Challenge Cup: Three Welsh Teams Qualify With West Wales Derby



Rhodri Evans

Ospreys will host west Wales rivals Scarlets in the round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup after both sides won their final group stage matches on the weekend.

Scarlets, who beat Vannes in the hope of securing a home tie in the Challenge Cup knockouts, were dealt a slight blow as Perpignan beat Zebre to pip them in pool three. Ospreys continued their good recent form in France, beating Pau in a tight match.

Cardiff also qualified for the Challenge Cup knockout stage, despite losing 19-28 to Connacht. By a quirk of the pool stage seedings, the capital-based region will again face the west Irish region in the round of 16, with Connacht hosting.

Scarlets Win Well To Qualify

In a straight shootout with Vannes to determine who qualifies for the knockouts, Scarlets dominated the first half. A brace of tries from in-form flanker Josh Macleod, as well as one each from backs Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, and Gareth Davies gave the home side a 31-0 halftime lead.

The Top 14 visitors rallied after the break, though, scoring four tries of their own and briefly looking like an improbable comeback was on the cards.

With two wins and two defeats, Scarlets came third in pool three, behind Bayonne and Edinburgh.

“I’m delighted for everyone at the club, we’ve got something to look forward to, knockout rugby, and it was the first real something we could chase this season so far, in terms of getting somewhere and we’ve done that,” said head coach Dwayne Peel.

“Obviously I’m disappointed with the second half because we put ourselves in a really good position to put Vannes to the sword, but let them back into it.

“On the flip side of it our goal was to qualify for the next round, we’ve done that, and we may be in with a shout for a home draw tomorrow [Sunday].”

18.01.25 - Scarlets v RC Vannes - European Rugby Challenge Cup - Josh Macleod of Scarlets celebrates scoring a try.
18.01.25 – Scarlets v RC Vannes – European Rugby Challenge Cup – Josh Macleod of Scarlets celebrates scoring a try.

Luke Davies Wins It At The Death

Ospreys produced a stunning comeback victory over Pau to qualify for a home round of 16 tie in the Challenge Cup.

Pau scored four tries and held scrum dominance throughout, often threatening to pull away from the Welsh visitors. Tries from Wales call-ups Jac Morgan and Dan Edwards, as well as Ryan Conbeer, Evardi Boshoff, and Luke Davies helped Ospreys comeback twice from behind to claim a bonus-point victory.

While Morgan was his usual excellent self, young number eight Morgan Morse was the stand out, creating two tries with barnstorming runs.

“It’s great to secure a home knockout match in front of our fans.” Ospreys head coach Mark Jones said.

“This was an incredibly tough match with both teams locked together for the majority and we had to stick together at a few pressure moments.

“You know you have to score plenty of tries to have a chance of winning in France and that’s an area we’re really trying to improve.”

18.01.25 Section Paloise v Ospreys, EPCR Challenge Cup - Morgan Morse of Ospreys during the match.
18.01.25 Section Paloise v Ospreys, EPCR Challenge Cup – Morgan Morse of Ospreys during the match.

Bundee beats Cardiff

Cardiff were beaten 19-28 by Connacht, who completed a ‘perfect’ pool stage, with four bonus point wins out of four.

Ireland and Lions centre Bundee Aki had a hand in all four tries, often stepping up into first receiver. Cardiff scored three tries of their own, one through Wales hooker Evan Lloyd and the other two a brace from openside Thomas Young.

Cardiff relied on Lyon beating South African side Cheetahs on Saturday afternoon, which they did convincingly, meaning the blue and blacks will travel to Galway for the knockout stage of the Challenge Cup in April.

Perhaps the most interesting element of this game from a Welsh perspective was that Ben Thomas, an inside centre for his club, was picked at flyhalf, a role he looks to be earmarked for for Wales.

“It’s a frustrating night but I told the players it’s probably a step up in performance over the last couple of weeks, so we are disappointed not to get anything out of it,” said head coach Matt Sherratt.

“They took our legs away in the first half. That’s probably where the game went, although we did have our chances. We were disappointed at the end not to get a try and two points but we will see how the other results go this weekend.”

17.01.25 - Cardiff Rugby v Connacht - European Rugby Challenge Cup - Thomas Young of Cardiff runs in to score a try.
17.01.25 – Cardiff Rugby v Connacht – European Rugby Challenge Cup – Thomas Young of Cardiff runs in to score a try.

Dragons Dumped Out With Record Defeat

Dragons feel to their biggest losing defeat in Europe as South African outfit Lions thrashed them 60-10 in Johannesburg.

The 50-point difference was the biggest losing margin for Dragons in Europe, surpassing the 43-point gap against Clermont-Auvergne in January 2019.

Wales hooker Elliot Dee at least came through the latest game of his return from a long-term ankle injury. The hooker played 40 minutes but was caught three times for not throwing straight, even if they were all marginal calls.

“We have to hold ourselves accountable for this result.” Dragons wing Rio Dyer said.

“The one positive was how we stuck together. We’ve been down in the dumps a bit but if we keep beating ourselves up then it will never change. If we hold our hands up, be accountable and try to better ourselves, that’s what shows character and that’s all we can ask.”

18.01.25 Emirates Lions v Dragons RFC, EPCR Challenge Cup - Aneurin Owen of Dragons RFC takes on Sam Francis of Emirates Lions
18.01.25 Emirates Lions v Dragons RFC, EPCR Challenge Cup – Aneurin Owen of Dragons RFC takes on Sam Francis of Emirates Lions.

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