Ospreys V Borders

The Ospreys team to face Border Reivers in the Celtic League at the Liberty Stadium "€" Friday 17th February - kick off at 7.10pm, will be selected from the following squad: -

The Ospreys team to face Border Reivers in the Celtic League at the Liberty Stadium – Friday 17th February - kick off at 7.10pm, will be selected from the following squad: - 

Backs (10):

Adrian Cashmore           Stefan Terblanche          Sonny Parker                Andrew Bishop

Gavin Henson                Richard Mustoe             Damian Karauna            Shaun Connor

Jason Spice                  Richard Rees

Forwards (12):

 Andrew Millward             Cai Griffiths                   Craig Mitchell                Huw Bennett

Richard Hibbard             Lyndon Bateman            Andrew Newman            Alun-Wyn Jones

Des Dillon                     Jonathan Thomas           James Bater (Captain)    Richard Pugh

The team will be announced at the final team-run and confirmed by email at midday tomorrow 

Gavin Henson makes a welcome return to the starting line-up on Friday evening, and he commented on the match as follows: -

"Much of the discussion at the moment seems to be about my involvement with the Wales team, but I really want to just focus on achieving the same performance levels that I produced last season for the Ospreys.  Hopefully that will then be good enough for Wales if and when the time comes”

“I have trained hard over the last seven weeks and I am looking forward to putting my boots on and giving 100% for the region.  I have received fantastic support from the Directors, team management and the coaching staff and I am looking forward to repaying some of that faith between now and the end of the season

“Whilst the ban was disappointing it has given me an opportunity to improve my strength and conditioning and I am now back to the same levels as I was last season.  I love playing rugby, I love playing for the Ospreys and I am looking forward to facing the Borders on Friday night”

Injury and squad availability news  

We currently have ten players unavailable: -

Adam Jones, Duncan Jones and Shane Williams are with the Wales squad

Ian Evans is serving his suspension and is available for the Blues fixture on 3rd March

Johnny Vaughton fractured his finger playing for Swansea last weekend and is likely to be out for two weeks

Barry Williams and Paul James have had vertebrae disk surgery.  They hope to return in May

Brent Cockbain (hamstring) and Ryan Jones (shoulder) have begun rehabilitation but will not play again this season

David Bishop is now in light training and due to see a consultant in respect of having the wire removed from his knee