Rees among five to extend stay at Blues

IT’S the busiest weekend in the international rugby calendar so far this year, with no fewer than nine Test matches taking place in all.

While Welsh fans will be focused on events in San Juan where Warren Gatland’s team take on Argentina this evening, there will be plenty of action elsewhere around the globe.

In fact, you can park yourself in front of a TV from dusk to dawn and watch pretty much non-stop rugby.

The televised action begin at 8.35am, with a powerful-looking New Zealand team taking on France at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Next up, it’s Ireland’s game against Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, with the Munster-bound Joey Carbery getting the nod at fly-half as Johnny Sexton is on the bench.

Then, in the afternoon, Eddie Jones’ new-look England face South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Scotland face Canada in the early hours of Sunday with an experimental side, while Cardiff Blues winger Blaine Scully captains the USA against Russia and his Arms Park colleague Rey Lee Lo lines up for Samoa versus Fiji.

On the officiating front, Wales’ Nigel Owens will be running the line for the meeting between Japan and Italy in Oita. CARDIFF Blues have handed new contracts to five players, including former Wales skipper Matthew Rees.

Hooker Rees has re-signed along with fellow forwards Kirby Myhill, George Earle and James Down, plus back three man Dan Fish.

The 60-times capped Rees is now 37 and suffered a nasty knee injury in March, which ended his season.

But, prior to that, he’d had an impressive campaign, playing in 18 games and rolling back the years with his efforts.

He has been with the Blues since switching from the Scarlets in 2013, making close on 100 appearances in all.

Fellow hooker Myhill was a regular on first team duty last season, figuring in 23 matches, and he too will be staying at the region along with full-back Fish and locks Earle and Down.

The latest re-signings complete the Blues’ extensive retention programme, with only Alex Cuthbert (Exeter), Taufa’ao Filise (retirement) and Damian Welch (Cross Keys) departing the Arms Park.

New head coach John Mulvihill said: “I’m delighted to have secured this group of players to new deals, and their contribution to the squad will be crucial over the course of the season.

“We’ve got good depth in this squad at the moment, and it’s great to see players competing for their places in the side and use that competition as a motivation to push on.

“The experience from players like George Earle and Matthew Rees will be invaluable, especially in terms of developing our young players in the pack, and they are key leaders in the squad.

“Kirby Myhill played a part in some key victories last season, and I’m keen to see him compete for that number two jersey.

“Having local players, such as Dan Fish and James Down, who have come through the system are also an important part of this team’s identity and will no doubt add the depth of quality that we need next season.”

Attention now turns to recruitment with signings set to be announced in the coming weeks.

Mulvihill added: “With the retention side completed, we also remain extremely positive on the recruitment front.

“We’ve made good progress with a number of key targets and are looking forward to unveiling this in the very near future.”