Regan Grace is set to debut for Cardiff while Ollie Lawrence addresses cheating claims
Cardiff: Here’s the scoop on rugby for tonight, January 10. Regan Grace is all set to make his debut for Cardiff in the Challenge Cup against Perpignan. The team is shaking things up with nine changes, and Grace is ready to shine.
He just joined Cardiff from Bath, and they really needed some fresh legs on the wing. He’ll be teaming up with Tom Bowen and Cameron Winnett in the backline, while Josh Adams takes a breather.
It’s a whole new backline compared to their last match against the Ospreys. Rory Jennings and Rey Lee-Lo will be in the midfield, and Tinus de Beer is pairing up with Aled Davies at half-back. Exciting stuff!
Wales number eight Mackenzie Martin is back too, coming off the bench after a break since October. Rhys Barratt is also making his first start for Cardiff, so there’s a lot to look forward to.
Cardiff is currently sitting third in Pool 1 with six points. They lost their last trip to France but bounced back with a win against the Cheetahs. Coach Matt Sherratt is feeling positive, aiming for a win to secure a home game in the knockouts.
“Playing in France is a unique experience,” he said. “It’s like a carnival atmosphere, and the players love it.”
Meanwhile, in other news, England’s Ollie Lawrence is denying any wrongdoing after a controversial moment in Bath’s match against Northampton. He faced backlash on social media after a head clash with teammate Alex Mitchell led to a yellow card for Mitchell.
Lawrence took to TikTok to clarify that he didn’t cheat or dive. He explained that it was a head collision, and he felt it was right to go down for safety reasons. He apologized to anyone who felt offended but stood firm that he played by the rules.
In more rugby updates, James Fender won’t be playing for the Ospreys this weekend, even though he’s available after a short ban. He’s hoping to make it into the Six Nations squad, but for now, he’s sitting out.
Young Dragons centre Harri Ackerman is making his first start since a serious leg injury. He’s excited to be back on the field, and the team is making several changes for their game against Pau.
It’s shaping up to be an exciting weekend in rugby, with plenty of action to keep an eye on!
