Cardiff RFC take on Bridgend Ravens in the quarter-finals of Super Rygbi Cymru at the Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday afternoon (KO: 14:30).
The Blue and Blacks come into the encounter on the back of finishing top of Super Rygbi Cymru on 77 points. However, they go head-to-head with a side that narrowly got into the last eight after a 33-30 victory over Swansea RFC last Thursday in front of the S4C cameras.
Saturday will be the third time in 2025 that the pair have met, with the last meeting being back in April, where it finished 29-14 at the Dunraven Brewery Field in favour of Dan Fish’s men.
However, in the SRC Cup, which took place during the Six Nations, the Ravens did claim a 27-19 victory as a penalty try and tries from Craig Hudd and Lloyd Lucas on that occasion proved not to be enough.
In the other quarter-final matches on Saturday, Newport host Aberavon (KO: 14:30), Llandovery host Pontypool (KO: 17:15), and Ebbw Vale host Carmarthen Quins (KO: 19:30).
Team News:
1. Marc Thomas
2. Alun Rees
3. Tom Harper
4. Ethan Phillips
5. Sean Moore (c)
6. Aled Ward
7. Nathan Hudd
8. Lucas de la Rua
9. Ethan Lloyd
10. Steffan Emanuel
11. Dewi Cross
12. Jason Harries
13. Elijah Evans
14. Tom Bowen
15. Matty Young
Replacements:
16. Gavin Parry
17. Cam Tyler-Grocott
18. Christian Brooke
19. Evan Rees
20. Benji Williams
21. Joe Williams
22. Lloyd Lucas
23. Joe Goodchild
Pre-Match Thoughts:
Ahead of the quarter-final meeting, head coach Dan Fish said: “Looking forward to welcoming Bridgend to the Arms Park Saturday.
“One off game so we know we have to put in a performance to come away with the result. We know the game we want to play and have got to put our stamp on the game early.
“We have to make the home ground advantage count. Sure is going to be a tough encounter as always when you play Bridgend.”
Remember the last meeting at the Arms Park?
The last time the pair met in Cardiff was back in October of last year, as part of a doubleheader at the Arms Park, where Cardiff Rugby faced off against Ulster Rugby later in the day. That occasion, the Blue and Blacks crossed the whitewash seven times as they triumphed 47-14.
Dewi Cross scored a brace and on Saturday, he makes his return after missing Cardiff’s last outing against Pontypool. Accompanying the winger was Elijah Evans, Alun Rees, Aled Ward, Jason Harries and Benji Williams, who completed the scores for the Blue and Blacks at the Cardiff Arms Park.
Head-to-Head
A total of 200 matches have been played between the two, and historically, the Blue and Blacks have held the upper hand, winning 105 of these meetings. They first met back in November 1881, when the match finished 6-0 at the Arms Park.
In more recent times, Cardiff have won nine of the last ten meetings and the last time Bridgend tasted victory in Cardiff was back in January 2017, when it finished 24-15.
For those unable to make it to the Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday can stay updated via social media channels (X, Facebook, Instagram).