United Rugby Championship

New signings inspire Cardiff bonus-point victory over Zebre

Published

2 years ago

20th September 2024

New signings inspire Cardiff bonus-point victory over Zebre

BKT United Rugby Championship, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 1/6/2024 Cardiff Rugby vs Ospreys Cardiff's Head Coach Matt Sherratt during the warm-up ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Cardiff Rugby kicked off their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign with a hard-fought 22-17 bonus-point victory over Italian side Zebre Parma at the Arms Park on Friday night. The win was heavily inspired by the performances of several new signings, particularly Wales international fly-half Callum Sheedy.

Cardiff kick off the @URCOfficial season with a bonus point win!#AlwaysCardiff pic.twitter.com/PDFJZH4WBI

— Cardiff Rugby (@Cardiff_Rugby) September 20, 2024

Sheedy, making his competitive debut for his hometown club after joining from Bristol, was instrumental in creating Cardiff’s first two tries. His pinpoint kicking set up scores for full-back Cameron Winnett and winger Iwan Stephens, demonstrating the impact he could have on Cardiff’s attack this season.

The Welsh capital side crossed for four tries in total, securing maximum points, though they had to withstand a spirited late rally from the visitors. Flanker Dan Thomas, another debutant signed from Bristol, added the third try before half-time, while lock Josh McNally powered over for the crucial bonus-point score just before the hour mark.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt expressed mixed feelings about the performance, stating, “It was perfect in terms of five points but not perfect in terms of performance.” He acknowledged the need for time to integrate the new players, with eight debutants featuring in the match.

The game began with Zebre taking an early lead through a Giovanni Montemauri penalty. However, Cardiff quickly responded with Sheedy’s cross-field kick, finding Winnett for the opening try. Shortly after, Sheedy’s well-weighted grubber allowed Stephens to gather and score, showcasing the fly-half’s range of kicking skills.

Thomas’s try from a well-executed lineout drive gave Cardiff a commanding 17-3 lead at half-time. McNally’s score after the break seemed to put the result beyond doubt, but Zebre, under new head coach Massimo Brunello, showed admirable spirit in the closing stages.

The Italians fought back with two late tries. Centre Giulio Bertaccini scored a fine individual effort, scything through the Cardiff defence, before flanker Samuele Locatelli crossed in the final play to secure a losing bonus point for the visitors.

Despite the late scare, Cardiff’s victory provides a solid foundation as they look to improve on last season’s disappointing 10th-place finish. The performance of the new signings, particularly Sheedy’s creative influence, will give fans reason for optimism.

For Zebre, who won just one league game last season, the losing bonus point offers encouragement as they begin life under Brunello. Their resilience in the second half suggests there may be more to come from the Italian side as the season progresses.

Cardiff will now turn their attention to a Welsh derby, with a trip to Llanelli to face the Scarlets next Saturday. As for Zebre, they’ll be looking to build on their promising finish when they return to action.

United Rugby Championship

Ospreys 21-17 Sharks – URC Round 15

Published

20 hours ago

18th April 2026

rugbyisthegame

BKT United Rugby Championship, Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea, Wales 14/10/2022 Ospreys vs DHL Stormers A view of BKT United Rugby Championship branding Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ashley Crowden

Ospreys kept their URC play-off hopes alive with a nervy four-point win over the Sharks at the Brewery Field in Bridgend.

Key moments

11 mins – TRY Ospreys: Dan Edwards jinks over for his own try after a well-worked backline move and adds the extras. (Ospreys 7–0 Sharks)

18 mins – TRY Sharks: Phepsi Buthelezi crashes over from the back of an unstoppable rolling maul. Jean Smith converts. (Ospreys 7–7 Sharks)

30 mins – TRY Ospreys: Jac Morgan surges over after a thunderous carry close to the line. Edwards converts. (Ospreys 14–7 Sharks)

40 mins – TRY Sharks: Ethan Hooker collects a clever pass from Vincent Tshituka to score on the stroke of half-time. Conversion missed. (Ospreys 14–12 Sharks)

Half-time: Ospreys 14–12 Sharks. A feisty, physical opening half with both sides trading punches and the hosts narrowly ahead.

54 mins – TRY Ospreys: Replacement Garyn Phillips profits from a Dan Kasende interception and cut inside to score. Edwards converts. (Ospreys 21–12 Sharks)

69 mins – TRY Sharks: Phepsi Buthelezi powers over for his second to set up a grandstand finish. Conversion missed. (Ospreys 21–17 Sharks)

Full-time: Ospreys 21–17 Sharks

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Luke Morgan, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 James Ratti, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Huw Owen-Sutton, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Ross Moriarty, 20 Harri Deaves, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Phil Cokanasiga, 23 Jack Walsh

Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Manu Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Phatu Ganyane
Replacements: 16 Eduan Swart, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Makazole Mapimpi

Match details

Ospreys 21 (Tries: Edwards, Jac Morgan, Phillips; Cons: Edwards 3/3; Pens: 0/0)
Sharks 17 (Tries: Buthelezi 2, Hooker; Cons: Smith 1/3; Pens: 0/0)
Half-time: 14–12

Venue: Brewery Field, Bridgend
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

United Rugby Championship

Benetton 15-45 Munster – URC Round 15

Published

20 hours ago

18th April 2026

rugbyisthegame

Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby) tackling Alex Nankivell (Munster) Copyright: Duilio Della Libera IPA Sport (IMAGO / IPA Sport)

Munster produced a ruthless seven-try performance in Treviso, closing out a 45–15 bonus-point win at Stadio Monigo to bolster their URC play-off push.

Key moments

7 mins – TRY Munster: Calvin Nash finishes in the corner after slick interplay from the backs, beating Umaga on the outside. Jack Crowley converts. (Benetton 0–7 Munster)

17 mins – TRY Munster: Tom Farrell finishes clinically after Alex Nankivell’s half-break and offload. Crowley converts. (Benetton 0–14 Munster)

34 mins – TRY Munster: Gavin Coombes crashes over from close range. Crowley converts. (Benetton 0–21 Munster)

Half-time: Benetton 0–21 Munster. A sharp, controlled first-half display from Munster laid the groundwork, with Benetton unable to land a blow.

46 mins – TRY Munster: Jean Kleyn drives over from short range just after the restart. Crowley converts. (Benetton 0–28 Munster)

52 mins – TRY Benetton: Jacob Umaga sparks the home fightback with a clever break. Conversion missed. (Benetton 5–28 Munster)

56 mins – TRY Munster: Replacement Alex Kendellen barges over from a ruck. Crowley converts. (Benetton 5–35 Munster)

59 mins – TRY Munster: Tadhg Beirne profits from quick ball to dot down. Crowley converts. (Benetton 5–42 Munster)

63 mins – YELLOW CARD Munster: Jack Crowley is sin-binned for killing the ball.

70 mins – TRY Benetton: Bautista Bernasconi crosses to give the crowd something to cheer. Conversion missed. (Benetton 10–42 Munster)

75 mins – YELLOW CARD Munster: Craig Casey yellow-carded for a deliberate one-handed intercept attempt.

77 mins – TRY Munster: Replacement Brian Gleeson finishes off the scoring for the visitors. Conversion missed. (Benetton 10–45 Munster)

80 mins – TRY Benetton: Alessandro Garbski sneaks over from a ruck to give Benetton a late consolation. Conversion missed. (Benetton 15–45 Munster)

Full-time: Benetton 15–45 Munster

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbski, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Marcos Gallorini, 2 Nicholas Gasperini, 1 Destiny Aminu

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (capt), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman

Match details

Benetton 15 (Tries: Umaga, Bernasconi, Garbski; Cons: 0/3; Pens: 0/0)
Munster 45 (Tries: Nash, Farrell, Coombes, Kleyn, Kendellen, Beirne, Gleeson; Cons: Crowley 5/7; Pens: 0/0)
Half-time: 0–21

Yellow cards: Crowley (Munster, 63′), Casey (Munster, 75′)

Venue: Stadio Monigo, Treviso
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

United Rugby Championship

Scarlets 24-28 Cardiff – URC Round 15

Published

21 hours ago

18th April 2026

rugbyisthegame

KT United Rugby Championship, Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales 28/9/2024 Scarlets vs Cardiff Rugby A view of BKT United Rugby Championship branding on a post pad Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Cardiff snatched a four-point West Wales derby win at Parc y Scarlets, holding off a late Scarlets charge in a chaotic second-half thriller.

Key moments

10 mins – TRY Cardiff: Ben Thomas dots down after a patient phase attack from the visitors. Callum Sheedy converts. (Scarlets 0–7 Cardiff)

23 mins – TRY Scarlets: Taine Plumtree drives over from a line-out maul. Conversion missed. (Scarlets 5–7 Cardiff)

Half-time: Scarlets 5–7 Cardiff. A tight, error-strewn opening half left Cardiff narrowly ahead at the break.

46 mins – TRY Scarlets: Johnny Williams powers through traffic to score. Conversion added. (Scarlets 12–7 Cardiff)

48 mins – TRY Scarlets: Dane Blacker darts over from a ruck close to the line. Conversion missed. (Scarlets 17–7 Cardiff)

54 mins – TRY Scarlets: Blair Murray finishes brilliantly out wide. Conversion added. (Scarlets 24–7 Cardiff)

71 mins – TRY Cardiff: Javan Sebastian crashes over from close range. Sheedy converts. (Scarlets 24–14 Cardiff)

77 mins – TRY Cardiff: Cameron Winnett races in from his own half. Sheedy converts. (Scarlets 24–21 Cardiff)

81 mins – TRY Cardiff: Sebastian drives over again to seal the win. Sheedy slots the conversion. (Scarlets 24–28 Cardiff)

Full-time: Scarlets 24–28 Cardiff

Full match report to follow.

Teams

Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Archer Holz, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Joe Roberts

Cardiff: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Ben Thomas, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Mason Grady, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence, 7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 George Nott, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher, 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Dafydd Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Taine Basham, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Ioan Lloyd

Match details

Scarlets 24 (Tries: Plumtree, Williams, Blacker, Murray; Cons: 2/4; Pens: 0/0)
Cardiff 28 (Tries: Thomas, Sebastian 2, Winnett; Cons: Sheedy 4/4; Pens: 0/0)
Half-time: 5–7

Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)