Welsh regions bank on new faces as future hangs in the balance
Wales's four regions start the new United Rugby Championship season with fresh faces in key shirts and an uncertain future off the field.
The Welsh Rugby Union remains committed to cutting the number of professional teams from four to three. All four — Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets — have still signed a new participation agreement that brings an increase in annual budget, according to BBC Sport.
That money has been put to work. The summer saw notable departures, including Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Aaron Wainwright and Marnus van der Merwe. Clubs have moved to replace them before the new campaign, which opens with Scarlets hosting Benetton on Friday 25 September.
The most eye-catching switch is Tom Rogers to Ospreys from Scarlets. Rogers was a Scarlets player in November when he became the first Wales player to score three tries against New Zealand. He believes he is a better full-back than wing and wants the No 15 shirt in Swansea.
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones called him a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ equally comfortable at full-back and on the wing. That versatility matters. Jack Walsh has left, and young Lewis Edwards is coming through after impressing with his big boot for Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship. Australia back-rower Liam Wright has also joined the Ospreys squad.
Scarlets have turned to experience. Gareth Anscombe, 35, has arrived at Parc y Scarlets after five appearances for Bayonne in France last season. He brings 37 Test caps, two World Cup campaigns and a Grand Slam.
Fitness is the question. Anscombe ruptured knee ligaments in 2019 and has since twice managed double figures for a club in a season, for Ospreys in 2021-22 and Gloucester in 2024-25. Scarlets want him to push Sam Costelow for the fly-half shirt — the playmaker who directs the attack — and that should allow Joe Hawkins to stay at inside centre, the midfield role outside fly-half.
There is a second job too. Scarlets want Anscombe to help develop teenager Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, who was thrown into the starting side last season because of injuries and unavailability. Prop Corey Domachowski has also joined Scarlets this summer.
Cardiff are building from strength. They finished sixth last season to reach the play-offs, then lost to the Stormers in the quarter-finals in Cape Town. Their key addition is Scott Sio from Exeter.
Sio won 74 caps for Australia as a loose-head prop, the front-row forward who anchors one side of the scrum. That set-piece — the structured restart where the two packs push against each other — will be central if Cardiff are to go further this season.
Dragons need a lift. Scrum-half Ereatara Enari has been identified as their key signing for 2026-27, with forward Terrell Peita also arriving. Wainwright’s exit leaves a gap in the back row and in leadership.
What makes this stand out is the context. Four squads are trying to win now while knowing one may not survive. For supporters, this means every new signing carries extra weight.
New combinations take time. The regions will need them to click fast.
