Rugby Union: Cardiff consider secession
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Wasps 28 Cardiff 24
CARDIFF HINTED last night they are considering joining another union in the event of possible expulsion or secession from the Welsh Rugby Union. Their chief executive, Gareth Davies, indicated the move after watching Cardiff throw away a substantial lead, and almost certain victory, to slump to their fourth consecutive Anglo-Welsh defeat.
Cardiff, and their fellow rebels Swansea, are refusing to pay a pounds 150,000 fine imposed on them by the WRU for arranging these unsanctioned friendly matches against English clubs. "We are certainly not going to pay the fine," declared Davies. "One option for the WRU is to expel us for not paying the fine. We can't wait until the 28 February deadline before deciding what to do. We have to look at the options open to us int the event of that."
One of those would be to join the Rugby Football Union, a logical step given the Anglo-Welsh set-up, and Davies did not rule that out. "It is almost getting to the stage where we will have to approach another union," he said.
Cardiff do not even know when they can play Llandovery in the Swalec Cup. Building work at the Arms Park delayed Saturday's fourth round tie. Cardiff have offered any midweek date between now and the end of January, but the junior club claims too many of their amateur players cannot take time off.
So all that is left is the Anglo-Welsh series. And on the evidence of this little thriller, cross-border competition should prove beneficial all-round to northern hemisphere rugby. It kept a 4,395 crowd interested to the end despite the chill.
Gregori Kacala, Cardiff's monster Pole at the back of the scrum's one- man stampedes scattered opposition bodies. Behind him Lee Jarvis frequently got his backs moving and the powerful and pacey Leigh Davies posed plenty of problems. His two breaks in the same move, and his cunning grubber kick, led to Cardiff's opening try by stand-off Jarvis.
But Wasps' four tries were, in the end, decisive. The first saw hooker Simon Mitchell speed into the right hand corner, the second came from young prop Andrew Le Chevalier, and the third from replacement hooker Dinos Alexopoulos. Josh Lewsey got the crucial touchdown late in the game.
Wasps: Tries Mitchell, Le Chevalier, Alexopoulos, Lewsey; Conversion King; Penalties King 2. Cardiff: Tries Jarvis, Humphreys; Conversion Jarvis; Penalties Jarvis 4.
Wasps: J Lewsey; S Roiser, L Scrase, N Greenstock, P Sampson; A King, M Wood; A Le Chevalier, S Mitchell (D Alexopoulos, 64), W Green (capt), A Reed, S Shaw (M Weedon, 50), E Rollitt, P Scrivener, F Rossigneux (J Worsley, 64).
Cardiff: C Morgan; S Hill, L Davies, M Wintle, A Sullivan; L Jarvis, R Jones; A Lewis, J Humphreys (capt; P Young, 54), L Mustoe, K Stewart (S Moore, 64), D Jones, O Williams, G Kacala, D Baugh (S Moore, 60-61).
Referee: G Bowden (Taffs Well).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments