Ospreys hooker Scott Otten has retired from professional rugby on medical advice. The 26-year-old Swansea-born forward – who has been with the Ospreys for a decade – suffered a serious neck injury against the Dragons in January. “For me, retirement from rugby has come way too early,” said Otten.

Dragons wing Rio Dyer says speed tips from former Olympic sprinter Darren Campbell is the reason behind his stunning end-of-season finish. The former Wales Under-20 back has been in scintillating form for the men from Rodney Parade in the last two weeks with his remarkable pace standing out. Dyer has now revealed the secret behind his speed.

The Covid-19 pandemic has struck many rugby clubs across Wales, but few players in the professional game have been as deeply affected as Wales and Ospreys star Bradley Davies. Speaking about his illness for the first time, Davies has admitted monitoring his own oxygen levels due to breathing problems, left him fearful about his long-term health, as he tells Alex Bywater. Bradley Davies has revealed he feels lucky to be alive after a serious scare with Covid-19 left him checking his own oxygen levels. The Wales international, a Test-hardened 66-cap veteran, has admitted he felt “scared” by the impact of the virus on his health just a few weeks ago.

Toby Booth believes the Ospreys have signed another leader with the recruitment of New Zealander Michael Collins. The 27-year-old – who is eligible for Wales through his grandfather – will move to the Liberty Stadium this summer from the Highlanders on a two-year deal. The New Zealand Under-20 three-quarter, who can play centre or full back, played in the Blues side that defeated the British and Irish Lions in 2017.

The Scarlets may have sacked head coach Glenn Delaney but they are busy making plans for next season by lining up Argentina Test star Tomas Lezana. Delaney was dismissed on Saturday night with the region having second thoughts over kicking him upstairs to become their director of rugby. Instead, they are kicking him out with Dwayne Peel being given a clear run at things next season with no influence from over his shoulder.

Heartbroken George North will miss this summer’s Lions tour to undergo knee surgery that will sideline him for at least six months. North was in stunning form as he helped Wales to win the Six Nations last month and his career has been revitalised by a move from wing to centre. The 29-year-old was a virtual certainty to make Warren Gatland’s Lions squad for the Test series with South Africa when it is confirmed on May 6.

Alun Wyn Jones has signed a new one-year contract to stay in Welsh rugby and could yet reach a fifth World Cup. Jones, 35, is world rugby’s most capped player and a firm favourite to captain the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa this summer. But he shows no signs of slowing down and was in sensational form as Wales claimed the 2021 Six Nations title.

Former Ospreys coach Steve Tandy has emerged as a strong candidate for a coaching role with the British and Irish Lions this summer. Tandy – who has bolstered Scotland’s resurgence as their defence coach – is reportedly being lined up for the same role assisting Lions head coach Warren Gatland in South Africa. Gatland is due to confirm his coaching team on Tuesday, but having suffered a series of setbacks through candidates making themselves unavailable, it appears that 41-year-old Tandy, who spent six years in charge of the Ospreys, is in prime position for a role.

Welsh regional rugby reached a desperate low point at the weekend, gaining the one thing that’s always hard to stomach – English sympathy. As all four regions exited in Europe in varying degrees of disarray, it was left to Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson to try and raise some Welsh morale. After the Scarlets had followed the Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff Blues in losing at the re-jigged last 16 stages of both European tournaments, Sanderson tried to put a positive spin on a bleak picture.

The Ospreys are weighing up a move to sign top Crusaders loose forward Sione Havili ahead of next season. The potential signing of Havili from Super Rugby would be a significant coup for the Ospreys, with the 23-year-old Tongan-born player able to play both blindside flanker and No 8. Havili has a reputation as an explosive ball carrier, with an abrasive edge in defence which is what the Ospreys have lacked at times this season.

Dean Ryan has admitted he will have mixed feelings if Wales come calling again for his Dragons back row pair of Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty. The dynamic duo were at the heart of the Dragons’ impressive 31-20 victory over the Ospreys in Bridgend that has dented the losers’ Heineken Champions Cup prospects and given Ryan’s men an outside sniff of qualification. It was the Dragons’ first win of 2021 and Wainwright – released for some game time by Wales coach Wayne Pivac – weighed in with a try to add to doubles from Jonah Holmes and Ashton Hewitt to give the visitors a bonus point victory.

The Ospreys could take a giant step towards Heineken Champions Cup rugby next season if they can complete the double over regional rivals the Dragons at the Brewery Field tonight. The top three teams in the two Guinness PRO14 Conferences qualify automatically for the top tournament in Europe and Toby Booth’s much-improved side are currently on 31 points with three games to play – the Dragons at home and then Leinster and Glasgow Warriors away. If they can beat the Dragons with a bonus point to reach 36 points then they will be guaranteed third place. If not, they will need to pull some points out of the bag on their final two away trips.