Judgement Day fever grips Welsh rugby as Ospreys and Cardiff reveal bold lineups

The Ospreys and Cardiff have unveiled their squads ahead of the highly anticipated Judgement Day clash at the Principality Stadium, set to kick off at 3pm on Saturday. Ospreys head coach Mark Jones has made six changes following their recent defeat to Lyon in the EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals, signaling a strategic shift to boost their chances in this crucial fixture. Sam Parry returns to the starting hooker position, replacing Dewi Lake who moves to the bench, while Tristan Davies steps in for the injured Justin Tipuric in the back row. The lock pairing is reshaped with James Fender and James Ratti partnering, and Reuben Morgan-Williams is selected at scrum-half over Kieran Hardy, joining Dan Edwards in the half-back roles. The back three features Dan Kasende, Keelan Giles, and Jack Walsh, with Keiran Williams and Evardi Boshoff continuing their partnership in the centres. Gareth Thomas and Tom Botha maintain their places in the front row, and Jac Morgan will captain the side, shifting to open-side flanker with Davies on the blindside and Morgan Morse at number eight.
Cardiff, returning to action after their 35-20 loss to Connacht on April 5, have made four changes under head coach Matt Sherratt. The pack sees the introduction of Corey Domachowski, Ben Donnell, and Alex Mann, with Donnell replacing Josh McNally, who is unavailable due to RAF commitments. Gabriel Hamer-Webb replaces Rey Lee-Lo on the wing, prompting Harri Millard to move to centre alongside Ben Thomas. The front row will consist of Domachowski, captain Liam Belcher, and Keiron Assiratti, while Donnell partners Teddy Williams in the second row. The loose forwards include Mann, Taulupe Faletau, and James Botham. In the backline, Cameron Winnett starts at full-back, flanked by Hamer-Webb and Josh Adams on the wings. Aled Davies returns from injury to join the replacements bench.
This year’s Judgement Day marks the 10th anniversary of the event, a fixture that has become a highlight of the Welsh rugby calendar, showcasing the best of Welsh professional club rugby in front of passionate crowds at the Principality Stadium. The event features back-to-back matches, with Dragons facing Scarlets later on the same day, emphasizing the significance of Welsh regional rugby in the United Rugby Championship (URC) context.
Ospreys coach Mark Jones emphasized the importance of the match, stating, “This is a big fixture for us. We feel like we need to get some good points out of this game [to make the top eight] but first and foremost, we need to put in a good performance. We’re really excited by what’s on the line for both teams at Judgement Day, and by what a result could set up for the next three BKT URC games that follow.” His counterpart, Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt, highlighted the event’s unique atmosphere and competitive stakes: “Judgement Day is always a great occasion. The Principality is the home of rugby in Wales and you have four Welsh teams, stacked with Welsh talent playing in one day. There’s an extra bit of spice this year because the league table is so tight. Ourselves, Ospreys and Scarlets are right in the fight for the top eight”3.
The current URC standings add further intensity to this fixture, with Cardiff sitting as the highest-ranked Welsh team but only narrowly ahead of Ospreys and Scarlets, all vying for a playoff spot. Cardiff’s recent form includes just one defeat to a Welsh region this season, while Ospreys have secured only a single Welsh regional win, underscoring the competitive balance between the sides. The last encounter between these two ended in a 13-13 draw, setting the stage for a fiercely contested match.
The Ospreys squad for Judgement Day includes Jack Walsh, Dan Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, James Fender, James Ratti, Tristan Davies, Jac Morgan (Captain), and Morgan Morse. Their replacements are Dewi Lake, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Will Spencer, Lewis Lloyd, Kieran Hardy, Owen Williams, and Iestyn Hopkins.
Cardiff’s starting lineup features Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, Harri Millard, Ben Thomas, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder, Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, James Botham, and Taulupe Faletau. Their bench includes Evan Lloyd, Danny Southworth, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Thomas Young, Aled Davies, and Rory Jennings.
Judgement Day continues to be a pivotal event in Welsh rugby, not only for its celebration of regional pride but also for its impact on the United Rugby Championship standings as teams push for playoff qualification in the closing stages of the season. The Principality Stadium is expected to be a vibrant arena for this milestone occasion, with fans eager to witness the high-stakes clashes between Wales’ top rugby talent.