Steve Tandy plans to reward his table-topping Ospreys with a week off in the sunshine after their hard-earned victory at Edinburgh. The region went top of the Pro 12 table after grinding out a 13-9 triumph in awful conditions in Scotland on Friday night.

Cory Allen has said he is leaving the Cardiff Blues for the Ospreys because he believes they can make him a better player. He has also stressed his belief he is joining a region with an ambitious head coach in Steve Tandy.

Cory Allen is being offered a “fresh start” by the Ospreys, according to coach Steve Tandy. Wales centre Allen is leaving the Cardiff Blues for the Liberty Stadium to replace Fijian Josh Matavesi, who will also move on at the end of the season to join Newcastle.

Munster captain Tyler Bleyendaal has insisted they always knew they would have the reserves to beat the Ospreys. Not for the first time the Irish province broke hearts when they snatched a late victory on Welsh soil – this time grabbing a 25-23 win late on to move back to the top of the Guiness Pro 12.

Keelan Giles could yet wing his way into Wales’ Six Nations campaign after being declared fit for the Ospreys. The lightning quick 19-year-old – who was left out of coach Rob Howley’s 36-man squad for the tournament because of a hamstring injury – has been picked to start for his region at home to Munster on Saturday.

Wales and Ospreys wing Eli Walker has been ruled out of the remainder of the season after undergoing back surgery. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since November when he suffered a foot injury during the Anglo-Welsh Cup win over Cardiff Blues, and a back injury delayed his return to action.

Richard Fussell insists younger Ospreys players are ready to keep the region’s Wales stars on the sidelines. The former wing – now backs coach – was impressed by their 31-22 bonus-point win at Wasps on Saturday, despite missing out on the Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-finals.

Wales new boy Nicky Smith admits he was “too short and chubby” to ever be anything but a prop. The Ospreys loose-head – who makes his Six Nations debut against Italy on Sunday – aimed to be a rangy No.8 until a junior coach switched him to the front row.

Ospreys coach Steve Tandy has called on his team to make it a perfect six out of six under captain Rhys Webb on Saturday. Wales scrum-half Webb returns to skipper the region after recovering from long-term injury and will lead them in their final European Rugby Challenge Cup clash at Newcastle Falcons.

Sam Underhill is set to be overlooked for the Six Nations by England coach Eddie Jones. The Ospreys flanker, who will leave Wales to join Bath at the end of the season, is likely to be left out by the Grand Slam champions in the defence of their title.

The Ospreys maintained their perfect European Rugby Challenge Cup record and sealed a home quarter-final – possibly against the Cardiff Blues – with a comfortable 47-7 victory over Lyon. Steve Tandy’s men went behind early on but didn’t let that worry them as they roared back to cross for seven tries and seal another bonus-point success.

The Ospreys have announced forwards coach Chris Gibbes will leave the region at the end of the season to return to New Zealand. The Kiwi is to join Wellington Lions after four years spent working in Wales under Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy.