The 2026-27 United Rugby Championship season began with an absorbing opening weekend, featuring a tense Welsh derby between the Scarlets and Cardiff, a respectable draw for the Dragons, and defeat for the Ospreys. There was also plenty of Welsh interest in the Gallagher Premiership, with a host of players making their mark.
Winners: Basham and Williams shine for Cardiff
Teddy Williams and Taine Basham were both excellent in Cardiff's narrow victory over the Scarlets on Saturday night. Basham received the official player of the match award; his ball carrying, physicality at the breakdown and huge work rate played a big part in Cardiff getting their season off to a flying start. If the 26-year-old continues in this vein of form he will at the very least be seriously considered for a Wales recall this autumn.
Teddy Williams was also outstanding at Parc y Scarlets. The athletic second-row spent much of last season on the sidelines but is now back to full fitness. Williams is an excellent lineout forward, and he carried extremely well against the Scarlets. But the 25-year-old's point of difference is his skillset and his ball handling. Williams looked like he had the ability to play in the backline such was the quality of his distribution. He will be a big asset not only to Cardiff but to Wales this season.
Young impresses for Dragons; Lake and Morgan star on Gloucester debut
Thomas Young was the best player on the pitch as the Dragons began their season with a respectable 19-19 draw with Benetton in Treviso. Young was absolutely everywhere and was hugely influential in everything that was good about the Dragons on Friday night. The talented openside flanker made two line breaks, 10 carries and finished the game with the highest tackle count on the field with 20. If there is one position where Wales do have some strength in depth it is at openside flanker but Young offers something completely different to the other options.
Wales' two star players could not have dreamed of a better Gallagher Prem debut for new club Gloucester. Dewi Lake, recently named club captain in recognition of the respect he commands within the game, was named player of the match as Gloucester recorded a historic 45-24 victory over last season’s beaten finalists, Exeter Chiefs, at Sandy Park. The 27-year-old led from the front in what was a colossal performance, making 14 carries and scoring two tries in the process. His fellow Welshman Jac Morgan was also in the thick of it finishing the match as the top tackler with 24 and winning two turnovers. Wales lock Freddie Thomas also enjoyed a fine game at blindside flanker.
Williams and Wainwright impress in Premiership
The experienced Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams was another Welshman who enjoyed a fine debut for his new club Saracens. Williams was very influential in controlling the game and providing an attacking threat as Saracens began the second Brendan Venter era with an impressive 40-38 victory over Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Welsh rugby's forgotten man, Nick Tompkins, also played well with his distribution and physicality in midfield a big plus point. But it must be said Wales backrower Aaron Wainwright was also superb on his Leicester debut, while former Cardiff wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb scored a hat-trick of tries.
Losers: Scarlets, Dyer and Ospreys struggle
The Scarlets endured a frustrating start to the season as they were beaten 21-15 by Cardiff in a bruising Welsh derby at Parc y Scarlets. Nigel Davies’s side went into the match severely depleted by injuries, with a host of influential players, including Fletcher Anderson, Archer Holz, Taine Plumtree and Sam Costelow, unavailable. There were signs of promise in the opening stages, with Eddie James and Blair Murray among those to catch the eye, but the Scarlets gradually lost their grip on the contest. After half-time, Cardiff’s pack imposed itself on the game, winning the physical battle and steadily turning the screw. For the Scarlets, the defeat leaves little margin for error ahead of another Welsh derby against the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Saturday.
It would be harsh to lay the blame at the door of Dragons wing Rio Dyer, who had played well for much of the evening. Yet there was no disguising the frustration of his team-mates at the final whistle. With the scores locked at 16-16 and the clock deep into the red, the Dragons won a turnover inside the Benetton half. Faced with an unstructured defence and an overlap outside him, Dyer opted to kick the ball into touch and settle for a draw. Whether the Dragons would have gone on to win had he kept the ball in play is impossible to know. He was caught in the classic dilemma of being damned if he did and damned if he didn’t. But his team-mates’ reaction was clear. They believed there was still an opportunity to win the game.
The Ospreys shipped five tries on their way to a 41-24 defeat to the Sharks in Durban. Mark Jones' side were second best for the vast majority of this game as they got blown away by the explosive physicality and the speed of this Sharks side. To their credit they refused to throw in the towel and left Durban with a losing bonus point but they will have to be much better against the Lions next weekend.
