European Challenge Cup: Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric looks for Sale success

Justin Tipuric made his Ospreys debut in November 2009

Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric says he will continue playing as long as he is enjoying his rugby.

Tipuric, 34, will lead his side against Sale in the European Challenge Cup last-16 match in Bridgend on Saturday evening.

The flanker retired from international rugby in May 2023 after winning 93 Wales caps.

"When the enjoyment goes, I won't be hanging around for the sake of it," said Tipuric.

"It takes a little bit longer to recover sometimes, but the mind still feels like a young boy.

"The main thing I've always said is I want to enjoy it, that's the one thing with the group of players and the staff here, they make it fun.

"The youngsters make sure to tell me how old I am. They're good kids and there is quality coming through.

"Funnily enough, I was shown a picture of one of the boys, he was attending a Wales game which I played in, he was 10 years old. That felt weird."

Age balance

Tipuric finds himself as the oldest member of the Ospreys squad following the retirements of the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies and Stephen Myler.

"You've got to have that balance of the youngsters and experience," said Tipuric.

"From my early days being here, it always helped when you had that knowledge passed down to you.

"I'm trying to fill the boots of some of the experience we've had here before. There are big boots to fill."

After watching his all-action display against Lions last weekend, Ospreys fans will be hoping Tipuric sticks around for the foreseeable future.

Head coach Toby Booth recognises the enduring legacy of the British and Irish Lions flanker.

"Tips is an incredible rugby player, one of the most exceptional people I have seen on or off the pitch," said Booth.

"He will decide, he's the sort of guy who will turn up one day and go, that's it.

"He knows what he can and can't do, he has a very high standard of what he does and the moment he can't reach that standard, he will decide. That is what makes Tips what he is."

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The immediate ambition is for Tipuric to defat Sale and lead Ospreys to a European quarter-final trip to face Gloucester next weekend.

Sale coach Alex Sanderson has made sweeping starting changes to the side that hammered Exeter 41-5 last weekend, with England duo George Ford and Manu Tuilagi among the rested players.

"It's knockout rugby, so if you don't perform, you're out," said Tipuric.

"We know you don't get another chance, so there's definitely pressure and we've got to be on the money.

"We're still nowhere near where we want to be, hopefully it's just the start."

The game has been switched from Swansea to the smaller Brewery Field in Bridgend where Ospreys beat Cardiff on 1 January.

"It's like going back in time for me, but I'm looking forward to the game," said Tipuric.

"It's a little bit different for us, but the boys spoke highly of the atmosphere in the game against Cardiff and we're hoping for a similar type of atmosphere on Saturday.

"It's massive, around the ground, you hear every little voice.. We are grateful having those people around us and we're going to try and put on a show for them.

"Last year we lost away to Saracens in the knockout stages, which was tough. It was a great day out and the fans at the game were unbelievable, the difference they made was amazing.

"Saturday is a different competition and we're going to try and go a little bit further; we want to keep pushing.

"We want to make it a tough day at the office for Sale."