Host of hot Welsh rugby prospects picked to play in Welsh Premiership

There’s plenty of Welsh regional talent on display in the Welsh Premiership in the 11th round of the league campaign this weekend.

The action began on Thursday night, with Pontypridd recording their third win in a row with a 29-20 victory over Carmarthen Quins at Sardis Road. Ponty inside centre Ben Burnell has returned to the club following the collapse of the Jersey Reds and has been training with Cardiff Rugby, whilst Scarlets scrum-half Archie Hughes started and picked up a yellow card for Quins.

With five fixtures taking place on Saturday, who are the professional club players involved with their semi-professional clubs alongside a former Welsh international?

Quartet involved within Dragons sides

Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan has revealed how strong the relationship is between the professional club and the three semi-pro sides. Flanagan said in this week’s press conference: “It’s really harmonious in our region, which is great and what we want.

“Our semi-pro clubs in our region are all onboard, whether it’s Ebbw Vale, Pontypool or Newport, they all understand the bigger picture for us and the player. They want to win, don’t get me wrong - Jason (Strange), Ty (Tyron Morris) Slug (Leighton Jones) at Pontypool, they want to win every game they play but they’re very accommodating for the need of the player”.

Both Che Hope and Morgan Lloyd are starting for their respective clubs on the weekend, with Newport travelling to league leaders Llandovery and Pontypool heading to Bridgend.

Flanagan added: “We made a commitment with Pontypool and Newport for Morgan (Lloyd) and Che (Hope) to play all year, because they’ve missed so much rugby the last two years, they need to play, they need 25 games, as scrum-halves they need to play”

Twenty-year-old Hope has had experience within the Dragons first team, with three games from the bench in the URC and Challenge Cup last season, along with his three caps for Wales U20s.

Winger Oli Andrews will feature alongside Hope in the Black and Ambers backline, he has scored three tries in seven matches this season and has featured nine times for Wales U20s between 2021-23.

Going up against Newport will be Llandovery, who have Scarlets academy member Macs Page on the bench. The 18-year-old has started three times for the drovers this term, scoring in wins against Neath and Merthyr and has made a further four appearances from the bench.

Pooler’s Lloyd will make his 10th appearance of the season and played a role in Pontypool getting promoted back into the Premiership last season.

He will be joined by hooker Sam Scarfe, who’s an U20s international and has made 18 turnovers so far this term. Prop Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths and wing Ewan Rosser have been called up to the Dragons squad for their tour of South Africa following game time at the club.

Swansea trio in action

Swansea RFC are able to call on three Ospreys academy products ahead of their trip to Ebbw Vale.

Hooker Lewis Lloyd has featured for Toby Booth’s side in three URC fixtures so far this season and will be starting for the Whites alongside Wales u20s scrum half Rhodri Lewis, who’s making his seventh appearance of the season.

On the bench, Wales U20s prop Ellis Fackrell is making his first appearance of the season in the Welsh Premiership following a return from injury after featuring on multiple occasions last year.

Cardiff duo to start against Wizards

Cardiff RFC will be looking to build on their victory over the Whites as they welcome Aberavon to the Arms Park.

With number 8 Mackenzie Martin being called up to the pro side to play in the URC clash against the Stormers on Friday night, there are still two players involved. Fly-half Arwel Robson featured in the URC defeat to the Bulls and played in Cardiff RFC’s win at St. Helens last weekend.

The former Dragons fly-half appeared 24 times for the men of Gwent during four seasons at the club, before joining Cardiff Rugby ahead of the start of the current season.

Flanker Lucas De La Rua is another prospect coming through the ranks at Cardiff. He starts at openside flanker this weekend, with this being his third start in the Premiership.

De La Rua has made two URC appearances this season, coming from the bench against Benetton and the Dragons, whilst playing seven times for Wales U20s last season - including the junior World Cup in South Africa last summer.