URC team news: Wales internationals return for New Year’s Day derby clashes

There’s two games set to take place in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on New Year’s Day as Cardiff play host to the Ospreys while Scarlets take on the Dragons.

Louie Hennessey will make his senior debut for Cardiff on Wednesday and is one of seven changes to the side that secured a bonus-point victory over Dragons on Boxing Day.

Hennessey partners Ben Thomas, who continues as captain, in the centre, while Wales international Ellis Bevan comes in at scrum-half with Aled Davies moving to the replacements.

In the forwards, there are five further changes with Danny Southworth and Evan Lloyd packing down alongside Kieron Assiratti in the front-row. Seb Davies makes his first URC start of the season, while Dan Thomas and Alun Lawrence return to starting spots in the back-row.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt has opted for a 6-2 split on the replacements bench, with Thomas Young returning among the forwards and Rory Jennings providing the three-quarter cover.

Meanwhile, Wales international back-row Jac Morgan is set to captain the Ospreys at Cardiff Arms Park.

Gareth Thomas starts for the Ospreys at loosehead, with Sam Parry lining up at hooker and Tom Botha completing the front-row.

Rhys Davies returns from injury to partner James Fender at lock. Jac Morgan lines up at six, Justin Tipuric takes up the other flank and Morgan Morris starts at eight.

Reuben Morgan-Williams starts at scrum half with Dan Edwards at 10. Keiran Williams partners Owen Watkin in the centre.

In the back three, Max Nagy starts at full-back, with Keelan Giles on one wing and Iestyn Hopkins on the other.

James Ratti also returns from injury to take up a place on the bench.

The teams

Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Louie Hennessey, 12 Ben Thomas (c), 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 James Botham, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Kieron Assiratti, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Danny Southworth
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Josh McNally, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Taulupe Faletau, 22 Aled Davies, 23 Rory Jennings

Ospreys: 15 Max Nagy, 14 Iestyn Hopkins, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Jac Morgan (c), 5 James Fender, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 James Ratti, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jack Walsh, 23 Evardi Boshoff

Venue: Arms Park
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Ben Connor (Wales) and Adam Jones (Wales)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Wales)

The 50 best rugby players of 2024, part one: 50-26

Scarlets v Dragons

Wales international Blair Murray returns to the Scarlets starting line-up for the URC New Year’s Day Welsh derby against Dragons at Parc y Scarlets.

Murray is one of four personnel changes from the team beaten late on by the Ospreys in Swansea last time out.

With Murray coming onto the left wing, Ellis Mee switches to the right wing and Tom Rogers moves to full-back.

Joe Roberts gets the nod in midfield and he partners Johnny Williams.

Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies continue at half-back.

There are a couple of changes up front, including a start for Alec Hepburn at loosehead prop.

Alex Craig comes into the second-row to partner Sam Lousi, while Max Douglas moves into the back-row alongside skipper Josh Macleod and Taine Plumtree, who wears the number eight jersey. Vaea Fifita is named amongst the replacements.

Meanwhile, Wales international Elliot Dee starts his first game of the season for the Dragons.

Hooker Dee is handed a starting spot as the region make three changes from the side that were narrowly defeated by Cardiff.

Shane Lewis-Hughes returns in the back-row after an appearance off the bench on Boxing Day.

Cai Evans is also recalled at full-back, with a back line shift seeing Huw Anderson move to the wing and Jared Rosser to outside centre.

Prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths could make his senior debut from the bench while Chris Coleman and Harry Wilson return among the replacements for the clash in Llanelli.

The teams

Scarlets: 15 Tom Rogers, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Josh Macleod (c), 6 Max Douglas, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Alec Hepburn
Replacements: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Archer Holz, 19 Vaea Fifita, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Eddie James

Dragons: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Jared Rosser, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Huw Anderson, 10 Angus O’Brien (c), 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ryan Woodman, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Nick Thomas, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Che Hope, 22 Will Reed, 23 Harry Wilson

Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Kick-off: 17:15 GMT
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Craig Evans (Wales) and Mike English (Wales)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

READ MORE: The 50 best rugby players of 2024, part two: 25-1