Cardiff Blues hope they can keep their hands on Leigh Halfpenny
CARDIFF Blues owner Peter Thomas is adamant he can keep star-name players such as Leigh Halfpenny and Sam Warburton in Welsh rugby if plans for a British & Irish Cup are sanctioned by the Welsh Rugby Union.
Reports in Toulon have suggested that Lions star Halfpenny is on his way to the European champions.
But Thomas believes he can save the day if the WRU backs the Regions’ plan for the new tournament.
“It is a club-led competition and it gives the Irish and the Scots more money and it keeps us in the PRO12 because we have this massive support coming for everyone from BT,” said Thomas.
Halfpenny kicked five penalties that hauled Cardiff back into their RaboDirect Pro12 derby clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons and on to a 21-13 triumph.
Having gone down 22-16 at Rodney Parade six days earlier, this was a must-win for the home side.
They were 10-9 adrift at the break after Will Harries scored the only try. But Halfpenny’s three second-half penalties, allied to a Gareth Davies drop, earned Cardiff victory.