Cardiff Blues in 08/09

By Andrew Collins
July 15 2009

The Cardiff Blues have announced they will play Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints as they look to prepare for the new season. The Tigers will be the Blues first opponents at the new Cardiff City Stadium on Friday 21st August.

The English duo represent two tough fixtures ahead of the 09/10 Magners league kick off, with Leicester in particular arriving as Guinness Premiership Champions and Heineken Cup Finalists.

The Blues had two wonderful games against their pre-season opponents last year, with Northampton losing 11-5 in the EDF Semi-Final, while Leicester knocked Cardiff out of the Heineken Cup Semi after a penalty shootout.

It should be a chance for fans to see a brand new half back pairing, following the departure of Nicky Robinson and Jason Spice. In their place comes 2005 British Lion Gareth Cooper, and Australian Sam Norton-Knight.  And Cooper, 30, admits he's delighted to be a Cardiff Blue;

"It's great to be back and an exciting time for me joining the Blues. It [the new stadium] looks amazing and I'm really looking forward to playing here. Hopefully we can start off the season well and bring the crowds in too... I'm sure the atmosphere here will be awesome."

Cooper arrives back in Wales following his 2-year exile at Gloucester and has set his sights on overtaking Dwaine Peel and Mike Phillips in the Welsh squad. But to do so, he knows the his new club must build on last season, and once again excel in all competitions,

"Consistency is probably going to be the key for this season, especially with the Magners League. My aim is just to play well and get to the knock-out stages of the Magners and also the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup. I think that would be a great achievement and it's something I'm looking forward to."

Cardiff take on Leicester on the 21^st August, with Northampton arriving on the 22^nd, a week before the Magners League opener against Edinburgh on 4^th September.

The Blues are also hosting an open day to welcome fans to the new ground which takes place this Saturday (18 July) from 12pm.

Two Pre-Season Fixtures Announced

Discussion started by theArmsPark.co.uk , 15/07/2009 18:05

theArmsPark.co.uk
15/07/2009 18:05

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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bluebadger
15/07/2009 19:21

How can they play less than 2 days before the CCFC v Brizz city match? thought that was against the rules!!

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jakeharvey
24/07/2009 10:07

didnt we play northampton in a friendly last year: that was a good game.
the leicester game would be a good game 2 watch 2 but im in ireland 4 that!

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Rich.
24/07/2009 11:56

Badger - I think it shows that some of the 'fact's we hear ain't facts

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ATTR
24/07/2009 13:14

Possibly they want to get off on a good footing and are working on the pitch being pretty good in August and new. How stringently the rule is applied may change with the bad weather and winter. Or Cardiff RFC have negotiated a variation on the deal?

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