URC

Cardiff and Llanelli played host to derbies on 26 December and the action will be in Newport and Bridgend on New Year’s Day.

The Arms Park was packed before Christmas to see Scarlets edge out the hosts, and this time a packed house saw the Blue and Blacks sneak victory.

A sold-out figure of 12,125 tickets issued was announced by Cardiff, with Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia lauding the atmosphere.

“The crowd was amazing, for Cardiff and the Dragons,” said Tiatia, an Ospreys legend from his playing days. “It became a singing contest at the end.

“It was pleasing to see where the game is at with local derbies and fans coming out to support their teams.

“That’s what we want for derbies – that they are competitive, grounds are sold out and the game is growing. It’s all around the tribalism of the regions.”

There were more than 12,000 at Parc y Scarlets as well, with victorious Ospreys head coach Jones hoping there are more occasions like this as the WRU looks to cut a men’s professional side.

“You could tell it was a west Wales derby and long may they continue,” said Jones.

“These occasions are massive. Just at the end of the game, to see your players and coaches going over to meet their families over in the terrace over the far side.

“With so many of them and fans turning up when they could be doing all sorts at this time of the year, but they choose to come down and support their team.

“It is amazing. We talked about the emotional side of the game in the derby and how you have to use the emotion.

“I thought the boys used the emotion incredibly well and the Scarlets did the same. I thought their care for their shirt was equally good.”

Dragons followed up their European Challenge Cup win against Lyon by dismantling Connacht for back-to-back successes for the first time since 2022.

Two wins in six days have released some pressure on Tiatia and his coaching team after reaching December without victory in any competition in 2025.

There has been a reaction to an embarrassing 41-17 defeat by Perpignan, who look doomed to relegation despite recording a first Top 14 win of the season against Clermont Auvergne at the weekend.

Amid talk of what Dragons bring to the table in uncertain times for Welsh rugby, the squad have produced two timely victories.

The thrashing of Connacht has lifted them above both Scarlets and Ospreys, prompting hopes of not only a fight to avoid being the URC’s bottom team with Zebre, but a scrap to lose the tag as Wales’ worst.

Tiatia will not get carried away after one victory to end a 15-month, 23-game streak without league success.

“We are trying to put wins together but also trying to build a game that the fans want to see,” said the former All Blacks forward.

“We are building belief in what they are trying to achieve together, particularly when fatigue sets in.

“There is also the mental side of the game, because we have a lot of young guys that don’t have those tools.”

Dragons: O’Brien; J Rosser, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; De Beer, Hope; Martinez, Burrows, Hunt, Douglas, Carter (capt), Woodman, Beddall, Keddie.

Replacements: G Roberts, Morris, Dlamini, Lewis-Hughes, Young, R Williams, Westwood, Anderson.

Connacht: Gilbert; Mullins, Forde, Aki, Bolton; Ioane, Blade; Duggan, Heffernan, Illo, D Murray, N Murray, Prendergast (capt), O’Brien, Boyle.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Buckley, Bealham, J Murphy, Jansen, B Murphy, Carty, Gavin.

Yellow card: Boyle 40,

Referee: Ru Campbell (Scotland)

Assistants: Rob McDowell, Jonny Mackenzie (Wales)

TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

Attendance: 4,188

Ospreys: Nagy; Kasende, Boshoff, Watkin, Giles; Edwards, Morgan-Williams: S Thomas, Lake (capt), Henry, R Davies, Smith, Ratti, Deaves, M Morris.

Replacements: Parry, C Jones, Botha, Sutton, Morse, Hardy, K Williams, Walsh.

Sin-bin: Nagy 15

Munster: Haley; Nash, T Farrell, Nankivell, Daly; Crowley, Patterson; Loughman, Scannell, Ala’alatoa, Kleyn, Wycherley, O’Donoghue (capt), Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Milne, Bartley, Edogbo, Ahern, Coughlan, Hanrahan, Hodnett.

Sin-bin: O’Donoghue 54

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans & Andrew Moule (WRU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU).