Wales deputy Reuben Morgan-Williams helps Ospreys mark St Helen's return with Dragons win

Ospreys beat Dragons at St Helen's on 24 October in a United Rugby Championship match, completing a URC double over their regional rivals and claiming a third straight victory. Reuben Morgan-Williams, in pole position to be Tomos Williams' deputy for Wales, signed off the game with a double after coming off the bench.

With three wins in a row and back at their St Helen's home, Ospreys sit seventh in the URC table with one round to play in the first block of the season and having completed their South Africa double-header. The club returned to the redeveloped ground on 24 October, drawing 5,592 supporters despite horrendous weather, and the occasion was described by head coach Mark Jones as carrying heavy expectations: "There was a lot of pressure on the boys around the whole occasion. You only get one chance to make a first impression." Jones added: "It was a proper Ospreys performance and it needed to be in those conditions. It wasn't just a win, it was a really good performance because there was a lot of high-quality skill in there, some good defensive work and our set-piece shone through. The effort was class."

The return to St Helen's followed a season in which Ospreys played in Bridgend, and work on the home ground remains ongoing. Wales wing Keelan Giles, who recalled childhood finals and local ties to the venue, praised the atmosphere: "I'd never played in front of a crowd that big here. It was a great night, a great experience and it's class to be here again. They've done an amazing job and the atmosphere was top notch."

Morgan-Williams' role stood out amid the conditions; the 28-year-old "signed off with a double against Dragons and joined forces with Dan Edwards to guide the side around in tricky conditions," the article reports, and he is expected to miss the upcoming derby as he is in contention for Wales. Jones commented on his progression: "He's definitely earned the opportunity. I love how honest he is around his work and he always wants to get better. He is an Ospreys through and through, a Neath boy who loves the badge, loves coming to work and is so consistent. He's got that sort of dour face and you never know if he's excited or annoyed! But he is always the same and consistent." Jones later added: "Tomos is locked in at number one with Wales at the moment but Reubs has done a class job for us. If he is called upon by Wales then he will do an awesome job. I couldn't think of a better guy to be in that squad to help Wales." Morgan-Williams "won his third cap off the bench against South Africa in the summer" and is joined in the Wales squad by Dragons prospect Che Hope, according to the report.

Scarlets produced a high-energy performance at the Stormers but left Cape Town with only a solitary try bonus, having reached 40-40 late on and then losing a losing-bonus point in the closing stages. They made 21 clean breaks and beat 42 defenders, with teenage fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones "pulling the strings superbly" and centre Joe Roberts scoring a hat-trick. Director of rugby Nigel Davies said: "You can't come here and admire the way the Stormers play, you have got to come here and challenge them and dare to be great." The Stormers were dealing with injuries that left them without a specialist hooker to throw in and deprived of their dominant scrum, and Scarlets will travel to face the Bulls on Saturday. Scarlets will also be without in-form wing Macs Page after he was given oxygen while leaving the field following a heavy head impact.

Cardiff were beaten by Sharks at the Arms Park, the first away side to win there in 2026, after a congested fixture schedule that included a five-day turnaround from a Champions Cup defeat by Northampton. Saints boss Phil Dowson labelled that turnaround "nuts." Cardiff overturned a half-time deficit and had the wind at their backs but spent the final quarter pinned deep inside their own half, and the team have already failed to score match points in two games this campaign against Leinster and Sharks compared with just one such blank at Glasgow all last season. Cornel van Zyl confirmed Cardiff will travel west without James Botham, "who will be with Wales as he attempts to earn a spot against Japan," and praised Botham's recent displays: "Jim is a tough character who works hard, is athletic and robust. He stood up to the challenge." Botham scored two tries, made 27 tackles and won three turnovers in the referenced outing, and "came off the bench against Fiji and South Africa in the summer, either side of a start versus Argentina."

Dragons suffered a heavy defeat to Ospreys and head coach Filo Tiatia reflected on a poor showing: "We're so much better than what we showed. We were second best in most things." The Dragons are dealing with a lengthy injury list and the absence of a six-strong Wales contingent, and they are without locks Ben Carter, Seb Davies and Levi Douglas. It is feared Tonga centre Fetuli Paea suffered a serious injury in the closing stages in Swansea, with Tiatia already without Aneurin Owen and Harri Ackerman; Harri Keddie and Thomas Young could bolster the back row. The report notes a bonus-point win against Zebre would take Dragons to 14 points alongside a Challenge Cup victory over Perpignan.

Ospreys now prepare to host Cardiff in the next round before the break for the Nations Championship, a fixture they will contest without Reuben Morgan-Williams; Scarlets travel to face the Bulls on Saturday; and Dragons head to Zebre seeking a bonus-point victory that would lift their early-season prospects.