URC: Wales fly-half Dan Edwards aims to impress on Ospreys return
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Date: Saturday 1 March Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Coverage: Live text and match report on BBC Sport online.
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones believes his side and Wales will benefit from fly-half Dan Edwards returning for the United Rugby Championship (URC) trip to face champions Glasgow on Saturday.
Edwards, 21, made his Wales debut as a replacement in the 43-0 defeat by France before also coming off the bench in the 22-15 loss in Italy.
Interim Wales head coach Matt Sherratt took over from Warren Gatland and left Edwards out of the squad for the 27-18 defeat against Ireland in favour of Gareth Anscombe and Jarrod Evans.
Sherratt has released Edwards this weekend, alongside hooker Sam Parry who starts and prop Ben Warren who is named on the replacements bench.
“It is good for us and Wales having Dan back this week in our squad,” said Jones.
“When you are a young player, time in the saddle is important, particularly in a decision making position like half-back where they touch the ball more than anybody else.”
An Ospreys debut for Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu has been delayed after the centre this week signed from Sale on a deal until the end of the season as cover for injured Wales centre Owen Watkin.
Nayacalevu, 34, has only had three training sessions since arriving on Monday and is now in line to make his first Ospreys appearance against Connacht on 22 March in Swansea.
Both Ospreys and Glasgow have 20 players unavailable this weekend because of injuries and international call-ups.
Flanker Justin Tipuric will captain the side with Morgan Morse lining up at number eight.
Scrum-half Scott Whitlock, 20, is in line to make his debut from the bench with Reuben Morgan-Williams and Luke Davies missing.
Scotland international Adam Hastings lines up at full-back with Duncan Weir captaining the side from fly-half, while JP du Preez could make his first appearance in 650 days after completing his rehabilitation on a long-term knee injury.
Glasgow’s only defeat in their previous six league matches came against Edinburgh in December 2024.
The Warriors’ only loss at Scotstoun Stadium in the URC since October 2021 was in the 2023 quarter-final play-off to Munster.
Defending champions Glasgow have not lost to a Welsh region since their visit to Swansea in October 2022 and the Scottish side have lost just one of their previous four fixtures with Ospreys.
“Glasgow are the champions, and you don’t win the league without having quality depth,” said Jones.
“We’ve paid them the respect they have earned and deserve in the build-up.”
Glasgow: Adam Hastings; Sebastian Cancelliere, Ollie Smith, Duncan Munn, Facundo Cordero; Duncan Weir (capt), Ben Afshar; Patrick Schickerling, Grant Stewart, Fin Richardson, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Henco Venter Jack Mann.
Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Nathan McBeth, Sam Talakai, JP du Preez, Ally Miller, Angus Fraser, Sean Kennedy, Kerr Johnston.
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Garyn Phillips, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Ratti, James Fender, Harri Deaves, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morse.
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Cam Jones, Ben Warren, Will Spencer, Morgan Morris, Scott Whitlock, Tom Florence, Iestyn Hopkins.
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant referees: David Sutherland (SRU), Rob McDowell (SRU)
TMO: Colin Stanley (IRFU).