Why Judgement Day is always a special day for Cardiff flanker Young

SINCE returning to Wales, Thomas Young has made a Judgement Day date a point of marking in his diary each season.

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"When the fixtures are announced, Judgement Day is one of the first things I look for, to see when and where it is," reveals the Cardiff Rugby flanker.

"I know a lot of the other boys look forward to it as well, especially playing in the stadium. It brings an extra bit of excitement because everyone wants to play there.

"To have two Welsh derbies in a stadium like that, it's a good occasion...the more people we get there the better."

Young's Cardiff will be involved in the first of the two games in the April 19 double header as they take on the Ospreys in a game which is crucial to both teams hopes of making the URC play-offs.

That will be followed by the club he is joining next season - Dragons RFC - locking horns with the Scarlets, who are also vying for a top eight spot.

So there's plenty at stake.

"I think that's why it's all the more exciting this year because three regions are going for the top eight," said Young.

"Whoever loses the Cardiff-Ospreys game, it becomes hard for them to make the play-offs.

"It's a massive game anyway, but there's even more on it because both teams are going for the top eight."

The occasion will be all the bigger for Young personally as, even though he has been a pro for well over a decade now, he has only played twice before at the Principality Stadium.

There was an outing for Wales against Fiji in November 2021 and then there was the 2023 Judgement Day meeting with the Ospreys when he scored two tries in a 38-21 victory.