Dragons Take Derby Honours – But Another Big Welsh Clash is Already on the Horizon
WELSH rugby had plenty to talk about over the opening weekend of October.
There was a 10-try derby at Rodney Parade, Cardiff continued their winning start to the United Rugby Championship, Ospreys came away from South Africa empty-handed — and another Welsh derby is already just days away.
The headline result came in Newport, where Dragons beat Scarlets 38–26 in an entertaining contest that produced a hatful of tries and gave Filo Tiatia’s side a maximum five-point return.
But the result also sets up what now looks like a particularly interesting Friday night at Rodney Parade.
Ospreys next for Dragons
Dragons do not have long to enjoy the win.
They host Ospreys on Friday, October 9, at 7.45pm, the second of two successive Welsh derbies at Rodney Parade.
And the contrast between the two sides could hardly be sharper.
Dragons opened their campaign with a 19–19 draw away to Benetton before beating Scarlets, leaving them unbeaten after two rounds. Ospreys, meanwhile, suffered a 35–19 defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
That result followed Ospreys’ opening-round 41-24 defeat in South Africa against the Sharks, meaning their first home-based Welsh derby arrives after a difficult start to the campaign.
For Dragons, Friday offers the chance to build genuine early momentum against travel-weary opposition.
For Ospreys, it already feels like an important opportunity to steady the ship.
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Cardiff make it two from two
The most convincing Welsh start belongs to Cardiff Rugby.
After opening their season with a 21–15 victory away to Scarlets, Cardiff followed it up on Friday night with a 40–27 win over Zebre Parma at Cardiff Arms Park.
That gives Cardiff two victories from two and makes them the early Welsh pace-setters.
Their next challenge is considerably tougher: a trip to face Leinster in Dublin on Saturday, October 10.
The opening fortnight has nevertheless given Cardiff a useful platform, particularly in a season when the club is celebrating its 150th anniversary.
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Scarlets still searching
Scarlets, by contrast, have opened with back-to-back Welsh derby defeats.
They were beaten by Cardiff in Llanelli on the opening weekend before losing at Rodney Parade on Saturday.
There were positives in Newport, not least the attacking threat of Macs Page, who scored twice, but the results leave Scarlets still searching for their first win of the campaign.
That makes their next fixture another important one as they look to avoid allowing a difficult start to become an early-season pattern.
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An encouraging Welsh derby
There was also something encouraging about the manner of the Dragons-Scarlets game.
Rodney Parade saw 10 tries, repeated changes of momentum and an attendance of more than 7,000, while Welsh players on both sides were heavily involved.
At a time when so much discussion around Welsh rugby centres on finances, structures and what the professional game should look like in future, matches like this still matter.
They remind people that the domestic game can produce occasions worth watching in their own right.
And there is another one coming almost immediately.
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Welsh URC picture after two rounds
Cardiff Rugby
Played 2, won 2
Beat Scarlets 21–15
Beat Zebre Parma 40–27
Dragons
Played 2, unbeaten
Drew 19–19 with Benetton
Beat Scarlets 38–26
Scarlets
Played 2, lost 2
Lost 21–15 to Cardiff
Lost 38–26 to Dragons
Ospreys
Played 2, lost 2
Lost 41-24 to Sharks
Lost 35–19 to Lions
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Next Welsh derby
Dragons v Ospreys, Rodney Parade, Friday, October 9, Kick-off: 7.45pm
With Dragons carrying momentum and Ospreys looking for a response, Friday night should give us another useful early indication of where the Welsh sides stand.
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Did Ewe Know?
Dragons and Ospreys will meet twice in October. After Friday’s clash at Rodney Parade, they meet again at St Helen’s in Swansea on October 24.