The Ospreys beat the Scarlets in the Welsh derby on Boxing Day, while Cardiff held on to defeat the Dragons at home to URC. Reports continue to emerge that the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) intends to cut one region for next season. Ospreys lose Dewi Lake and Jack Morgan to Gloucester next season
Last updated: 26/12/25 9:11pm
Outgoing Ospreys captain Dewi Lake scores a try to seal a derby win against the Scarlets during a stressful period for regional rugby in Wales.
The Ospreys and Cardiff achieved Boxing Day derby victories over the Scarlets and Dragons amid continued reports that the Welsh Rugby Union intends to exclude one of the four regions from the professional game.
The Ospreys, who will lose key players Dewi Lake and Jack Morgan to Gloucester next season, withstood a late fightback from the Scarlets to secure a hard-fought 26-19 victory over URC at Park y Scarlets, while Cardiff held on to beat the Dragons.
The visitors led 21-7 as the final 10 minutes approached, but a late goal from Jarrod Taylor sandwiched between Joe Roberts’ second try and a touchdown from Ospreys’ Estyn Hopkins made it a close game.
Keiran Williams was down to 14 points with a sin-bin, but it was the Ospreys who took the lead when Owen Watkin hit the bottom of the post to give Lake a 14-0 lead just before the half-hour mark.
Roberts narrowed the gap to 14-7 before half-time with wingers dotting the corners, but Kieran Hardy restored Ospreys’ 14-point cushion in the 63rd minute.
With the Ospreys once again reduced to 14 men, Kieran Giles was shown a yellow card, and the Scarlets, this time Roberts, dived into the corner again and fired.
But Hopkins’ goal three minutes into the game sealed a bonus point derby win for the Ospreys, while Taylor’s converted try ensured at least a bonus point for the Scarlets.
Cardiff continue to beat derby rivals Dragons
Cardiff bounced back from last week’s defeat to the Scarlets with a 22-19 win against the Dragons at the Arms Park.
The Dragons cut the deficit to three points with two minutes remaining after a penalty try after Tinus de Beer was kept on the line by Josh McNally, who saved from an offside position.
McNally was subsequently sin-binned, but the Blue and Blacks withstood late pressure from their opponents to get back to winning ways after the Scarlets rallied 21-17 last Friday despite falling to 14 points in the final minutes.
The team could have gone into the break level at 12-12, but Che Hope’s brace, making it four tries in two games, was canceled out by Javan Sebastian and Alex Mann.
Cardiff scored their first try in the 48th minute when Ben Thomas teed up Josh Adams down the left.
Callum Sheedy’s penalty in the 70th minute then gave Cardiff a 10-point cushion and, despite the late drama, the hosts celebrated their 21st successive win over the Dragons.
