Rating how the Welsh clubs have started the season
Welsh rugby’s four United Rugby Championship clubs have completed the first block of the 2026-27 season, which featured a Welsh derby in each of its first five rounds. Cardiff and Dragons lead the group on 14 points, while Ospreys and Scarlets are seeking improvement after difficult starts; the league now pauses for the Nations Championship.
Cardiff ended the block with a 26-0 win over Ospreys, and 20-year-old centre Steffan Emanuel impressed as man of the match. Dragons have recorded three wins and a draw, but have yet to face a team from last season’s play-offs and were missing 18 players for their match against Zebre. In Europe, Cardiff lost 28-12 to Northampton in the Champions Cup, while the other three Welsh sides began their Challenge Cup campaigns with wins.
In short
- Cardiff and Dragons lead the Welsh clubs on 14 points.
- Cardiff finished the block with a 26-0 derby win over Ospreys.
- The URC pauses during the Nations Championship.
Explained simply
The United Rugby Championship is a cross-border league involving clubs from Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy and South Africa. Wales has four teams in it: Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. Each season, they compete for league points and places in the knock-out stages.
The four Welsh clubs also meet each other, and those matches can shape how they fare against one another as well as in the wider league. Their squads and results vary, so early performances offer only a first indication of how the season may develop.
The clubs also play in European competitions: the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup, which feature teams from several countries. The Nations Championship is an international rugby competition, and its schedule creates a pause in the club season.
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