Welsh sides return to action among uncertain future

Wales internationals Rio Dyer, Mason Grady, Ros Moriarty and Joe Hawkins were in action as the pre-season friendlies began for their teams

Finally there was some Welsh rugby to talk about on the field this weekend as the four professional sides started their pre-season campaign.

The summer has again been dominated by more off-the-field turbulent times with players trying to put uncertainty over their futures to the back of their minds.

Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets took 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, which is the same day that the official consultation into the WRU proposals ends.

Preparations continue for the season with crowds of more than 3,000 to watch Cardiff comfortably defeat Richmond at the Arms Park and Ospreys lose to Exeter at Bridgend's Brewery Field.

Scarlets faced feeder clubs Carmarthen Quins and Llandovery in two halves, while Dragons were the only team to travel as they brushed aside Hartpury in Gloucestershire.

Moriarty makes Ospreys debut but Exeter triumph

Ross Moriarty has made 50 international appearances for Wales

In front of new Wales head coach Steve Tandy, Ospreys lost 38-26 to Exeter in Bridgend.

Ospreys are playing at the Brewery Field for the 2025-26 season following the move from the Swansea.com stadium and the redevelopment of St Helen's, which is due to be the permanent home from the summer of 2026.

The friendly against Exeter gave the Ospreys fans a chance to have a look at their temporary home and new signing Ross Moriarty, who scored one of the four tries for the hosts.

Jones says Ospreys players are coping well with the off-the-field uncertainty.

"We have not walked past anything that is there, we have been very up front with the players and keep them in the loop with what is happening," said Jones.

"They have done a great job of focusing on wanting to get better as rugby players and I can't speak highly enough of how they have dealt with things."

Ospreys have no official pre-season games after another proposed match against Leinster fell through.

They will have in-house training matches against Cardiff and Bristol before flying out to South Africa to start their season against Bulls on 27 September.

British and Irish Lions flanker Jac Morgan and the Wales internationals, including the likes of Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Dan Edwards and Keelan Giles, were missing in Bridgend but will be phased back into action in the coming weeks.

Dragons united on and off the field

Dragons players in a huddle

Dragons chief executive Rhys Blumberg travelled to the friendly at Hartpury University RFC on the official supporters' coach in a show of solidarity.

Co-owner David Buttress was also at the fixture in Gloucestershire, talking to fans as they watched their side run out 45-12 winners.

After meeting with the WRU on Tuesday to discuss the plans, Dragons launched a statement 48 hours later declaring "Welsh rugby deserves better" than the proposal to cut four professional sides to two.

"It was the perfect opportunity for me to represent the board on the bus and get under the skin of what supporters are thinking ahead of the season," said Blumberg.

"As a club we made a very clear statement about where we stand. We have demonstrated our commitment to the Dragons and Gwent rugby, that's why we are here to show that we are right behind the team."

On the field, Filo Tiatia's side scored seven tries in a comprehensive win as they build towards their URC opener at Ulster on 26 September.

They led 19-7 at half-time thanks to tries by centre David Richards, academy wing Rhys Cole and flanker Harri Keddie.

Further scores followed after the break from scrum-half Niall Armstrong, Cole, lock Matthew Screech and centre Aneurin Owen.

The only negative was new flanker Thomas Young, who signed from Cardiff, limping off just 10 minutes after his introduction.

The Dragons will assess Young's hamstring strain in the coming days.

Scarlets' mixed fortunes

Scarlets and Wales wing Ellis Mee played for Llandovery in the 2024-25 season

It was very much a game of two halves for Scarlets at Llandovery as Dwayne Peel's side faced two different teams in 40-minute contests.

A Scarlets side held a 26-7 advantage against Llandovery with new summer signing Joe Hawkins, lining up at fly-half rather than centre, impressing as he kicked three conversions.

Props Harri O'Connor and Kemsley Mathias, centre Ioan Nicholas and scrum-half Dane Blacker scored the Scarlets' tries, while George MacDonald's score for Llandovery was converted by Sam Potter.

A more inexperienced Scarlets side then slipped to a 7-5 loss to Carmarthen Quins, who were indebted to a try from Tomos Williams and conversion by Ifan Davies. Wing Tomi Lewis scored for Scarlets.

Scarlets open their URC campaign at home to Munster on 27 September with head coach Peel saying the off-the-field matters are a concern.

"It's difficult because there is a lot of uncertainty in the game and people's lives," said Peel.

"That's the reality because the human side of it, is that it affects your life. There is uncertainty which causes anxiousness for players and staff.

"The quicker we can get some certainty the better and this process is taking place at the minute. That process is taking place while we are trying to get ready for a season.

"All we can do is go about our daily work. Credit to the players because they love coming to work and playing rugby and they have approached it well."

Cardiff cruise to win but Grady injured again

Cardiff prop Ioan Emanuel, who is scores a try against Richmond

Cardiff's situation is slightly different to the other three sides as they are currently WRU-owned after being bailed out by the governing body in April.

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has already indicated it would be hard to think about not having professional rugby in Cardiff.

So despite the ongoing consultation process, their future seems more secure than their rivals.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt gave short answers on the state of the Welsh game off the field as he focuses on on-the-field matters.

They began their pre-season fixture by running in 11 tries to record a 71–10 victory over new English Championship club Richmond at the Arms Park.

Summer recruits Ioan Lloyd, Taine Basham, George Nott and Sam Wainwright started to make their first appearances since signing, while Ioan Emanuel, who joined on loan from Bath, was also included in the starting XV.

Fellow additions Javan Sebastian and Tom Cottle, along with loan acquisition Ieuan Davies, were introduced in the second half.

There was a negative aspect when Wales wing Mason Grady's long-awaited return lasted just 50 minutes as he was forced off clutching his shoulder.

Grady hadn't played since suffering an ankle injury in November 2024 while fellow wing Elijah Evans was also forced off inside the last 15 minutes.

"It's a shoulder injury, but we'll have to assess it in the next 24-48 hours," said Sherratt.

"Fingers crossed it's ok because Mason deserves a bit of luck. He's had a tough 18 months, so let's hope that he's ok.

"I am hoping that it's not as bad as it looks and we get a scan that is low grade. Until we have a look at it, I don't want to get too downbeat."

Cardiff have one more friendly against Leinster before kicking off their URC season at home against Lions on Saturday, 27 September.