ROUND 9

The teams for BKT URC Round 9 New Years Day Welsh derby fixtures have been named with all details of match officials and broadcast information below.

TEAM NEWS HEADLINES

#DRAvSCA

• Harri Keddie and Harry Beddall called back into Dragons RFC pack
• Sam Lousi set to make 100th appearance for Scarlets

#OSPvCAR

• Jack Walsh is set to captain Ospreys
• Keiron Assiratti returns from injury and is the only change to Cardiff Rugby match-day 23

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1

Dragons RFC v Scarlets

Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA / 17.00 SA

Referee: Ben Connor (WRU, 6th league game)

AR 1: Carwyn Sion (WRU) AR 2: Gareth Newman (WRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

Live on: S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (C.CAPT), David Richards, Fine Inisi, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer, Tinus de Beer, Che Hope, Rodrigo Martinez, Oli Burrows, Robert Hunt, Ryan Woodman, Ben Carter (C.CAPT), Harri Keddie, Harry Beddall, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: George Roberts, Wyn Jones, Cebo Dlamini, Levi Douglas, Thomas Young, Rhodri Williams, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas, Tom Rogers, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Ellis Mee, Joe Hawkins, Gareth Davies, Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Max Douglas, Harvey Cuckson, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Fletcher Anderson

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Josh Morse, Harri O’Connor, Sam Lousi, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Macs Page

Dragons RFC Head Coach Filo Tiatia said: “We’re looking to the challenge, another Welsh derby and representing the jersey and the people of Gwent on New Year’s Day.

“It’s set to be a huge crowd at Rodney Parade, so we need to embrace the atmosphere and look to build on the performances and what we have achieved on home soil in recent games.”

Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: “The result on Boxing Day was disappointing for us all. We have had to lick our wounds and it’s been important to recover well and turn our focus to the Dragons. The games are coming thick and fast and this is another important game and another tough game for us. They are going well at the moment and we have to make sure we go to Rodney Parade with a spark and full of energy.”

Ospreys v Cardiff Rugby

Dunraven Brewery Field, Bridgend – KO 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA / 19.30 SA

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 48th league game)

AR 1: Ben Breakspear (WRU) AR 2: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU)

TMO: Craig Evans (WRU)

Live on: BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ospreys: Jack Walsh (C.CAPT), Iestyn Hopkins, Owen Watkin, Keiran Willians, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy, Garyn Phillips, Sam Parry (C.CAPT), Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Ryan Smith, James Ratti, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris

Replacements: Dewi Lake, Steffan Thomas, Rhys Henry, James Fender, Morgan Morse, Gwilym Evans, Phil Cokanasiga, Max Nagy

Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett, Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Mason Grady, Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder, Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (CAPT), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, George Nott, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Rhys Barratt, Javan Sebastian, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau, Aled Davies, Jacob Beetham

Cardiff Rugby Coach Corniel van Zyl said: “We were obviously pleased to get the win against Dragons on Boxing Day but it was a frustrating performance. We left some opportunities out there in the second half and let them back into the game.

“But that’s given us plenty to work on and a sharpened focus this week, and we are all very aware that we will need to be much better on Thursday.

“The Ospreys are a quality team and enjoyed an impressive win over the Scarlets. We will have to match their physicality, set-piece and manage the middle third of the pitch well. It’s a challenge we are looking forward to.

“We talk a lot about growth and going away to the Brewery Field gives us the chance to test our game in a different environment in what will be tough game”.