Fight for Wales spots heats up as under-threat regions win

The talking points from round three of URC as Ospreys and Scarlets get off the mark and players try to impress Wales boss Steve Tandy. There is a Welsh derby in each of the first five rounds of the URC There was western relief after Ospreys and Scarlets got up and running in the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship (URC) season. The two sides are playing amid uncertainty over their futures under controversial Welsh Rugby Union plans, yet produced the goods on the pitch in round three. Ospreys won an engrossing derby against Dragons at Rodney Parade, inflicting a first defeat of the season on their hosts, while Scarlets sneaked past Benetton thanks to Sam Costelow's late penalty.

Cardiff, who started with two wins from two, showed spirit in defeat by champions Leinster but left Dublin with nothing to show for their efforts. There were 24 tries scored in the three games involving Welsh sides, with the interesting subplot of the scrap for international selection. Steve Tandy was given plenty to ponder before naming his Wales squad for the Nations Championship on 20 October. WRU publishes data on why west Wales team will be cut Tom Rogers scored a hat-trick for Wales against New Zealand in November 2025 Tom Rogers made the short move to Ospreys from Scarlets with the intention