Gatland backs regions ahead of Heineken weekend

Wales Coach Warren Gatland with WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis

(Main) Warren Gatland with WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis (Thumb) Warren Gatland outside the Millennium Stadium; the new Wales Coach has backed the four Welsh regions ahead of this weekend's Heineken Cup matches

7 December 2007, 5:49 pm

By WRU

Warren Gatland today issued a message of support to each of the four Welsh regions involved in Heineken Cup action this weekend.

The new Wales coach will use the European competition to begin his assessment of players before he selects his squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship in the new year and he will visit the Liberty Stadium tonight (Friday) and Stradey Park tomorrow to see the home grown talent on offer.

The Ospreys take on Ulster in Swansea this evening and the Scarlets face a must win clash with Munster tomorrow; Gatland expects those matches alongside the Dragons' visit to Benetton Treviso and the Blues clash in Stade Francais (Sunday) to give him the vital information he needs.

“The Heineken Cup is the nearest thing these players get to the intensity of international rugby without pulling on the Wales jersey and we will learn a lot from watching them perform under those conditions,” said Gatland.

“Wales needs its regions to be playing well and to be strong in this competition and I would like to wish the Ospreys, Blues, Scarlets and Dragons the best of luck for each of their matches this weekend.”