Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Wales back rows Jac Morgan (left) and Aaron Wainwright will play for English clubs next season
- Published59 minutes ago
It was a weekend of farewells, damaged hopes and damaged bodies as Welsh rugby moves towards the end of another domestic season.
In the United Rugby Championship (URC), Cardiff remain in the hunt to secure a play-off place but their chances of holding onto a top-eight spot took a knock after defeat to league leaders Glasgow. To add injury to insult, back Josh Adams was forced off injured at half-time.
Ospreys and Dragons fans, meanwhile, were able to see Wales back-row pair Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright play their last home games for their respective regions before moves to the English Prem.
Tomos Williams is already plying his trade on the other side of the Severn, but the scrum-half suffered a worrying shoulder injury early in the second half of his side Gloucester's league win over Sale at Kingsholm.
BBC Sport takes a look back at the weekend's talking points for Welsh rugby.
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Last home hurrahs for back-row stars
Ospreys fans have long known that British and Irish Lions star Morgan and fellow Wales co-captain Dewi Lake would be leaving at the end of the season.
It was announced in December that Morgan and hooker Lake would leave to join Prem side Gloucester for the 2026-27 season.
Their decision was influenced by the current uncertainty around the long-term future of the four regions as a factor in the pair's departure.
Morgan underlined his talismanic status for Ospreys, and showed how much he will be missed, by scoring the winning try as Ospreys edged Scarlets 27-20 in a fierce Welsh derby at the Brewery Field in Bridgend.
"It's a great feeling to get the try and really special to win on my last home game for the Ospreys," the flanker told S4C afterwards.
"My time here has been great. I've loved playing here and I've always said this group of boys are special. I'm grateful to everyone at the club, I've loved it.
"But I'm not finished yet. We've still got Leinster so I'm looking forward to coming back on Monday for another week with them before my last game.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game against Scarlets and in fairness they were very good.
"But I was proud of the boys' effort throughout the 80 minutes and to dig out the win in the end."
Fellow Wales back row Wainwright was unable to conjure a similar fairytale ending in his last game at Rodney Parade before joining Leicester, as Dragons succumbed 24-15 to Edinburgh.
"It was a special occasion for me tonight being my last home game here. I think going into next year, [there are] plenty of positives for the Dragons," said the 28-year-old.
"Hopefully they keep the momentum going from what we've done this year because we've had some real good wins over the course of the season.
"Hopefully they can give the fans more to get behind next year."
Wainwright ended his time surrounded by Dragons supporters, allowed onto the pitch to give him a heart-felt send-off.
Williams and Adams worries for Wales
Image source, Getty Images/Huw EvansImage caption, Tomos Williams (left and Josh Adams were both forced off injured at the weekend
With Wales head coach Steve Tandy set to name his squad on Monday for this summer's Nations Championship, the last thing he needed was a fitness doubt over star scrum-half Williams and fellow Lion Adams.
The severity of the injuries are still to be assessed, but with games against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa looming in July - preceded by a warm-up against the Barbarians at the end of June - Tandy will want all his senior players fit and in form.
Adams - selected at centre rather than his more usual wing spot - was making his first appearance since the Six Nations because of a back spasm and head injury.
But he was helped off at half-time during the the loss to Glasgow by medical staff after a collision with powerful Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu.
Having failed a head injury assessment (HIA), Adams did not return and it remains to be seen how long the 31-year-old will be out as he undergoes return to play protocols.
Williams, who was forced out of the 2005 Lions tour with a torn hamstring, lasted just three minutes of the second half of Gloucester's home game against Sale, coming off worst in a shuddering hit that left the 31-year-old clutching his shoulder in considerable pain.
Wales have options at nine but Williams remains the smartest of the operators available to Tandy as he seeks to make a mark in the new Nations Championship.
Cardiff head into URC last-day storm
While Ospreys took bragging rights over Scarlets, only Cardiff have the opportunity to continue Welsh interest in the competition when it enters the play-off stage.
Corniel van Zyl's side sit seventh in the table with Irish pair Ulster and Connacht breathing down their necks.
Cardiff must beat second-placed Stormers at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday to guarantee a top-eight finish. Even if Connacht claimed a bonus-point win against Edinburgh, they could not overtake Cardiff due to games won.
If Cardiff lose then they can still qualify if Ulster or Connacht slip up against Glasgow and Edinburgh.
But full-back Jacob Beetham believes nine wins from 10 games at home this season is the sort of form to help Cardiff wrap up qualification themselves.
"The fact that we've only lost one game this year at home will give us massive confidence," he said.
"We're going to do everything to fly into it and hopefully get the result. The main thing is getting that top eight this season."
