Scarlets and Ospreys dominate Wales squad for South Africa finale amid regional rugby uncertainty

The Principality Stadium fixture (kick‑off 3.10pm, live on TNT Sports, discovery+ and S4C) is Wales’ final Quilter Nations Series match of 2025. Tandy said the group was “excited” to build on recent performances despite being restricted to Wales‑based players because the game falls outside World Rugby’s international window.

Reinforcements after player exodus

Thirteen players have returned to their clubs in England and France this week, including Adam Beard, Rhys Carre, Tomos Williams and Louis Rees‑Zammit. Their departure left gaps across the squad, particularly in the back three, where Josh Adams is also suspended following his red card against Japan.

In response, Tandy has called up Ospreys forwards James Ratti and uncapped prop Garyn Phillips, Scarlets wing Ellis Mee and Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd. Mee, 22, made his Test debut in the Six Nations against Ireland and is regarded as strong in the air and dangerous in broken play. Ratti brings versatility in the lock and back row, while Phillips, who toured Japan last summer, is rewarded with his first senior call‑up. Lloyd replaces Cardiff teammate Liam Belcher, who is sidelined with a neck injury.

Scarlets and Ospreys at the core

Scarlets and Ospreys dominate the selection, with 18 of the 30 players drawn from west Wales. The Ospreys provide 12 names, including captain Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Davies, Morgan Morse and Kieran Hardy. The Scarlets contribute six, among them Taine Plumtree, Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts, Blair Murray, Tom Rogers and Ellis Mee.

Their prominence underlines the strength of the two clubs in supplying talent to the national side, even as both face uncertainty under the WRU’s proposed regional rugby restructuring. Civic leaders and supporters have warned that the changes risk destabilising west Wales rugby, despite its players continuing to form the backbone of the national squad.

Fresh faces and uncapped talent

The revised squad also features several uncapped players. Ospreys trio Garyn Phillips, James Fender and Ben Warren are joined by Cardiff prop Danny Southworth in seeking their first senior appearances. Their inclusion reflects the WRU’s commitment to blooding new talent alongside established internationals, with the autumn finale offering a chance to test depth against the world champions.

Springboks reshuffle too

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has also been forced into changes, with 15 players returning to clubs in Japan and South Africa ahead of a full round of United Rugby Championship fixtures. “We are going to lose quite a few players,” Erasmus admitted, adding that the Springboks would train with only 25 players this week. Despite the absences, he stressed the importance of the clash with Wales for world ranking points, describing it as “another massive Test match” to close the year.

Full Wales squad

Forwards: Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Danny Southworth (Cardiff), Garyn Phillips (Ospreys), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, capt), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff), Brodie Coghlan (Dragons), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Christian Coleman (Dragons), Ben Warren (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), James Fender (Ospreys), James Ratti (Ospreys), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Morgan Morse (Ospreys), Harri Deaves (Ospreys).

Backs: Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Reuben Morgan‑Williams (Ospreys), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Callum Sheedy (Cardiff), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Jacob Beetham (Cardiff), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Blair Murray (Scarlets), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Ellis Mee (Scarlets).

Match details

• Wales v South Africa
• Quilter Nations Series 2025
• Principality Stadium, Cardiff
• Saturday 29 November, 3.10pm
• Live coverage: TNT Sports, discovery+ and S4C; commentary on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru

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Scarlets boosted by return of internationals for Sharks clash

Rogers, Mathias, Ball and Lousi back in the XV

Tom Rogers, Kemsley Mathias, Jake Ball and Sam Lousi all come back from injury and go straight into the starting line‑up following last weekend’s defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg.

Rogers resumes on the wing, with Blair Murray switching to full‑back. Joe Roberts partners skipper Johnny Williams in midfield, while Dane Blacker starts at scrum‑half in place of Archie Hughes. Sam Costelow continues at fly‑half.

In the pack, Mathias makes his first appearance of the season at loose‑head, joining hooker Marnus van der Merwe and tight‑head Archer Holz in the front row. Ball returns from head injury protocols to partner Harvey Cuckson in the second row, while Lousi is named at blindside flanker alongside openside Dan Davis and No. 8 Taine Plumtree.

Peel: “We have to be bold”

Head coach Dwayne Peel said the squad must continue to play with ambition despite a difficult start to the campaign.

“Obviously, we have been disappointed with results so far, but we can’t go into our shells in terms of how we want to play. We have to keep being bold and encourage the boys to go out and play,” he said.

“The Sharks are a dangerous team — you only have to look at their line‑up, 13 current Springboks, some of the best players in the world. The challenge for us is we need to be a collective, the boys have to fight for each other. What an opportunity and what a challenge for our guys.”

Scarlets team to face Hollywoodbets Sharks

Saturday, October 25 – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban (15:00 UK time; Premier Sports)

Starting XV: 15 Blair Murray; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Johnny Williams (capt), 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 3 Archer Holz, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Harvey Cuckson, 6 Sam Lousi, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Alex Groves, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Joe Hawkins, 23 Ioan Nicholas.

Unavailable (injury/illness): Max Douglas, Josh Macleod, Ryan Elias, Eddie James, Jac Price, Osian Williams, Will Evans, Dom Kossuth.

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