Six Wales players released from squad this weekend as English-based stars stay
Wales have released six players from their Six Nations squad for the first rest weekend of the tournament.
Ospreys duo Sam Parry and Ben Warren will feature against Leinster on Friday night, before Scarlets quartet Kemsley Mathias, Taine Plumtree, Joe Roberts and Ellis Mee start against Munster on Saturday.
Ahead of the clash with Ireland in Cardiff next week, Wales have retained the majority of their 37-man squad despite the return of United Rugby Championship fixtures this weekend.
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Hooker Parry, having been recalled by Warren Gatland prior to his departure as Wales coach, will start at the Swansea.com Stadium on Friday night. Prop Warren, who was called into the squad as injury cover, has been named on the bench by head coach Mark Jones.
In another clash between Welsh and Irish sides this weekend, prop Mathias, back-row Plumtree, centre Roberts and wing Mee all start for the Scarlets at Thomond Park - having not featured for Wales in the opening rounds of the competition.
Cardiff, the other Welsh side taking on Irish opposition this weekend, have no players released for their trip to Galway to face Connacht. Although they do have head coach Matt Sherratt taking charge before he fully takes over as Wales' interim head coach for the remainder of the tournament.
The Dragons also don't have any players released to them for Sunday's clash with Glasgow.
Just two of Wales' English-based contingent will feature in the Premiership Cup this weekend. Having not travelled from Nice to Rome last week, Christ Tshiunza is on the bench for Exeter's Premiership Cup clash with Gloucester this weekend.
New call-up Jarrod Evans will start for Harlequins in the Premiership Cup against Saracens before linking up with the national team. Wales' other call-ups this week, Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, are not involved with Gloucester on the weekend.
Exeter's Dafydd Jenkins, Sale prop WillGriff John, Leicester pair Nicky Smith and Tommy Reffell, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, and Gloucester trio Freddie Thomas, Tomos Williams, and Josh Hathaway, despite not being with Wales this week, have not been picked by their clubs.
Will Rowlands has also been back with Racing 92 this week. All the players released to their clubs will join back up with Wales next Monday.
