URC: Welsh shield - who's in and out?

SPOTLIGHT: @rugby365com reporter Angus Opperman delves into the squad depth of the Welsh URC outfits for the upcoming season.

Cardiff: (2023/4 season standing: 12th)

With another disappointing season behind them, Cardiff also bid farewell to a host of players, but also acquired quite a few as well.

Players out: Tomos Williams (Gloucester), Rhys Carré (Saracens), Ellis Jenkins (Retired), Owen Lane (Valence Romans), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Dragons), Ciaran Parker (Retired), Arwel Robson (Chambèry), Matthew Aubrey, Willis Halaholo, Aled Summerhill (all released), Lopeti Timani (Narbonne).

Players in:

Callum Sheedy: The 16-Test capped Wales flyhalf has joined the Welsh outfit after spending the last 10 years of his career with Bristol Bears.

Sheedy fills the void left in the No.10 jumper by Arwel Robson who joins Chambéry in France.

Gabriel Hamer-Webb: The wing us is a former England U20 international and had a stint at Bath.

He joins Cardiff from Northampton Saints.

Steffan Emanuel: Emanuel represented Wales U20 in the 2024 World Rugby U20 championship.

After completing his studies while contracted to Bath, Emanuel returns to Cardiff for the upcoming season and look to make his name in the midfield.

Tom Bowen: Another return to Cardiff as a senior, Bowen had a scholarship that saw him being part of Bristol Bears.

The youngster is a Wales U16 international and will want to make an impact as a youngster in the squad.

Joe Cowell: The loosehead prop has represented Cardiff in 2021, making his debut in the Champions Cup against Toulouse off the bench.

He returns from Cardiff Metropolitan University to bolster the Welsh outfits’ front row stocks.

Danny Southworth: The loosehead prop represented Exeter Chiefs on 25 occasions before linking up with Cardiff for the 2024/5 season.

Ed Byrne: A veteran for Leinster, he makes the switch to Cardiff for the upcoming season after representing the Irish province on 96 occasions.

Byrne also represented Ireland on six occasions back in 2020.

Iwan Stephens: The 25 capped Newcastle Falcons wing is a try scoring machine who dotted down for his former side on 11 occasions.

He also represented England U20 on five occasions in 2022.

Rory Jennings: Jennings is a former England U20 flyhalf.

He had stints with Bath, Clermont London Irish and more recently Newcastle Falcons and will be in competition with Tinus de Beer for the No.10 jersey.

Dan Thomas: The loose forward has been around the block, having had stints with Scarlets and Gloucester, but found a long term home with Bristol Bears who he represented 0n 114 occasions since 2017.

He will bring heaps of experience and beef to the Cardiff pack.

Josh McNally: A former London Irish and Bath lock, McNally also represented England in 2021 earning a solitary Test cap.

He’s an experienced campaigner and will provide great expertise in the second-row.

Aled Davies: Davies joins Cardiff for the upcoming season after representing Saracens over 70 times, having tasted Premiership success in 2023.

With Tomos Williams moving to Gloucester, he will fill that void in the No.9 jersey, also providing experience who whoever he partners with on the day at No.10.

Johan Mulder: The former Lion spent most of his professional career with the Griquas and will now join Davies and Bevan in competing for the No.9 jersey.

Dragons: (Season standing: 15th)

It’s been a tough couple of years for the Dragons who only managed three wins in 18 outings.

They have, however at times showed great fight against big name opposition such as Leinster and the Stormers, who had to work hard for victories against them and they’ll hope to build on those good moments and turn it into 80-minute performances in the upcoming season.

Players out: Corey Baldwin, Gonzalo Betranou, Max Clark, Nathan Davies, Lewis Jones, Aki Seiuli, Sio Tomkinson (all released), Jack Dixon, Bradley Roberts, Lloyd Fairbrother (all retired), Sean Lonsdale (Ealing Trailfinders)

Players in:

Solomone Funaki: A hard hitting Tongan international loose forward- Funaki played for Moana Pasifika for two seasons before taking up a stint with the Dragons.

He will provide them with good defensive work and attacking play as he is comfortable in the tight and loose.

Harry Wilson: Not to be confused with carbon copy namesake from the Reds, Wilson joins from the Waratahs having amounted 13 caps in two seasons for the New South Wales based side.

He will provide great versatility as he’s comfortable to slot in at centre, wing and fullback.

Steve Cummins: The former Rebels and Pau lock has been a bit of a journeyman, having had stints with the Eastern Province Kings in 2014 and Scarlets in 2017.

Shane Lewis-Huges: After representing Cardiff on 68 occasions, Lewis-Huges will join the Dragons who are serious about beefing up their pack.

The physical loose forward also has the ability to slot in at lock which makes him a great utility if the need comes up.

Oli Burrows: The 21-year-old returns to Wales from Exeter Chiefs where he made his senior level debut against Bristol Bears in the Premiership.

Lloyd Evans: The versatile flyhalf and fullback spent his entire senior career with Gloucester between 2015 and 2024 before linking up with the Dragons for the upcoming season.

He also played for the England U20 side in 2014 and 2015.

Other players from junior levels are: Owen Conquer, Harri Ford, Owain James, Oli Woodman

Ospreys (2023/4 season standing: eighth, finish: losing quarterfinalist)

The Welsh outfit surprised friend and foe by sneaking into the top eight towards the end of the season following the Lions’ loss to the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium and their own victory later that day against Cardiff.

They managed upset victories against the Lions and Stormers in South Africa and will look to go one better this upcoming season.

Players out: George North (Provence), Jack Regan (Verblitz), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Alex Cuthbert (Released), Will Hickey (Released), Toby Fricker (Free Jacks), Cameron Jones (Cornish Pirates), Mat Protheroe (Hawke’s Bay).

Players in:

Phil Cokanasiga: The Fijian born centre had a stint with London Irish and more recently Leicester Tigers who he’s joining the Ospreys from.

He also represented England at age-group level.

Steffan Thomas: The former Scarlets prop will link up with cousin Gareth Thomas at his new side and bolster the front row stocks.

He represented the Scarlets on 51 occasions.

Kieran Hardy: Hardy has been the incumbent scrumhalf for Wales, having played 21 Tests to date and will be a huge boost in terms of experience for the Ospreys.

He represented Scarlets on 87 occasions.

Daniel Kasende: With the Cheetahs and Ospreys having a player exchange agreement in place, Kasende will link up with the Welsh outfit following the Cheetahs’ semifinal exit in the Currie Cup.

The Congolese-born wing brings a great attacking edge, speed and power to the Ospreys side who have shown that they can beat anyone on any given day.

Ryan Conbeer: The two-time Wales international joins the Ospreys on a short-term deal following his release from the Scarlets who he’s represented on 78 occasions.

Other player: William Greatbanks

Scarlets: (2023/4 season standing: 13th)

It’s been a tough couple of seasons for the Scarlets who managed five wins from 18 attempts the past season.

They also lose many players than what they have acquired in the transfer season which might not help their cause for the upcoming season.

Players out: Steffan Thomas, Kieran Hardy, Ryan Conbeer (all Ospreys), Jonathan Davies, Lestyn Gwilliam, Lewis Morgan, Iwan Shenton, Callum Williams, Scott Williams (all released), Joe Jones (Doncaster Knights), Luca Giannini (Swansea), Eduan Swart (Pumas), Dan Jones (Ealing Trailfinders), Teddy Leatherbarrow (Sedgley Tigers), Wyn Jones (Harlequins).

Players in:

Marnus van der Merwe: Joining from the Cheetahs, the Hooker has been impressive for the Bloemfontein based side, so much so that he’s been included in a wider Springbok training squad.

He’s a 2023 Currie Cup winner and will add great value to the Scarlets’ front row.

Alec Hepburn: The Australian-born prop has represented both England and Scotland at Test level – having qualified for England due to residency and Scotland due to his Scottish-born father.

He’s played 180 times for Exeter Chiefs before starting a new chapter with Scarlets for the upcoming season.

Ellis Mee: The youngster who’s comfortable at wing and fullback had a stint with the Nottingham club but will start his professional career with Scarlets.

Max Douglas: Versatile to play either lock or loose forward, Douglas joins from the Eagles in Japan having had a stint with the Waratahs before as well.

Henry Thomas: Thomas has had a couple of stints with various teams.

Having represented Sale Sharks, Bath, Montpellier, and most recently Scarlets he provides a host of experience and knowledge.

He also represented Wales on four occasions.

Blair Murry: New Zealand born but Welsh qualified, Murray is comfortable at flyhalf, wing and fullback and had a stint at Canterbury in the NPC in 2022 and 2023.

He joined Scarlets in June 2024.

Archer Holz: the 24-year-old tighthead prop have two Super Rugby caps with two teams – the Brumbies (2021) and Waratahs (2022-2024).

He also represented Australia ‘A’ in the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup and also had a brief stint with La Rochelle.