Coming back from 0-21 down to win 24-21, Ospreys headlined a tough first weekend of European rugby for the Welsh regions.

The other three sides faced tough tests and ultimately failed to secure opening weekend wins, with Cardiff and Dragons going down in France, and Scarlets missing out in a nail biting contest with Bristol Bears.

Deaves sparks Ospreys comeback

There are comebacks, and then there are comebacks.

Ospreys were dead and buried against Connacht after the visitors raced into a 21-0 lead thanks to powerful finishes by tight-head props Finlay Bealham and Jack Aungier, either side of a similar effort by number eight Sean Jansen.

Newly-capped Wales international Harri Deaves sparked the comeback with a vital try on the whistle for halftime, with tries from Phil Cokanasiga and Ryan Smith early in the second period bring the home side within two points.

At a wet and windy Brewery Field, Ospreys’ bravery in maintaining their passing game proved crucial, with a wonderful move finished off by Iestyn Hopkins in the 75th minute to clinch a bonus-point win.

“You can’t ever question the spirit of the Ospreys,” said Mark Jones. “No matter who has coached or played for them, the spirit has been very strong.

“Since my time at the Ospreys, as an assistant when Toby Booth was here and then as a head coach, we know that the spirit is the most crucial cog in the organisation.

“There is a great spirit throughout the whole of the team – starting players, bench players and those not selected.

“The non-playing group prepared us exceptionally well and we needed that, without it we wouldn’t have got the win.”

Scarlets pipped by Bristol and Rees-Zammit

Scarlets’ revival from the depths of a four-game winless run at the start of the season continued, despite not securing the win over Bristol Bears in their opening match of the EPCR Champions Cup.

The Welsh region lost by the narrowest of margins, going down 17-16 in their first Champions Cup game in three years, with Louis Rees-Zammit’s try proving the difference for the visitors.

“I’d hope the 7,000 people [at Parc y Scarlets] go away thinking that they saw their team put up a massive fight, that’s what I saw,” said Peel.

“I was really proud of the effort we put into the game. It was a one-point margin in the top tier of European rugby, that’s the level.

“Put performances like that together and we can see that we belong here.”

Scarlets were in the contest throughout, but had two tries ruled out and coughed up needless penalties.

“It was a real scrap of a game,” said Peel.

“Effort-wise was really good but we were not as clinical in the last period, there was a couple of set-piece opportunities which we didn’t nail and a pretty soft try for them off the scrum as well.

“It’s fine margins, but that’s this level of rugby.”

Stade prove too strong for young Cardiff side

Cardiff are the side with the most Challenge Cup pedigree, having been the last Welsh side to win the competition in 2018, but struggled in their first match of the 2025/26 season against Stade Francais, losing 38-17.

The trip to France for a young Cardiff side proved a bit of a distraction for a club whose sights are firmly set on United Rugby Championship after a phenomenal start.

Full-back Matty Young was lively on debut and scrum-half Ieuan Davies and back Elijah Evans also made their first appearances off the bench, while James Botham, Mason Grady and Iwan Stephens took a step towards full sharpness after injury.

“I’m really proud of the boys,” said number eight Alun Lawrence, who captained the side. “It’s a young group, with three debutants, boys coming back from injuries and a couple making their first starts.

“They dug in really well. At no point did we ever throw the towel in, we kept knocking on the door. We’re disappointed, gutted, but really proud at the same time.”

Dragons’ winless run goes on

The memories of a spirited performance against Leinster last weekend were washed away on the Mediterranean coast for the Dragons, as they lost 41-17 to Perpignan.

Facing a side on their own long losing streak, Dragons were disappointing, with their French hosts the better team in almost every aspect and proved far more deadly in attack with a six-try haul, the pick coming in the second half and finished off by Matteo le Corvec.

Dragons’ replacement hooker Will Austin impressed with two second-half tries, but it was a sloppy and lacklustre performance from Filo Tiatia’s side.

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