2025–26 Cardiff Rugby season

Cardiff Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachMatt Sherratt
ChairmanAlun Jones
← 2024–25 2026–27 →

The 2025–26 season will be Cardiff's fifth season in the United Rugby Championship. Along with competing in the URC and its Welsh Shield competition, the club also participate in the 2025-26 EPCR Challenge Cup.

Transfers

Main article: Cardiff Rugby

United Rugby Championship

Matches

27 September 2025 (1 BP) Cardiff 35 – 20 Lions Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Thomas 9'c
Winnet 23'c
Mann 52'c
Loyd 60'c,76'
Con: Sheedy (4/5) 10', 24', 53',61,
Cards: Thomas  30' 		Report Try: Venter 27'c,
Steenkamp 48'c
Con: Dobela (2/2) 28', 49'
Pen: Dobela (2/2) 17', 37'
 Attendance: 5,711
Referee: Filippo Russo
4 October 2025 Munster 23 – 20 Cardiff (2 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: Quinn (29')
Coombes (52')
Barron (61')
Con: Crowley (53')
Pen: Crowley (67')
Drop: Crowley (77')
 Report Try: J. Adams (15')
Bowen (44', 57', 82')
 Attendance: 12,066
11 October 2025 Cardiff 14 – 8 Connacht (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Bowen (14', 75')
Con: Sheedy (15')
Lloyd (76')
 Report Try: O'Connor (80'+2)
Pen: Forde (11')
 Attendance: 7,092[19]
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
17 October 2025 (1 BP) Dragons 17 – 24 Cardiff (1 BP) Rodney Parade, Newport  
19:45 Try: Coghlan (7')
Carter (72')
Con: de Beer (8', 73')
Pen: O'Brien (80')
 Report
Scoreboard 		Try: Mann (2')
Faletau (14')
Dan Thomas(20')
Southworth (61')
Con: Sheedy (14')
Ben Thomas (62')
 Attendance: 7,483[20]
Referee: Federico Vedovelli
25 October 2025 Cardiff 20 – 19 Edinburgh (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Mulder (7' m)
Adams (15' c)
Sebastian (43' m)
Con: Lloyd (16')
Pen: Lloyd (74')
 Try: Wells (3' m)
Shiel (9' c)
Ashman (19' c)
Con: Scott (9')
Lang (20')
 Attendance: 7,189[21]
29 November 2025 Zebre Parma 14 – 29 Cardiff (1 BP) Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma  
13:00 Try: Licata (30' c)
Zanon (74' c)
Con: Roger (2/2) (31', 74')
Cards: Licata 16' to 26'
Ruggeri 49' to 59'
Zanon 82' to f.t.' 		Report Try: Hughes (13' c, 18' m, 40' c)
Basham (80+3' c)
Con: Lloyd (2/3) (19', 41')
Wilde (1/1) (80+4')
Pen: Lloyd (48')
Cards: Basham 69' to 79' 		Attendance: 2,392
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
19 December 2025 (1 BP) Cardiff 17 – 21 Scarlets Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: Grady 29' c
Adams 54' c
Con: Sheedy (2) 30', 55'
Pen: Sheedy 41'
 Report Try: James 23' c
Davies (2) 51' c, 57' c
Con: Hawkins (3) 24', 52', 58'
Cards: Macleod  25'
Davies  28'
Williams  60' 		Attendance: 11,278
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)
26 December 2025 Cardiff 22 – 19 Dragons (1 BP) Cardiff Arms Park  
15:00 Try: Sebastian 20' c
Mann 30' m
J Adams 47' c
Con: Sheedy (2) 21', 48'
Pen: Sheedy 70'
Cards: McNally  78' 		Report Try: Hope (2) 7' m, 32' c
penalty try 78'
Con: O'Brien, 32'
Cards: Keddie  57' 		Attendance: 12,125
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)
1 January 2026 (1 BP) Ospreys 33 – 22 Cardiff (1 BP) Brewery Field, Bridgend  
17:30 Try: Giles 14' c
Hardy (2) 25' m, 51' c
Parry 42' c
Hopkins 69' c
Con: D Edwards (4/5) 15', 43', 51', 70'
Cards: Morse  80' 		Report Try: Adams (2) 22' c, 74' m
Faletau 76' m
Sebastian 80+1' m
Con: Sheedy (1/3) 23'
Cards: Belcher  31' 		Attendance: 7,700[22]
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)
24 January 2026 Cardiff 17 – 8 Benetton Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45 Try: McNally 49' m
Pen: Sheedy (3) 13', 16', 60'
Lloyd 80+1'
Cards: Mann  26' 		Report Try: Ruzza 66' m
Pen: Smith 46'
 Attendance: 8,052
Referee: Sam Grove-White
31 January 2026 Ulster 21 – 14 Cardiff (1 BP) Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45 Try: Wilson 12' c
Bell 19' c
Irvine 66' c
Con: Murphy (3/3) 12', 20', 67'
 Report Try: Mulder 54' c
Emanuel 68' c
Con: Sheedy (2/2) 55', 69'
 Attendance: 12,012
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
27 February 2026 Cardiff v Leinster Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45
20 March 2026 Bulls v Cardiff Loftus Versfeld Stadium  
17:00
27 March 2026 Sharks v Cardiff Hollywoodbets Kings Park  
17:00
18 April 2026 Scarlets v Cardiff Parc y Scarlets  
17:30
24 April 2026 Cardiff v Ospreys Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45
8 May 2026 Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Scotstoun Stadium  
19:45
15 May 2026 Cardiff v Stormers Cardiff Arms Park  
19:45

Tables

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Glasgow Warriors 12 9 0 3 320 170 +150 47 23 7 2 45 Qualifies for home URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
2 Stormers 12 9 0 3 316 204 +112 39 26 5 0 41
3 Ulster 12 8 0 4 352 248 +104 49 34 7 2 41
4 Leinster 12 8 0 4 308 242 +66 45 32 8 1 41
5 Cardiff 12 8 0 4 240 210 +30 35 29 5 3 40 Qualifies for URC quarter-final;
Qualification for the 2026–27 Champions Cup
6 Munster 12 8 0 4 248 225 +23 36 30 5 2 39
7 Lions 12 6 1 5 325 342 −17 43 50 5 2 33
8 Bulls 12 6 0 6 323 302 +21 48 43 5 1 30
9 Connacht 12 5 0 7 289 293 −4 39 41 6 4 30 Qualification for the 2026–27 Challenge Cup
10 Ospreys 12 5 2 5 260 273 −13 39 41 4 1 29
11 Sharks 12 4 1 7 256 333 −77 38 43 5 1 24
12 Edinburgh 12 4 0 8 238 253 −15 37 39 3 4 23
13 Benetton 12 4 2 6 216 281 −65 25 37 2 1 23
14 Dragons 12 2 3 7 227 286 −59 29 43 2 4 20
15 Scarlets 12 3 1 8 206 294 −88 28 41 0 2 16
16 Zebre Parma 12 2 0 10 197 365 −168 26 51 2 2 12
Updated to match(es) played on 14 March 2026. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[23]


2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables
Welsh Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1 Ospreys 4 3 1 0 99 73 +26 15 11 2 0 16 9
2 Cardiff 4 2 0 2 85 90 -5 13 13 2 1 11 3
3 Dragons 5 1 1 3 94 89 +5 13 14 1 3 10 14
4 Scarlets 3 1 0 2 45 69 -24 7 10 0 1 5 15
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[24]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

European Challenge Cup

Cardiff have been drawn in Pool 3 of the 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup, alongside Ulster, Cheetahs, Exeter Chiefs, Racing 92 and Stade Francais.[25] As Ulster are the only fellow URC team in the pool, Cardiff will play each of the other teams once.

Pool standings

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool 3
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ulster (3) 4 3 0 1 141 55 +86 21 8 4 1 17 Home round of 16
2 Stade Français (4) 4 3 0 1 129 90 +39 19 13 3 1 16
3 Exeter Chiefs (7) 4 2 1 1 129 70 +59 18 11 3 1 14
4 Cardiff (15) 4 2 0 2 78 108 −30 11 17 2 0 10 Away round of 16
5 Racing 92 4 1 1 2 82 152 −70 13 21 2 0 8
6 Cheetahs 4 0 0 4 62 146 −84 9 21 1 1 2
Source: EPCR[26]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.

Pool matches

6 December 2025 (1 BP) Stade Français 38–17 Cardiff Stade Jean Bouin, Paris  
14:00 Try: Ibo (2) 17' m, 50' m
Halaifonua 42' c
Sclezo 61' c
Foursans-Bourdette 66' c
Laloi 76' c
Con: Foursans-Bourdette (4/6) 42', 62', 67', 77'
 Report Try: Stephens 24' m
Young 34' m
Sebastian 79' c
Con: Wilde (2/3) 80'
 Attendance: 10,643
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
13 December 2025 (1 BP) Cardiff 29–26 Ulster (2 BP) Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff  
20:00 Try: Nott 7' c
Bowen 13' m
Southworth 65' c
Thomas 73' c
Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 8'
Sheedy (2/2) 65', 74'
Pen: Sheedy (1/1) 80+1'
Cards: Botham  68' 		Report Try: Stewart 22' c
Hume 40' c
Kok (2) 45' m, 54' c
Con: Flannery (3/4) 23', 41', 55'
Cards: Sheridan  68'
Carson  72' 		Attendance: 6,425
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)
10 January 2026 (1 BP) Cardiff 32–13 Racing 92 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff  
15:15 Try: Bowen 6' c
Thornton 40' m
Assiratti 45' c
Thomas 74' c
Con: Sheedy (2/3) 7', 46'
Beetham (1/1) 75'
Pen: Sheedy (2/2) 55', 65'
 Report Try: Ravutaumada 13' m
Prisciantelli 31' m
Pen: Gibert (1/1) 5'
Cards: Ravutaumada  1' 		Attendance: 8,400
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
18 January 2026
Exeter Chiefs v Cardiff
Sandy Park

Home attendance

Season begins 26 September 2025

Domestic League European Challenge Cup Total
League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest League Fixtures Total Attendance Average Attendance Highest Lowest Total Attendance Average Attendance
2025–26 United Rugby Championship 2 12,803 6,402 7,092 5,711 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup 12,803 6,402

References

  1. ^ "Ioan Lloyd: Wales fly-half set to leave Scarlets for Cardiff". BBC Sport. 8 January 2025. Retrieved 8 January 2025.
  2. ^ "Taine Basham: Cardiff sign Wales back-row for 2025-26 season". BBC Sport. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Cardiff sign test props Sebastian and Wainwright". BBC Sport. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  4. ^ "George Nott: Cardiff sign lock from Dragons". BBC Sport. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  5. ^ a b Wood, Matthew (14 July 2025). "Cardiff loan Bath duo Emanuel and Ieuan Davies for 2025/26 season". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Leigh Halfpenny signs for Welsh club in surprise announcement". Wales Online. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Cardiff sign Rigg and Roberts amid injury crisis". BBC Sport. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cornel Smit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Dragons announce signing of 'talented' Wales international from rivals". Wales Online. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Edinburgh sign two Scottish qualified props from English and Welsh sides". Planet Rugby. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Tinus de Beer: Dragons sign fly-half from Cardiff". BBC Sport. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Wales second-row Seb Davies switches Welsh URC sides". Rugby Pass. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  13. ^ a b c Jones, John (22 May 2025). "Nine players leave Cardiff as legend departs and Wales star left without club". Wales Online. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Gabriel Hamer-Webb one of three Leicester signings with ex-NZ U20 lock". Rugby Pass. 26 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Mackenzie Martin: Wales number eight joins Dragons from Cardiff on loan". BBC Sport. 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Ospreys sign Cardiff hooker Daniel". BBC Sport. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Ellis Bevan: Bristol Bears sign Wales scrum-half on short-term loan from Cardiff". BBC Sport. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Joe Cowell to join Bedford Blues on Short Term Loan". Cardiff Rugby. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Cardiff Rugby 14 Connacht Rugby 8". Cardiff Rugby. 11 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Dragons 17 Cardiff 24". South Wales Argus. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Cardiff Rugby 20 Edinburgh Rugby 19". Cardiff Rugby. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  22. ^ "URC: Ospreys 33-22 Cardiff - Scrum-half Kieran Hardy inspires home win". BBC Sport. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Competition rules – United Rugby Championship". United Rugby Championship. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  24. ^ League Format (3) "Competition Rules". United Rugby Championship. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  25. ^ "EPCR Challenge Cup 2025/26 pool stage draw in full | EPCR Challenge Cup". www.epcrugby.com. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  26. ^ "Pool Tables | EPCR Challenge Cup". European Professional Club Rugby. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
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