With lockdown in full force what better way to while away those long hours than with a virtual trip down memory lane?
Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets collaborated on a great Ultimate XV initiative; it’s kept us all entertained, spark fierce (but friendly!) debate and brought back some fantastic memories too!
You have voted in your thousands for your greatest regional sides of all time and here’s how they line up;
Cardiff Blues
15 Ben Blair, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Tomos Williams, 1 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 4 Macauley Cook, 5 Paul Tito, 6 Josh Navidi, 7 Martyn Williams, 8 Xavier Rush
Replacements: 16 T Rhys Thomas, 17 John Yapp, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Sam Warburton, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Tom Shanklin.
Boasting four British & Irish Lions, 10 Wales internationals and three more Test stars, the team have made a combined 2116 appearances for the Arms Park outfit.
Dragons
15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Gareth Wyatt, 13 Matthew J Watkins, 12 Ashley Smith (C), 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jacon Tovey, 9 Gareth Cooper, 1 Rod Snow, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Rhys Thomas, 4 Ian Gough, 5 Luke Charteris, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16 Steve Jones, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Colin Charvis, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Kevin Morgan
The Men of Gwent side includes three British & Irish Lions, a Rugby World Cup winner, 10 Welsh internationals, two other internationals and record holders.
Ospreys
15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 1 Duncan Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Adam Jones, 4 Ian Evans, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (C), 6 Jerry Collins, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Ryan Jones
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Paul James, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Ian Gough, 20 Filo Tiatia, 21 Justin Marshall, 22 James Hook, 23 Dan Evans
Ospreys’ Ultimate XV boasts some incredibly impressive stats including 23 internationals and 13 British & Irish Lions! They have amassed a combined 3264 appearances, 5483 points and 396 tries for their region!
Scarlets
15 Liam Williams, 14 Dafydd James, 13 Regan King, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Mark Jones, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel, 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens (C), 3 John Davies, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Tadhg Beirne, 6 Simon Easterby, 7 John Barclay, 8 Scott Quinnell
Replacements; 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Iestyn Thomas, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Vernon Cooper, 20 James Davies, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 George North
The team includes 11 Welsh internationals, an All Black, two Irish Test stars, a Scotland favourite and boasts eight British & Irish Lions (and another two Lions waiting among the replacements!).
Lock Ian Gough and hooker Matthew Rees have made it into two Ultimate XVs!
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