Cardiff Rugby Life
@cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social
Blogging and Podcasting on all things Cardiff Rugby. Found on the South Terrace. Blaine Scully fan club. Mainly called Dan.
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View from the South Terrace: Stade Francais
When writing these pieces the greatest gift in my possession is hindsight. It’s very easy to judge decisions, made both on and off-the-field, with time and context that is otherwise not avail…
cardiffrugbylife.wales
The impact of Corniel Van Zyl ringing the changes to face Stade Francais won’t be known for a month, and in some cases years, but it was exciting to see the Cardiff youngsters take the field and no doubt a proud day for Penarth RFC after a tough week.
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/09/v...
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/09/v...
The impact of Corniel Van Zyl ringing the changes to face Stade Francais won’t be known for a month, and in some cases years, but it was exciting to see the Cardiff youngsters take the field and no doubt a proud day for Penarth RFC after a tough week.
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/09/v...
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/09/v...
View from the South Terrace: Stade Francais
When writing these pieces the greatest gift in my possession is hindsight. It’s very easy to judge decisions, made both on and off-the-field, with time and context that is otherwise not avail…
cardiffrugbylife.wales
December 9, 2025 at 8:09 AM
The impact of Corniel Van Zyl ringing the changes to face Stade Francais won’t be known for a month, and in some cases years, but it was exciting to see the Cardiff youngsters take the field and no doubt a proud day for Penarth RFC after a tough week.
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/09/v...
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/09/v...
BOOMFAAAAAAAA
December 8, 2025 at 1:10 PM
BOOMFAAAAAAAA
Thought that was probably the best performance of Evan Lloyd's career to-date.
11 carries, 14 tackles, 2 turnovers and a solid lineout showing.
Seriously dynamic and high skill level, chance to show what he can do in big games now with Liam Belcher injured.
11 carries, 14 tackles, 2 turnovers and a solid lineout showing.
Seriously dynamic and high skill level, chance to show what he can do in big games now with Liam Belcher injured.
December 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Thought that was probably the best performance of Evan Lloyd's career to-date.
11 carries, 14 tackles, 2 turnovers and a solid lineout showing.
Seriously dynamic and high skill level, chance to show what he can do in big games now with Liam Belcher injured.
11 carries, 14 tackles, 2 turnovers and a solid lineout showing.
Seriously dynamic and high skill level, chance to show what he can do in big games now with Liam Belcher injured.
Without question the headline here is Matty Young's brilliant fend and ball out of contact on debut, but also a word for Harri Wilde's pass and Iwan Stephens getting on the scoresheet in his first game for over a year.
Super pleasing try all round.
Super pleasing try all round.
December 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Without question the headline here is Matty Young's brilliant fend and ball out of contact on debut, but also a word for Harri Wilde's pass and Iwan Stephens getting on the scoresheet in his first game for over a year.
Super pleasing try all round.
Super pleasing try all round.
Plenty of good individual showings yesterday, but James Botham was head and shoulders clear for me as Cardiff SyG.
12 carries, 19 tackles, 3 turnovers, and this absolutely brilliant solo try saver.
Great to have him back fit and firing.
12 carries, 19 tackles, 3 turnovers, and this absolutely brilliant solo try saver.
Great to have him back fit and firing.
December 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Plenty of good individual showings yesterday, but James Botham was head and shoulders clear for me as Cardiff SyG.
12 carries, 19 tackles, 3 turnovers, and this absolutely brilliant solo try saver.
Great to have him back fit and firing.
12 carries, 19 tackles, 3 turnovers, and this absolutely brilliant solo try saver.
Great to have him back fit and firing.
Cardiff 22-28 RGC FT
Another second half lead lost as the Rags lose three-in-a-row for the first time since February/March 2024.
Tough with call-ups to the 1s but plenty for Dan Fish & co to ponder ahead of a short turnaround to Carmarthen on Thursday.
#BlueAndBlacks
Another second half lead lost as the Rags lose three-in-a-row for the first time since February/March 2024.
Tough with call-ups to the 1s but plenty for Dan Fish & co to ponder ahead of a short turnaround to Carmarthen on Thursday.
#BlueAndBlacks
December 6, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Cardiff 22-28 RGC FT
Another second half lead lost as the Rags lose three-in-a-row for the first time since February/March 2024.
Tough with call-ups to the 1s but plenty for Dan Fish & co to ponder ahead of a short turnaround to Carmarthen on Thursday.
#BlueAndBlacks
Another second half lead lost as the Rags lose three-in-a-row for the first time since February/March 2024.
Tough with call-ups to the 1s but plenty for Dan Fish & co to ponder ahead of a short turnaround to Carmarthen on Thursday.
#BlueAndBlacks
Stade Francais 38-17 Cardiff FT
Ran out of legs and experience in the end, but a great effort from a much-changed side for an hour.
Few tries conceded too easily but plenty of bright spots too, great opportunity for the young lads to go away and build on that.
#SFPvCAR
Ran out of legs and experience in the end, but a great effort from a much-changed side for an hour.
Few tries conceded too easily but plenty of bright spots too, great opportunity for the young lads to go away and build on that.
#SFPvCAR
December 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Stade Francais 38-17 Cardiff FT
Ran out of legs and experience in the end, but a great effort from a much-changed side for an hour.
Few tries conceded too easily but plenty of bright spots too, great opportunity for the young lads to go away and build on that.
#SFPvCAR
Ran out of legs and experience in the end, but a great effort from a much-changed side for an hour.
Few tries conceded too easily but plenty of bright spots too, great opportunity for the young lads to go away and build on that.
#SFPvCAR
Stade Francais 5-10 Cardiff HT
That’s a superb half from the young Blue & Blacks (+ a few old guys).
Dealt with losing Ioan Lloyd early and probably left a few scores out there.
Great stuff!
#SFPvCAR
That’s a superb half from the young Blue & Blacks (+ a few old guys).
Dealt with losing Ioan Lloyd early and probably left a few scores out there.
Great stuff!
#SFPvCAR
December 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Stade Francais 5-10 Cardiff HT
That’s a superb half from the young Blue & Blacks (+ a few old guys).
Dealt with losing Ioan Lloyd early and probably left a few scores out there.
Great stuff!
#SFPvCAR
That’s a superb half from the young Blue & Blacks (+ a few old guys).
Dealt with losing Ioan Lloyd early and probably left a few scores out there.
Great stuff!
#SFPvCAR
December 6, 2025 at 1:28 PM
A real story of perseverance and redemption as Alun Lawrence leads Cardiff out today.
Academy graduate, released, key Jersey player, club folds, short-term back to Cardiff, earns longer term deal, leads the URC in carries and tackles, and now captaining the 1st XV.
Big Al 👏🏻👏🏻
Academy graduate, released, key Jersey player, club folds, short-term back to Cardiff, earns longer term deal, leads the URC in carries and tackles, and now captaining the 1st XV.
Big Al 👏🏻👏🏻
December 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
A real story of perseverance and redemption as Alun Lawrence leads Cardiff out today.
Academy graduate, released, key Jersey player, club folds, short-term back to Cardiff, earns longer term deal, leads the URC in carries and tackles, and now captaining the 1st XV.
Big Al 👏🏻👏🏻
Academy graduate, released, key Jersey player, club folds, short-term back to Cardiff, earns longer term deal, leads the URC in carries and tackles, and now captaining the 1st XV.
Big Al 👏🏻👏🏻
406 days since Iwan Stephens last took the field, will be great to see him back involved this afternoon.
Made a big impression in his run of games at the start of last season.
Made a big impression in his run of games at the start of last season.
December 6, 2025 at 11:28 AM
406 days since Iwan Stephens last took the field, will be great to see him back involved this afternoon.
Made a big impression in his run of games at the start of last season.
Made a big impression in his run of games at the start of last season.
Big old day of rugby at CAP today;
Caerau Ely U10s v Cowbridge U10s
Cardiff v RGC
Penarth v Lampeter
Great to see 👏🏻
Caerau Ely U10s v Cowbridge U10s
Cardiff v RGC
Penarth v Lampeter
Great to see 👏🏻
Here’s the Rags side to face RGC today;
- Cottle & Fry into the pack
- Full debut for Crimp
- Williams, Goodchild & Cummings back in the backs
- CDP & Moore on to the bench
- Davies (Cardiff Met) called up
Missing a few but hoping for a return to winning ways #BlueAndBlacks
- Cottle & Fry into the pack
- Full debut for Crimp
- Williams, Goodchild & Cummings back in the backs
- CDP & Moore on to the bench
- Davies (Cardiff Met) called up
Missing a few but hoping for a return to winning ways #BlueAndBlacks
December 6, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Big old day of rugby at CAP today;
Caerau Ely U10s v Cowbridge U10s
Cardiff v RGC
Penarth v Lampeter
Great to see 👏🏻
Caerau Ely U10s v Cowbridge U10s
Cardiff v RGC
Penarth v Lampeter
Great to see 👏🏻
Here’s the Rags side to face RGC today;
- Cottle & Fry into the pack
- Full debut for Crimp
- Williams, Goodchild & Cummings back in the backs
- CDP & Moore on to the bench
- Davies (Cardiff Met) called up
Missing a few but hoping for a return to winning ways #BlueAndBlacks
- Cottle & Fry into the pack
- Full debut for Crimp
- Williams, Goodchild & Cummings back in the backs
- CDP & Moore on to the bench
- Davies (Cardiff Met) called up
Missing a few but hoping for a return to winning ways #BlueAndBlacks
December 6, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Here’s the Rags side to face RGC today;
- Cottle & Fry into the pack
- Full debut for Crimp
- Williams, Goodchild & Cummings back in the backs
- CDP & Moore on to the bench
- Davies (Cardiff Met) called up
Missing a few but hoping for a return to winning ways #BlueAndBlacks
- Cottle & Fry into the pack
- Full debut for Crimp
- Williams, Goodchild & Cummings back in the backs
- CDP & Moore on to the bench
- Davies (Cardiff Met) called up
Missing a few but hoping for a return to winning ways #BlueAndBlacks
Undoubtedly a risk in terms of losing the momentum of the winning run, but plenty of young and exciting talent there who can go out without any real pressure and express themselves.
All about taking the opportunity presented.
All about taking the opportunity presented.
Here's the Cardiff side to face Stade Francais;
- Lloyd back from Cymru duty
- Wainwright, Thornton, Botham & Basham into the pack
- Bevan in at 9
- Full debuts for Smith & Young
- Stephens back fit
- 50 up for Grady
- Possible debuts for Davies & Evans
- Lloyd back from Cymru duty
- Wainwright, Thornton, Botham & Basham into the pack
- Bevan in at 9
- Full debuts for Smith & Young
- Stephens back fit
- 50 up for Grady
- Possible debuts for Davies & Evans
December 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Undoubtedly a risk in terms of losing the momentum of the winning run, but plenty of young and exciting talent there who can go out without any real pressure and express themselves.
All about taking the opportunity presented.
All about taking the opportunity presented.
Here's the Cardiff side to face Stade Francais;
- Lloyd back from Cymru duty
- Wainwright, Thornton, Botham & Basham into the pack
- Bevan in at 9
- Full debuts for Smith & Young
- Stephens back fit
- 50 up for Grady
- Possible debuts for Davies & Evans
- Lloyd back from Cymru duty
- Wainwright, Thornton, Botham & Basham into the pack
- Bevan in at 9
- Full debuts for Smith & Young
- Stephens back fit
- 50 up for Grady
- Possible debuts for Davies & Evans
December 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Here's the Cardiff side to face Stade Francais;
- Lloyd back from Cymru duty
- Wainwright, Thornton, Botham & Basham into the pack
- Bevan in at 9
- Full debuts for Smith & Young
- Stephens back fit
- 50 up for Grady
- Possible debuts for Davies & Evans
- Lloyd back from Cymru duty
- Wainwright, Thornton, Botham & Basham into the pack
- Bevan in at 9
- Full debuts for Smith & Young
- Stephens back fit
- 50 up for Grady
- Possible debuts for Davies & Evans
Don't think anyone expected the likes of Assiratti or Mann back, and there's always a mental toll to being in a Wales camp even if not playing, but feels like a risk to have some players having little or no minutes for seven weeks going into Ulster next Saturday.
December 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Don't think anyone expected the likes of Assiratti or Mann back, and there's always a mental toll to being in a Wales camp even if not playing, but feels like a risk to have some players having little or no minutes for seven weeks going into Ulster next Saturday.
Winning when nobody is really looking, the impressive culture within the playing group and a proud day for Llantwit Fardre RFC as Cardiff get a bonus point win away at Zebre.
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/04/v...
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/04/v...
View from the South Terrace: Zebre
There’s a school of thought around Premier League football that the teams who avoid relegation are the teams who do best in Saturday 3pm kick-offs. Getting the odd statement result in a prime…
cardiffrugbylife.wales
December 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Winning when nobody is really looking, the impressive culture within the playing group and a proud day for Llantwit Fardre RFC as Cardiff get a bonus point win away at Zebre.
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/04/v...
cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/12/04/v...
A shame the #CardiffClash isn’t live anywhere.
Two weeks in a row there’s been no #BUCSSuperRugby live stream of any men’s game, no tweets from the account since week one (although they do post on Insta).
Had a lot of momentum but failing to capitalise on that it seems.
Two weeks in a row there’s been no #BUCSSuperRugby live stream of any men’s game, no tweets from the account since week one (although they do post on Insta).
Had a lot of momentum but failing to capitalise on that it seems.
December 3, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A shame the #CardiffClash isn’t live anywhere.
Two weeks in a row there’s been no #BUCSSuperRugby live stream of any men’s game, no tweets from the account since week one (although they do post on Insta).
Had a lot of momentum but failing to capitalise on that it seems.
Two weeks in a row there’s been no #BUCSSuperRugby live stream of any men’s game, no tweets from the account since week one (although they do post on Insta).
Had a lot of momentum but failing to capitalise on that it seems.
December 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Some good luck for Cymru at last, not only getting winnable games against sides in pots 3 & 4, but also in Pool F with a favourable Round of 16 draw against other pool runners-up.
Something to aim for!
Something to aim for!
December 3, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Some good luck for Cymru at last, not only getting winnable games against sides in pots 3 & 4, but also in Pool F with a favourable Round of 16 draw against other pool runners-up.
Something to aim for!
Something to aim for!
The Maul Men being the real deal, squad depth building nicely, a confusing weather forecast for Paris and where is Ed Byrne?!?
All on this week’s pod ⬇️⬇️
All on this week’s pod ⬇️⬇️
New pod! 🔵⚫️
The panel discuss Saturday’s bonus point win at Zebre, address the Y11 rumours and brush over the Wales game before previewing the Challenge Cup starting at Stade Francais this weekend.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=YpVh...
The panel discuss Saturday’s bonus point win at Zebre, address the Y11 rumours and brush over the Wales game before previewing the Challenge Cup starting at Stade Francais this weekend.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=YpVh...
The Maul Men - Cardiff Central
YouTube video by WRRAP Welsh Rugby Podcast
m.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The Maul Men being the real deal, squad depth building nicely, a confusing weather forecast for Paris and where is Ed Byrne?!?
All on this week’s pod ⬇️⬇️
All on this week’s pod ⬇️⬇️
Cardiff Rugby lit up on the Cardiff Central Station illuminations 🔵⚫️
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Cardiff Rugby lit up on the Cardiff Central Station illuminations 🔵⚫️
A hat-trick for Dafydd Hughes at the back of a dominant maul, but an all-round excellent performance from the hooker.
12 tackles, 11 carries, 94% lineout. Stepped up in a huge way.
12 tackles, 11 carries, 94% lineout. Stepped up in a huge way.
December 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A hat-trick for Dafydd Hughes at the back of a dominant maul, but an all-round excellent performance from the hooker.
12 tackles, 11 carries, 94% lineout. Stepped up in a huge way.
12 tackles, 11 carries, 94% lineout. Stepped up in a huge way.
Cam Winnett looked in great nick after a few weeks off with a groin issue.
Absolutely textbook high ball work as Cardiff largely dominated the skies in Parma.
Absolutely textbook high ball work as Cardiff largely dominated the skies in Parma.
December 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Cam Winnett looked in great nick after a few weeks off with a groin issue.
Absolutely textbook high ball work as Cardiff largely dominated the skies in Parma.
Absolutely textbook high ball work as Cardiff largely dominated the skies in Parma.
Reposted by Cardiff Rugby Life
Pod recording later this afternoon with Frazier, Steve & @andrewfrugby.bsky.social
Send over any questions/thoughts on the win over Zebre, the Challenge Cup campaign, Stade away or the Autumn Internationals…
Send over any questions/thoughts on the win over Zebre, the Challenge Cup campaign, Stade away or the Autumn Internationals…
December 2, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Pod recording later this afternoon with Frazier, Steve & @andrewfrugby.bsky.social
Send over any questions/thoughts on the win over Zebre, the Challenge Cup campaign, Stade away or the Autumn Internationals…
Send over any questions/thoughts on the win over Zebre, the Challenge Cup campaign, Stade away or the Autumn Internationals…