Dewi Lake to Captain Ospreys vs Munster Ahead of Gloucester Move

Intro: Dewi Lake resumes his captaincy for Ospreys in a URC clash with Munster in Bridgend. While contract talks with Lake and fellow star Jac Morgan swirl in the background, the match remains about on-field performance.

Wales hooker Dewi Lake returns to lead Ospreys against Munster in Bridgend

The 26-year-old Wales hooker, who has not played since Wales suffered a 73-0 defeat to South Africa, will captain the side as Lake and Morgan confirmed they will move to Gloucester after the 2025-26 season. Head coach Mark Jones praised Lake's professionalism amid the ongoing talk, saying his attitude around the club has been exemplary and that the rest of the squad has shown the same focus.

"You wouldnt have known there was anything going on. Thats true for the whole group, not just those two players," Jones said, highlighting the team spirit during a period of change.

Ospreys also welcome back a handful of Wales internationals — Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Rhys Davies, James Ratti and Harri Deaves — while Owen Watkin and Morgan Morris earn their first starts after long absences due to injury. Jones noted healthier bodies and stronger competition for places as a positive sign for the squad.

Munster sit third in the URC and have made six changes and two positional moves from the side that earned a Champions Cup bonus-point win over Gloucester. Jeremy Loughman, Fineen Wycherley, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Tom Farrell and Calvin Nash are introduced to the starting lineup.

Match details

Ospreys: Nagy; Kasende, Boshoff, Watkin, Giles; Edwards, Morgan-Williams; S Thomas, Lake (captain), Henry, R Davies, Smith, Ratti, Deaves, M Morris. Replacements: Parry, C Jones, Botha, Sutton, Morse, Hardy, K Williams, Walsh.

Munster: Haley; Nash, T Farrell, Nankivell, Daly; Crowley, Patterson; Loughman, Scannell, Ala'alatoa, Kleyn, Wycherley, Oonnell (capt), Kendellen, Coombes. Replacements: Barron, Milne, Bartley, Edogbo, Ahern, Coughlan, Hanrahan, Hodnett.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU); Assistants: Craig Evans & Andrew Moule (WRU); TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).

Kick-off is scheduled for 17:30 GMT on Saturday at the Brewery Field, Bridgend. Listen live and follow updates on the INLIBER Sport site and app.

Team form and wider context

Ospreys have essentially secured a spot in the Challenge Cup knockout rounds after pool wins against Connacht and Montauban, but their URC form has been mixed, with only one win from six league games this season. Jones said the team has shown signs of improvement and believes they are closer to turning performances into wins.

Beyond the match, Welsh rugby faces a governance debate as the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) contemplates trimming one of its four mens professional teams. The proposal would grant three licenses to run professional clubs in Cardiff, the east and the west, potentially intensifying the rivalry between Ospreys and Scarlets in the west. There is also speculation about the WRU exploring a potential sale of Cardiff, currently owned by Ospreys' backers, as part of the broader restructuring plan.

Jones urged the squad to focus on their roles and maintain high standards regardless of external changes: "You can only control your own performance. Do your best for the badge, and everything else will fall into place."

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How they line up

Ospreys: Nagy; Kasende, Boshoff, Watkin, Giles; Edwards, Morgan-Williams; S Thomas, Lake (capt), Henry, R Davies, Smith, Ratti, Deaves, M Morris. Replacements: Parry, C Jones, Botha, Sutton, Morse, Hardy, K Williams, Walsh.

Munster: Haley; Nash, T Farrell, Nankivell, Daly; Crowley, Patterson; Loughman, Scannell, Ala'alatoa, Kleyn, Wycherley, O'Donoghue (capt), Kendellen, Coombes. Replacements: Barron, Milne, Bartley, Edogbo, Ahern, Coughlan, Hanrahan, Hodnett.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU); Assistants: Craig Evans & Andrew Moule (WRU); TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).

Kick-off: 17:30 GMT, Saturday, Brewery Field, Bridgend.

Conclusion

With Lake back in captaincy and several Welsh internationals returning, the Ospreys aim to steady their URC campaign while managing the off-field moves that could reshape Welsh rugby. The clash with Munster is a test of resilience and squad depth as Lake and Morgan prepare for a Gloucester move in the future.

Key insight: Focus and leadership under pressure help Ospreys push for URC results despite contract distractions. Source

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