Welsh regions set to play amid uncertainty over WRU plans

Cardiff's Josh McNally, Dragons' Harri Keddie, Ospreys' Jac Walsh and Scarlets' Ioan Nicholas captain their sides in friendlies

Players at all four Welsh regions must try to put uncertainty over their futures to the back of their minds on Saturday afternoon.

Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets take to the field for the first time since the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced proposed plans for the elite game that threaten a cut to two professional teams.

The governing body is due to announce its final decision at the end of October, which means the first block of the United Rugby Championship (URC) will be played amid uncertainty.

The URC gets under way on Friday, 26 September and preparations step up a notch this weekend.

Dragons head to Hartpury University (14:30 BST), Ospreys welcome Exeter to Bridgend (14:30 BST), Cardiff host Richmond (15:00 BST) and Scarlets play a half each against Llandovery and Carmarthen Quins (16:00 BST).

Moriarty in as Ospreys make themselves at home

Back row Ross Moriarty has won 54 caps for Wales

Ospreys will play in Bridgend for the 2025-26 campaign while St Helen's is being redeveloped.

They beat Stormers and Edinburgh at the Brewery Field last season and will attempt to turn over Exeter to keep that run going.

Mark Jones gives a start to Ross Moriarty after his return to Wales from Brive, who he joined from the Dragons at the end of the 2022-23 season.

The 31-year-old starts at blind-side flanker and forms a combative back row with Harri Deaves and Morgan Morse.

Hooker Efan Daniel and scrum-half Harri Williams are on the bench but their fellow summer signing Ryan Smith, an Australian lock whose arrival softens the blow of losing Adam Beard, sits out the Chiefs game.

Exeter will field different XVs in either half with Wales forward Christ Tshiunza featuring at blind-side in the first 40 minutes, when the visitors are captained by former Ospreys number eight Ethan Roots.

Welsh-qualified Zack Wimbush and Kane James are involved after the break at outside centre and number eight.

It is Ospreys' only friendly before they start the URC in South Africa against Bulls and Stormers.

Hawkins to wear 10 for Scarlets

Joe Hawkins made his Wales debut against Australia in 2022

Scarlets take on Super Rygbi Cymru opposition in Llandovery with 40-minute games against the hosts at Church Bank and then Carmarthen Quins.

New signing Joe Hawkins starts at fly-half against the Drovers after his return to Wales from Exeter Chiefs.

The 23-year-old made his Wales debut at inside centre against Australia in 2022 when with Ospreys.

Hawkins won four more caps in midfield during the 2023 Six Nations before his move to England made him ineligible under the WRU's selection policy.

He is given the 10 jersey at Llandovery and his half-back partner is Dane Blacker, who has returned to Llanelli after two seasons with Dragons.

Tristan Davies, a summer signing from Ospreys, starts at lock while Ioan Jones, who has moved from Gloucester, is on a 12-strong bench that also features Aberavon's Saul Hurley and Llandovery's Dan Gemine.

Scarlets are captained by Ioan Nicholas and have another friendly at Dragons on Saturday, 13 September before a home start in the URC against Munster.

Nine new boys for Dragons

Wales prop Dillon Lewis spent two season with Harlequins

Dragons had a big recruitment drive after a nightmare 2024-25 season and nine of their 14 signings are poised for action at Hartpury.

Wales tight-head Dillon Lewis starts after his arrival from Harlequins and he is joined in the XV by lock Levi Douglas, fly-half Jac Lloyd and centre David Richards.

The bench features South African tight-head Rob Hunt, scrum-half Niall Armstrong plus flanker Thomas Young, number eight Mackenzie Martin and fly-half Tinus de Beer after their moves from Cardiff.

Dragons do not include their Wales summer tourists and are without centre Fetuli Paea and wing Fine Inisi, who are away with Tonga and unlikely to play in the URC opener at Ulster on 26 September because of the Pacific Nations Cup.

They are also without wing Harry Rees-Weldon, who impressed when given his senior debut in the run-in last season.

The 20-year-old missed the World Rugby U20 Championship because of a hamstring strain and suffered a foot injury in training at the end of last month that is likely to sideline him for the opening rounds.

Boss back with Cardiff after Test success

Matt Sherratt was interim head coach when Wales beat Japan to end an 18-Test losing streak

Cardiff include eight summer signings in their squad to take on Richmond at the Arms Park.

The Blue and Blacks give starts to fly-half Ioan Lloyd, loose-head prop Ioan Emanuel, tight-head prop Sam Wainwright, lock George Nott and number eight Taine Basham.

Tight-head Javan Sebastian and lock Tom Cottle are on the bench along with scrum-half Ieuan Davies, who is on loan from Bath this season along with Emanuel.

Wing Mason Grady makes his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury playing for Wales against Fiji last autumn.

Cardiff, who were pipped to the play-offs last season by Scarlets, host the English Championship side and travel to Leinster seven days later as they build towards their home URC opener against Lions.

Head coach Matt Sherratt is back with Cardiff after helping Wales end their 18-Test losing streak in Japan in the summer.

He said: "We really want to build on last season and we have challenged the boys to continue showing that fight and attacking ambition."