Ospreys Team To Face Leicester Tigers

The Ospreys team to face Leicester Tigers in the Heineken Cup match

on Sunday 12th October 2008 at Welford Road, kick off at 1.00pm, will

be as follows:-

15 Lee Byrne

14 Nikki Walker

13 Tommy Bowe

12 Andrew Bishop

11 Shane Williams

10 James Hook

9 Rhodri Wells

8 Ryan Jones (c)

7 Marty Holah

6 Jonathan Thomas

5 Ian Evans

4 Alun-wyn Jones

3 Adam Jones

2 Richard Hibbard

1 Paul James

Replacements:

16 Huw Bennett

17 Duncan Jones

18 Ian Gough

19 Filo Tiatia

20 Tom Smith

21 Rhys Webb

22 Daniel Biggar

Injury and availability news

The following players are not available for selection:

Sonny Parker has been ruled out for up to four weeks after suffering

an injury to his pectoral muscle in the win over Harlequins last weekend.

Kristian Phillips is out for two months due to a shoulder injury

sustained in the recent Help for Heroes game at Twickenham.

Cai Griffiths is recovering well from treatment for ankle ligament

damage and is continuing his rehabilitation.

Jamie Nutbrown has also responded well to treatment to the midtarsal

joint of his left foot and is continuing his rehabilitation.

Gareth Owen had surgery on his ankle to fix the instability resulting

from his ankle ligament injury last week and now faces a lay-off of

up to four months.

Mike Phillips is continuing his rehab following surgery to repair

damage to his anterior cruciate ligament and is targeting a return to

action next month.

Ben Lewis is recovering well after undergoing ACL reconstruction

surgery to his right knee and is still on target for a November return.

Gavin Henson is excluded from the next two Ospreys fixtures as the

result of a rugby related internal disciplinary decision.

Ospreys Coach Sean Holley commented:

"Everybody within the Ospreys camp is looking forward to renewing

what has become a healthy rivalry with Leicester. We have the utmost

respect for their playing and coaching staff, and for what the club

has achieved over the years, and in particular in the Heineken Cup.

They've made a good start to the current season and are playing some

great rugby under their new coach Heyneke. We know that we can expect

a real test on Sunday. We see Welford Road as being a great place to

start this year's campaign, there will be a great atmosphere there as

always.

We have made a very positive start to our own season and are

starting to see the fruits of the players hard work during pre-

season. Like all professional rugby outfits, we have had injuries to

contend with, but the squad is in very good shape going into this

competition and we are ready for the challenge. Our players are

excited about the prospect of playing in this year's Heineken Cup,

they want to get off to a good start in Leicester and it has been a

very difficult selection process this week with so many players in

numerous positions challenging for a starting place this Sunday. A

lot is at stake, as there always is in the first Pool match in this

competition, and we will need to be both focused and determined

against a quality team if we are to achieve our aim.

We have a very tight unit at the Ospreys, matches such as this one

are as much about the 22 selected as the starting line-up itself,

spirits are high and we intend to be extremely competitive on Sunday.

We are particularly proud to be able to name 18 Welsh players in our

22, which is further evidence of the excellent work that we are doing

here at the Ospreys to develop the best local talent."

Forthcoming fixtures are as follows:

Saturday 18th October - Ospreys v Perpignan - Heineken Cup - Liberty

Stadium - 3.30pm

Sunday 26th October - Worcester Warriors - EDF Energy Cup - Liberty

Stadium - 3.05pm

Sunday 2nd November - London Irish - EDF Energy Cup - Madejski

Stadium - 3.00pm

Friday 28th November - Edinburgh - Magners League - Murrayfield - 7.30pm