Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric will make his return after 14 months out injured in Friday's pre-season friendly against Northampton in Bridgend.
The Wales international suffered a serious shoulder injury while playing for the British and Irish Lions against Japan in Murrayfield in June 2021. The injury ruled him out of the tour of South Africa, as well as the entirety of the 2021/22 campaign.
Having already returned to pre-season training after recovering from a shattered scapula, the match with Northampton had previously been trailed as his likely return to the pitch. And that has now been confirmed after Ospreys coach Toby Booth named his squad for their second pre-season friendly.
He missed the 2021-22 season but has returned to pre-season training. Their first match saw them run out 41-14 winners over Hartpury University.
Northampton have named a 31-man squad for the friendly. However, there's no place for former Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar.
The Wales fly-half returned to training with his club last week, but will have to wait a little longer to make his first appearance of the new season.
Ospreys (squad): Nicky Smith, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, Tom Botha, Ben Warren, Scott Baldwin, Elvis Taione, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, Bradley Davies, Tristan Davies, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric, Ethan Roots, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris, Rhys Webb, Reuben Morgan Williams, Matthew Aubrey, Stephen Myler, Jack Walsh, Keelan Giles, Tom Florence, Luke Morgan, Joe Hawkins, Keiran Williams, Luke Scully, Cai Evans, Max Nagy.
Northampton: George Hendy; Ollie Sleightholme, Matt Proctor, Fraser Dingwall, James Ramm; James Grayson, Alex Mitchell (capt), Emmanuel Iyogun, Mike Haywood, Paul Hill, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Alex Coles, Angus Scott-Young, Sam Graham, Juarno Augustus.
Replacements: Alex Waller, Sam Matavesi, Robbie Smith, Alfie Petch, Oisín Heffernan, Alex Moon, Brandon Nansen, Aaron Hinkley, Geordie Irvine, Callum Braley, Tom James, Matt Arden, Tom Collins, Joel Matavesi, Tom Litchfield, Courtnall Skosan.
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