Toby Booth: Ospreys to send depleted squad to face Ulster in URC

It means Booth will have to field players out of position and rely on feeder teams in the Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC).

The squads of the four Welsh professional sides have been cut this season with budgets reducing to £4.5m.

The squeeze is being felt just four games into the campaign with Dragons and Cardiff bosses Dai Flanagan and Matt Sherratt also expressing concerns.

“I’m guessing here, we have roughly around 55%-60% players [fit] which is horrific,” said Booth.

“It is not just in number, but in quality.

“So from that point of view it provides the opportunity for other people to put their hands up, but we’ll do our best to find a way, like we always do and we won’t be lacking in effort, that’s for sure.

“With depleting wage caps and smaller squad numbers, it’s always going to be difficult if you get injuries or unavailable players in the same place.

“We’ve got a lot of people [out] in similar positions which makes it challenging.

“You’ve got to try and balance it with enough quality and enough numbers and that’s always a difficult thing.

“So you do your best, you need a high-functioning academy in order to fill the gaps.

“We’re having to bring people in and that’s not necessarily the right thing to do, but needs must and we will do our best to find the way we can.”