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Callum Sheedy set to quit Bristol and join Welsh URC club – report
Callum Sheedy is set to provide Welsh rugby with a timely recruitment boost as he is reportedly poised to quit the Gallagher Premiership for the URC.
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The 28-year-old has starred for Pat Lam’s Bristol since a 2018 top-flight debut following an apprenticeship with the Bears at Championship level and he will soon be unveiled as a new Cardiff signing in an attempt to revive his stalled international career.
Sheedy was memorably the match-winner for Wales in their 2021 Guinness Six Nations win over England at the Principality Stadium but he hasn’t added to his tally of 16 caps since his three appearances off the bench in 2022 when Wayne Pivac was at the helm.
Wales are now being coached again by Warren Gatland and while Sheedy is currently nursing a knee injury, the signing of a contract extension with Bristol would make him ineligible for a Test recall as he doesn’t have the requisite 25 caps needed to remain available for selection while based in the Premiership.
A switch to Cardiff – who this week confirmed their takeover by Helford Capital – would head off that ineligibility issue and provide Sheedy with the chance to try and fight his way back into the international fold.
The Sportsmail report revealing Sheedy’s switch from the Premiership to URC read: “Bristol’s Callum Sheedy is set for a cross-border switch to Welsh side Cardiff in a move which is likely to reignite the fly-half’s Test career.
“Sheedy was born in the Welsh capital but came through the system at the Bears and has been contracted to the Ashton Gate side for his entire professional club career.
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“The 28-year-old is currently sidelined by a knee injury which meant he wasn’t considered for Warren Gatland’s Wales squad for the 2024 Six Nations.
“Sheedy has 16 caps for Wales but hasn’t played for his country since 2021. If he re-signed with Bristol, or any other club outside Wales, he would have become ineligible for international rugby under the Welsh Rugby Union’s controversial 25 cap selection ruling.
“Playing for Wales again – their head coach Gatland only has rookie Sam Costelow as a specialist No10 in his squad for the Six Nations – is an attraction for Sheedy. Mail Sport understands Sheedy’s move to Cardiff is set to be confirmed officially in the coming weeks.
“All four of Wales’ regions are operating on very tight financial playing budgets of circa £4.5million each for next season but Cardiff do have some money to spend after Wales internationals Tomos Williams and Rhys Carre agreed moves to English sides Gloucester and Saracens respectively.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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