Dragons v Ospreys Kicks Off a Big Welsh Rugby Weekend
WELSH rugby heads into another important weekend with a derby under the Friday-night lights, followed by two very different challenges for Scarlets and Cardiff.
First up, Dragons host Ospreys at Rodney Parade on Friday evening in Round Three of the United Rugby Championship.
For the Dragons, the early-season picture is an encouraging one.
They remain unbeaten after opening with a 19–19 draw away to Benetton before producing a stirring 38–26 victory over Scarlets in Newport last weekend. Six tries, a noisy Rodney Parade crowd and a strong second-half performance gave Filo Tiatia’s side their first win of the campaign.
Tiatia has made no secret of how important he believes home form can be this season.
He has spoken about using the energy of the Rodney Parade crowd as a genuine advantage and has described the Ospreys as a side that will “scrap and fight” after their opening two matches in South Africa.
The Ospreys arrive back in Wales after a demanding opening to the season.
They began with a trip to Durban to face the Sharks before moving on to Johannesburg to play the Lions, meaning Friday’s derby offers their first opportunity of the URC campaign to play back in Wales.
That alone gives the fixture a slightly different edge.
The Dragons want to build on momentum.
The Ospreys want to bring something home from a difficult opening road trip and have former Australia wing Marika Koroibete making his debut.
And both know that Welsh derbies have a habit of becoming contests that bear little resemblance to the form book.
***
What time is Dragons v Ospreys?
Kick-off is at 7.45pm on Friday, October 9.
The match is being played at Rodney Parade, Newport.
***
Where can I watch Dragons v Ospreys?
The game will be shown live on S4C, with streaming also available through S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
Welsh and English-language commentary options are available through S4C’s coverage.
The match is also being carried by Premier Sports, while international options include SuperSport, FloRugby and URC.tv.
***
A quick rematch to come
One of the quirks of this season’s schedule is that the same two teams will meet again very soon.
The return fixture takes place at St Helen’s, Swansea, on October 24, giving the redeveloped stadium its first competitive Ospreys home game of the season against Welsh opposition.
That should add a little extra spice to Friday night.
Any score to settle in Newport will not have long to wait.
***
Scarlets look for first win
On Saturday, attention switches west as Scarlets host Benetton at Parc y Scarlets.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm.
Scarlets are still looking for their first URC win of the season and have made three changes to the starting side, with Joe Hawkins making his first start of the campaign.
Henry Thomas and Will Evans also return to the pack, while Hawkins resumes his Wales midfield partnership with Eddie James.
There is an added personal element to the fixture.
Former Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac returns as part of the Benetton set-up, while Rhys Patchell is also on the Italian club’s coaching staff.
The match forms part of a wider celebration of Welshness at Parc y Scarlets, with live music and Welsh-language activities helping turn the afternoon into more than simply a rugby fixture.
The game is being shown on Premier Sports.
***
Cardiff face the biggest test yet
Cardiff then travel to Dublin to face Leinster on Saturday evening, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
They could hardly arrive in better early-season shape.
Cardiff have won both of their opening URC matches and now face what Josh McNally has described as a chance to measure how far the side has progressed.
There are seven changes to the team. Taulupe Faletau returns to action for the first time since January, while Aled Davies is also back and Matty Young is handed his URC debut. Mason Grady has been passed fit to start on the wing.
Cardiff also have a recent reminder that Leinster are not untouchable. They beat the Irish province 8–7 at the Arms Park in February, one of the standout results of last season.
Repeating that feat in Dublin would be another matter entirely.
***
Welsh URC fixtures this weekend
Friday, October 9: Dragons v Ospreys (Rodney Parade, 7.45pm)
Live: S4C, S4C Clic, BBC iPlayer, YouTube and Premier Sports
Saturday, October 10: Scarlets v Benetton (Parc y Scarlets, 5.30pm
Live: Premier Sports
Leinster v Cardiff (Laya Arena, Dublin, 7.45pm)
Super Rygbi Cymru continues
The professional game is not the only Welsh rugby on offer this weekend.
Super Rygbi Cymru began its latest round on Thursday night, when Bridgend Ravens beat Aberavon 24–19 at the Electric Brewery Field.
The result gave Bridgend a measure of revenge after Aberavon had beaten them on the opening weekend of the season and added another close chapter to one of the competition’s familiar local rivalries.
Four more fixtures follow on Saturday.
Cardiff host Carmarthen Quins at the Arms Park, while Llandovery entertain Pontypool at Church Bank.
In North Wales, RGC welcome Newport, while perhaps the most eye-catching fixture comes at St Helen’s, where Swansea face Ebbw Vale.
The Swansea game carries added significance as the first competitive rugby fixture at the redeveloped St Helen’s, bringing league rugby back to one of the most historic grounds in the Welsh game.
***
Super Rygbi Cymru – Saturday
Cardiff v Carmarthen Quins
Llandovery v Pontypool
RGC v Newport
Swansea v Ebbw Vale
Did Ewe Know?
The Dragons and Ospreys will meet twice in just over two weeks. After Friday’s derby at Rodney Parade, they face each other again at the redeveloped St Helen’s in Swansea on October 24 — an unusually quick return fixture and one which will help mark the beginning of a new chapter for rugby at the historic Swansea ground.