to people at the Dragons. "My wife can't understand it. I should have enjoyed it more. I cared so much. I just wanted it to succeed." Lloyd surprised by emotions New Cardiff signing Ioan Lloyd says he has been surprised by how emotional he has felt since returning to his hometown club. Lloyd swapped west for east by moving from the Scarlets to the Arms Park this summer. Seeing the club crest of a club he watched as a boy has ignited feelings within him, after spells with Bristol Bears and the west Walians. 'It's kind of surprised me this week as it's been seven, eight years since I left the Cardiff system,' said Lloyd. 'It's surprised how proud it's made me putting on the jersey and seeing the Cardiff badge really ignited some sort of feelings that I didn't really anticipate. 'I'm really looking forward to firstly getting through this pre-season and then hopefully getting the opportunity to wear the actual playing jersey.' Now back in the Welsh capital, he said the opportunity to come back to his hometown club was too good an opportunity to turn down. He also added that linking up with Matt Sherratt aligned with the way he sees the game. 'I was lucky enough to get an opportunity in Bristol," he said. "It was all about life experience going elsewhere. 'I'd been brought up and lived my whole life in Cardiff, but always knew that if I was ever to make it as a professional player, at some point, the opportunity to get to play for my hometown club would be amazing. 'I guess the sort of vision that Jockey's got and the way that the team is trying to play at the moment suits my game. 'It's something that is really exciting to get the opportunity to be a part of. It's a nice surface to play on. I find the game tends to be a little bit quicker, the ball doesn't tend to get as slippery even when it's raining so it's quite nice to play on.' As the new season approaches, Lloyd is staying focused on the process, with clear goals in mind for both himself and the team. 'The playoffs has got to be an initial goal and anything further than that, and then European ambitions also. 'As an individual, I'm taking it week by week. My first job here is settling in, getting to know the boys properly and really ripping into the training side of things. Then I'm sure as things progress, I'll start to develop some bigger goals.' Earl makes bold Lions statement By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Adelaide Ben Earl has revealed that Andy Farrell's British and Irish Lions are aiming for greatness as their tour of Australia approaches the stage that will determine whether it is a success or failure. A stacked AUNZ Invitational XV containing 17 Wallabies and All Blacks provide dangerous final opponents before the Test series begins in Brisbane on July 19. The Lions have so far dispatched all four Super Rugby franchises, each of them missing the bulk of their Australia stars, with the defeat to Argentina in Dublin that launched the tour the only blemish. The hectic schedule of four matches in 11 days across four different cities has prevented any serious training from taking place, but Earl insists there can be no excuses in the pursuit of a lofty goal. 'There's a big thing that we've been speaking about – being one of the best Lions teams ever,' the England number eight said. 'You can't be the best Lions team ever and lose 3-0 in the Test series or not win many games. But also it's how we go about things. 'Games like this one you have short preparation, sore bodies and are at the end of a tough two-week block, so you've got some excuses there if you wanted to roll over and not put your best stuff forward. 'But then you'd be doing yourself, the jersey, the brand itself a complete disservice.' While head coach Farrell has repeatedly highlighted the challenges posed by preparation being limited to training walk-throughs and meetings, his players are relishing the regular action. 'It's been great. It's been unbelievable,' Earl added. 'At this time of the year – what are we, 54 weeks into a season now almost? – just playing is so fun, so enjoyable, so exciting. 'It's the meetings, the analysis, the review stuff that can get tiresome. It's the coolest thing to be able to play with players that previously you were previewing on how to stop them. 'I can wholeheartedly say that it's the best thing I've ever done by a mile. I've learnt more in the last five weeks than I probably have in the last four years in terms of seeing the game differently, playing with different people and competing on the training pitch. 'But it's also been learning that, actually, going into a rugby performance you don't need to do seven days of going into a monastery and coming out on a Saturday and being able to play. 'You just have to work out what you're good at, what you're going to do as a team and try and do it and see where you're at after 80 minutes. That's pretty cool.' The Lions depart Adelaide for Brisbane on Sunday to begin preparations for the first Test, with Farrell scheduled to name his team on Thursday. Lions hold Kinghorn hope By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent, Adelaide Blair Kinghorn faces a race against time to be fit for the British and Irish Lions' first Test against Australia because of the sprained knee sustained on Wednesday. Fears that the Lions would see another full-back ruled out of the tour following Elliot Daly's return home with a fractured forearm were eased following a positive scan on the injury incurred against the ACT Brumbies. Ireland's Jamie Osborne has been called up as cover given that Kinghorn is not due to resume training until next week. Lions defence coach Simon Easterby insists the Scotland star, regarded as first choice to fill the number 15 jersey against the Wallabies on July 19, will be given every chance to show he is ready. 'Blair didn't look great against the Brumbies and it was the right thing to do to pull him off. But the scan has showed up way more positive than we'd hoped originally,' Easterby said. 'We're hopeful that he'll take some part in training next week and then it will be a little bit of a waiting game in terms of whether he's available for the first Test. 'It will be one of those things that we'll just have to take day by day. Like a lot of these injuries throughout a tour, we'll give guys an opportunity to try and prove their fitness. 'And who knows? If it works out, great. If not, we've got good guys who are able to step up.' Chief among those 'good guys' is Ireland's Hugo Keenan, who has Saturday's clash with an AUNZ Invitational XV to impress head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the series opener. A calf injury prevented Keenan from making his debut for the tourists until their fourth match on tour, against the New South Wales Waratahs, and to add misery to misfortune he picked up a bug that Farrell said explained his underwhelming performance in Sydney. Article continues below 'Hugo has had a bit of illness and has not been able to take part fully in preparation for each game so this is a perfect opportunity for him after having a good few days without any sickness,' Easterby said. 'He is feeling a lot better and stronger and it's a great opportunity for him to stake a claim for next week. 'Whatever system he's in he's a bit of a goalkeeper at the back, he talks brilliantly, his comms are good and his actions are better. All the things you want a 15 to be in defence, he's all of that. He's got everything.'
The Independent
20 hours ago
- The Independent
Gareth Bale investment group submit new offer to buy Cardiff
The investment group involving Gareth Bale has made a new offer to buy Cardiff City. The former Tottenham and Real Madrid star revealed that a fresh offer to take full control of the Welsh club has been tabled. And Bale, 35, believes he is the right person to help lead the League One side back to the Premier League. Speaking on Front Office Sports Today, Bale said: 'We have a brand-new offer on the table which has recently just gone in. 'We would love them to accept so we can take full control and get on with what we want to do and create Cardiff into the club that we know it can be.' A source close to Bale says the Welshman will take a hands-on role at the club if the offer be accepted. Asked what sort of role Bale might take on, the source said: 'A very significant one. He is not going to be a bit-part player. This is a guy who has been super-successful and doesn't need to put his name to something just for the sake of it. 'He would be heavily involved. He believes he is the right person for this. Cardiff is the only club he wants to do a deal for. Now's the time, with the club in the doldrums, to put some TLC into the club and get them back to the Premier League.' The Bale consortium is believed to feature both British and American investors. However, it is understood Bale's camp accepts the decision to sell ultimately rests with Cardiff owner Vincent Tan. 'If (Tan) is willing to sell it, there is no better person as far as custodianship, and with the correct intentions to the place, than Gareth,' the source close to Bale said.
