It was a thrilling weekend of European Rugby as the Dragons, Ospreys, and Cardiff games all included late drama or controversy.

The Dragons are now the only Welsh side in the EPCR Challenge Cup as they beat Stade Francias to set up a quarter-final clash with Zebre. But Cardiff, and Ospreys were knocked of the cup in agonising fashion.

Wyn Jones heroics earns Dragons significant win

It was a remarkable result for The Dragons as they pulled off the upset against third place Stade Francias from the Top 14 to win away from home for the first time since December 2024.

A brilliant opening quarter from the travelling side saw them lead 17-0 before Stade Francais managed to get any points on the board. The French side responded well to put themselves back into the mix and make the score 17-14 going into half time.

Stade Francias continued the pressure in the second half, taking the lead for the first time but the Dragons kept themselves in touching distance and never lacked belief.

With a two-point lead for the home side going into the final moments, the Dragons launched an attacking sequence in their last attempt to win the game.

An effective drive led by loosehead prop Wyn Jones managed to get over the line to knock out the top French side from the tournament and secure the Dragons a quarter-final fixture with fellow URC team, Zebre, this Friday.

Dragons head coach, Filo Tiatia said: “The game was going back and forth in terms of the score­board.

“I’m just really pleased with the efforts.

“We spoke about start­ing well and knew it was going to be a big per­form­ance – one of our best of the sea­son.

“We had a good week build­ing into it and I thought that showed on the pitch.

“The fight we showed to come back from that purple patch they had in the middle of the game was bril­liant.

“We have a quarter-final to look for­ward to next week and an oppor­tun­ity.”

Benetton edges Cardiff in controversial ending

Cardiff showed fighting spirit to nearly beat Benetton with a squad impacted with injuries that repeatedly came back from significant points deficit.

Tomasso Menoncello made history when he opened the scoring for Benetton, getting over the line in the first nine seconds to set a new record for the fastest try ever scored in European cup rugby history.

The Italians took advantage of the depleted Cardiff side who were without numerous locks such as Josh McNally, George Nott and Teddy Williams. They took strong 19-, and 21-point leads throughout the game but Cardiff kept firing back.

The Welsh side scored two unanswered tries in the second half to make the score 38-35 with time to play.

Cardiff almost snatched the win in the final moments, but referee Kevin Bralley denied Alex Mann’s scoring effort, claiming the ball was not grounded by the flanker.

Captain Ben Thomas pleaded with Bralley to check his decision, but his protests were penalised and proceedings finished thereafter to the distaste of the travelling side.

Cardiff boss, Corniel van Zyl said: “We didn’t start well. We were three, four tries behind in the first half, but we just kept getting slowly back to what we can do.

“It was obviously loss of concentration and focus in the beginning and we got behind and then we had to fight our way back. I am massively proud of the boys getting back in and giving us a shot at the end of the game.

“It’s a tough one to take because there’s different rules and set-up between the URC and Europe.

“We understand but it feels like we could have had a look at the last one. You never know, it could have been a try and that would have won it.”

Heartbreak for Ospreys as winning try ruled out

 The Ospreys suffered a similar fate of having a game-winning try chalked off as Ulster held on to knock the West Wales team out of Europe in a tight affair.

The travelling Ospreys earned themselves a slender lead by the break as contributions from Reuben Morgan-Williams, Dan Kasende, and Dan Edwards had their team up 17-14.

Back-to-back Ulster tries and a Jac Morgan sinbin had Ospreys on the back-foot, but a penalty-try just ten minutes out meant that the away side were in scoring distance of getting a result.

The stage was set for the late drama that was prevalent across the regions, and the Ospreys thought they flipped the script when Owen Watkin’s carry and offload set up Kieran Hardy who crossed the try line.

To the dismay of the away side, the try was chalked off as TMO claimed Watkin’s pass to be forward.

A tough pill to swallow for the Ospreys who would have momentarily believed they were heading into the quarter final.

But it will be Ulster who play Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle on Friday.

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