Bowe out to be local hero

Tommy Bowe is hoping to gain pats on the back from the locals this weekend rather than dirty looks when the Ospreys welcome Cardiff Blues to the Liberty Stadium for their New Year’s Day Pro 12 derby (KO 6.30pm).

The Irish wing has been at the Ospreys long enough to understand the strength of passion surrounding Welsh derby fixtures and aims to ensure it is the home fans who are celebrating after Sunday’s final whistle.

The two rivals come into the game with differing fortunes, the Ospreys having seen their long unbeaten run ended by the Scarlets on Boxing Day, while the Blues won their pre-Christmas derby at home to the Dragons.

Bowe said: “This is my fourth year here and you can really see how big these derby matches are to people in the region, not just hardcore supporters but to the wider public really. You win one of these derbies and you’ll have everybody patting you on the back, if you lose they are giving you dirty looks. They don’t hide their feelings, good or bad, so we all know what the results mean in terms of local pride.”