Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets team news as European ties continue

All four of the Welsh sides are back in European action this weekend

The Welsh rugby team news for this weekend’s European matches

• The Scarlets have made eight changes for their trip to face defending champions Union Bordeaux Begles in the Champions Cup on Saturday night (5.30pm). Wales internationals Tom Rogers and Johnny Williams join Taine Plumtree and Blair Murray on the sidelines., with Tomi Lewis and Joe Roberts replacing Rogers and Williams.
• Scarlets: Jac Davies; Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee; Joe Hawkins, Dane Blacker; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Max Douglas, Jake Ball, Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis, Fletcher Anderson. Replacements: Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’Connor, Sam Lousi, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Sam Costelow, Macs Page.
• Wales international Owen Watkin will make his return from injury after the “hardest 11 months of his rugby life” when the Ospreys take on Montauban on Saturday in the Challenge Cup (3.15pm). Jack Walsh captains the side out in France as Mark Jones’ side look to back up their win over Connacht last weekend.
• Ospreys: Max Nagy; Ryan Conbeer, Evardi Boshoff, Phil Cokanasiga, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Luke Davies; Cameron Jones, Lewis Lloyd, Rhys Henry, Huw Sutton, James Fender, Ross Moriarty, Gwilym Evans, Morgan Morse. Replacements: Efan Daniel, Steff Thomas, Kian Hire, Lewis Jones, Morgan Morris, Kieran Hardy, Owen Watkin, Iestyn Hopkins.
• Leigh Halfpenny will make his first appearance for Cardiff in over a decade when they take on Ulster in the Challenge Cup on Saturday night. (8pm). Three players – Ben Thomas, Keiron Assiratti and Rory Thornton – will all make their 100th appearance for the club.
• Cardiff: Leigh Halfpenny; Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Tom Bowen; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes, Keiron Assiratti, George Nott, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence (capt). Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Sam Wainwright, Josh McNally, Alex Mann, Ellis Bevan, Jacob Beetham, Cam Winnett.
• Dragons welcome back Wales international Aaron Wainwright as they continue to look for a first win of 2025. The Rodney Parade side have endured an awful calendar year, having not won since last December. However, they’ll be hoping that Sunday’s Challenge Cup clash with Lyon (3.15pm) could provide them with a springboard moving forward.
• Dragons: Angus O’Brien (c), Jared Rosser, David Richards, Aneurin Owen, Huw Anderson, Tinus de Beer, Niall Amstrong; Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Oli Burrows, Robert Hunt, Levi Douglas, Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Thomas Young, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Will Austin, Jordan Morris, Owain James, Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Che Hope, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser