The four Welsh regions saw some strong performances and results this weekend, despite a number of international absentees affecting the teams.

There were wins for Cardiff and Scarlets, while Dragons and Ospreys battled hard in close defeats.

Let’s get into the action and have a look at how the regions got on!

Scarlets secure first win of the season against Glasgow

Of all the Welsh regions this season, Scarlets have endured the worst start. Four games and four defeat – as well as that postponed match against Connacht – has seen Dwayne Peel’s men sit bottom of the United Rugby Championship table after the first block.

Returning from the international window and shorn of their entire backline, Scarlets were excellent.

Returning captain Josh Macleod and Macs Page crossed, while Sam Costelow impressed with 13 points from the boot.

With so many players away on Wales duty, Dwayne Peel had to look to academy players to fill the void, and they looked every bit at home against the frustrated 2024 champions.

 “I’m happy for everyone because we obviously haven’t had the best start to the season,” Peel said after the match.

“We’ve worked hard over the last couple of weeks, it’s also nice to get some senior players back in the group, you could see the leadership especially in the forward pack and we had Eddy James in the backline as well.

“I’m really pleased with our two wingers, they chased kicks and were really efficient. It’s an overall performance we can be happy with.”

Hughes hattrick continues Cardiff’s excellent start

Daf Hughes scored a hat-trick as Cardiff made light of their lengthy list of absentees to win 29-14 at Zebre in the United Rugby Championship.

The most depleted of regions continued their strong start to the URC with a four-try win in Parma.

Hooker Hughes, starting because Evan Lloyd was called up by Wales because of an injury to Cardiff captain Liam Belcher, finished off three attacking line-outs for a 19-7 lead at half-time.

They withstood Zebre’s late charge for an impressive victory, and added a bonus point at the death through flanker Taine Basham. It was a fifth win in six URC games for Cardiff and a first success of the campaign outside Wales.

Cardiff sit second after the weekend’s action and are by far the best performing of the Welsh regions this season.

Ospreys edged out by Edinburgh

Edinburgh came from behind to beat Ospreys, as the hosts twice found themselves behind, but second-half tries from Harri Morris and Harry Paterson ultimately gave Edinburgh the victory despite a nervy ending.

Tries from Luke Davies, Phil Cokanasiga and Evardi Boshoff saw Ospreys push hard for a rare away victory, but it was not to be.

The side were missing a staggering 25 players due to injuries and international call-ups, including nine of their regular forward pack – the most of any of the regions this weekend, and to earn a losing bonus point was just reward for their efforts.

Dragons defeated by controversial Leinster

Dragons produced a spirited performance against an under-par Leinster side on Friday night. Leading 7-5 at halftime, Leinster pushed ahead to a 10-17 lead before the defining moment of the match.

With the hosts pushed for a leveller in the closing stages only to knock-on five metres out, with Penny controversially surviving a TMO inspection of a high shot on lock Levi Douglas.

Leinster escaped and Snyman gathered the loose ball from an aerial bomb to race over from 25 metres to secure the spoils.

However, it was a seven-point game in the 75th minute when Scott Penny, who was yellow-carded in the first half, hit Levi Douglas with a high shot as the Dragons lock charged at the line.

South African referee Morne Ferreira reviewed the footage and deemed the Leinster flanker was in a legal position and head contact with the falling Douglas was not because of foul play.

“I thought it was a yellow card, a second one (for Penny) and it should have been red,” Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia said.

“I saw it differently to Morne, who I thought had a good game. There were seven points difference at the time and then the big fella (Snyman) took his chance down the right and it became 14.

“I was disappointed for the players because Leinster had dominance at scrum, but they fought hard to get back into the game and held them up numerous times over the line.

“I felt for them. We held Leinster at bay, fought hard to stay in it and we had opportunities to score points that didn’t quite happen.”

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