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Corniel van Zyl’s side are looking to seal a URC play-off spot against the Stormers this weekend
Cardiff lock Josh McNally will miss his side’s United Rugby Championship clash with the Stormers this weekend to play for the Royal Air Force team.
The 35-year-old former England second row is employed as a weapons engineer by the RAF, with the force allowing him to continue his professional rugby career in Wales through their elite athlete programme. However, as part of the deal, he is expected to play in games against the British Army and Royal Navy each season.
McNally was given permission to miss the RAF’s game against the Navy last month in order to help Cardiff to a 24-28 derby win over the Scarlets in Llanelli, but now must be available to face the Army in their Inter Service Championship finale on Saturday.
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The match, which is being held at Gloucester’s Kingsholm Stadium, is taking place the day after Cardiff’s final URC regular season game against the Stormers on Friday night.
However, while McNally – who moved to the Arms Park from Bath in 2024 – won’t be able to play for Cardiff, his availability for the RAF also remains in doubt having suffered a head injury in his side’s 40-17 defeat against Glasgow over the weekend.
His absence for the visit of the South African outfit means that Rory Thornton and George Nott are the only senior specialist locks fit and ready at head coach Corniel van Zyl’s disposal.
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Teddy Williams is unlikely to return this weekend, having spent the last seven months on the sidelines after dislocating his foot against Connacht in November.
Van Zyl is also set to be without flanker Alex Mann, who has a foot injury, while Josh Adams is also a doubt after suffering a head injury against Glasgow.
Adams was seen being escorted off by medical staff at half-time after suffering a collision with Sione Tuipulotu at Scotstoun, with the Wales wing failing to return for the second half after failing an HIA.
With the race for the top eight going down to the wire, Cardiff head into the final weekend of the regular season seventh in the URC table on 50 points, level with eighth-placed Ulster and just one ahead of Connacht in ninth.
A win against the second-placed Stormers this weekend would see van Zyl’s side seal a play-off place, regardless of what happens in Connacht’s clash with Edinburgh or Ulster’s home game against Glasgow.
Having been pipped by the Scarlets by a single point last season, Cardiff will be hoping not to miss out again this time around, with Munster and the Lions also yet to confirm their play-off status.
The Stormers, alongside Glasgow, Leinster and the Bulls, have already booked their play-off places.
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