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Cardiff Rugby Life

@cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social

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Blogging and Podcasting on all things Cardiff Rugby. Found on the South Terrace. Blaine Scully fan club. Mainly called Dan.

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 2d

On this week’s VFTST there’s the question of when it stops being brave to lose in Ireland, Tom Bowen being quite good, and needing to beat Connacht to make last weekend look extra worthwhile.

And also because Connacht need beating.

cardiffrugbylife.wales/2025/10/08/v...

View from the South Terrace: Munster

Cardiff Rugby and away games in Ireland have a long and winding history with the word “brave”, from the meaningful to the straw grasping. There’s been bravery in the continuing ef…

cardiffrugbylife.wales

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 8h

Cardiff 14-8 Connacht FT

An absolutely terrible game of rugby 😂

But a mark of a good team to win ugly, and stay solid defensively and aerially.

Rolling on to Dragons!

#CARvCON

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 9h

Cardiff 7-3 Connacht HT

A tetchy half, some scramble defence and a well taken try keeping us ahead, but definitely a few scores left out there.

Need a big start to the second half.

#CARvCON

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 14h

Big opportunity for Steff Emanuel to show what he’s about on a first URC start and first home start.

Serious talent, and aided by plenty of quality around him.

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 18h

A few Academy lads in action this afternoon despite no Rags game;

Pontypridd - Cam Tyler-Grocott
Merthyr - Harrison Rock
Cardiff Met - Joe Cowell & Gabe Williams

Rags loosehead Ben Murphy also turns out for Met in a throwback front row alongside Cowell.

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 1d

Here’s the Cardiff side to face Connacht;

- Azza & Donnell into the pack
- Emanuel’s first league start
- Winnett back at 15 with Beetham on the wing
- Possible club debut for Nott
- Possible pro rugby debut for Darwin-Lewis

Some re-jigging but still plenty of quality 🔵⚫️

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 2d

Roberts is yet to play any games at the top level though, having only featured in one Prem Cup game for Sale last season against Doncaster.

Both players only trained for the first time today so whether Van Zyl risks one or both is the big question mark.

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 2d

Unclear how ready or otherwise Will Rigg and Osian Roberts are to step in.

Rigg was a regular with Exeter last season but has had a foot injury over the summer and is yet to play this season.

Roberts has played twice for Caldy, once in pre-season and once in the Championship.

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 2d

Rory Jennings and Harri Millard have joined Mason Grady and Elijah Evans in the treatment room, while Ben Thomas remains suspended for this weekend.

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 2d

No centres, no centres, no centres, ALL OF THE CENTRES!

Like buses, Cardiff have suddenly signed two centres on short-term loans.

Former Cardiff schoolboy Osian Roberts comes in from Sale and former Cardiff Met student Will Rigg is in from Exeter.

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 2d

View from the South Terrace: Munster

Cardiff Rugby and away games in Ireland have a long and winding history with the word “brave”, from the meaningful to the straw grasping. There’s been bravery in the continuing ef…

cardiffrugbylife.wales

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 3d

Some encouraging signs fitness-wise from the training footage posted by the club this week.

Ed Byrne, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, George Nott, Taulupe Faletau, Callum Sheedy, Iwan Stephens, Matty Young and Leigh Halfpenny all featuring.

No sign of Harri Millard though...

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 3d

A few Academy lads in #BUCSSuperRugby action today.

Sion Davies makes his first BSR start at 9, while Dylan Barratt is set for his BSR debut off the bench, as Met host Bath.

Meanwhile Ollie Das remains on the wing for Uni as Durham visit Llanrumney.

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 3d

Plenty of good and some irreverent chat on this week across a whole load of Cardiff and rugby topics, check it out ⬇️

Cardiff Central Podcast @cardiffcentralpod.bsky.social · 3d

New pod! 🔵⚫️

The panel go over Cardiff’s defeat at Munster and preview the game against Connacht with some tangents on Wales’ back row and 10 options, kick-off times, R360 and an actual tin foil hat.

open.spotify.com/episode/1NOp...

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/c...

m.youtube.com/watch?v=jIbN...

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 4d

Johan Mulder has had a sharp start to the new season.

Retained his speed of ball from the base and added some threatening snipes to the repertoire.

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 4d

Teddy Williams has carried his 2024/25 form into the new season, been huge across these first two weeks.

Went hard at Munster's maul on Saturday night in an area actually becoming a bit of a strength for Cardiff now after many years of trouble.

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Reposted by Cardiff Rugby Life

Cardiff Central Podcast @cardiffcentralpod.bsky.social · 4d

Pod recording later with @bigt8409.bsky.social, @andrewfrugby.bsky.social & @seimon76.bsky.social

Send over any thoughts/questions on Munster or Connacht, and particularly any creative ideas for who plays centre on the weekend!

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 4d

Been noticeable across the first two rounds that Cardiff's skill execution level has gone up again over pre-season.

Teddy taking this offload and moving the ball on so quickly, Sheedy's kick pass on the money and Bowen's diving catch, just spot on.

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 4d

Thought Dan Thomas had one of his best Cardiff performances on Saturday.

8 carries, 10 tackles and 2 turnovers in 57 minutes.

Flying around the field now he's extra streamlined!

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 6d

Tom Bowen goes top of the youngest Cardiff hat-tricks in the professional era list!

At 19 years, 4 months, 27 days he beats Rhys Williams who was 20 years, 2 months, 6 days when he crossed three times against Neath in May 2000.

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 7d

Munster 23-20 Cardiff FT

It says something when that’s three points lost rather than two points gained at Thomond Park.

Some fantastic tries and huge defence, scrum and maul were great too, just a few too many key errors and the win slips from the grasp.

#MUNvCAR

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 7d

TOM BOWEN I LOVE YOU #MUNvCAR

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 7d

And repeat #MUNvCAR

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 7d

Stop that Sheedy 😍 #MUNvCAR

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Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 7d

Munster 5-5 Cardiff HT

Tense!

The Blue & Blacks are battling hard at the set piece and breakdown, and defending well, but not nearly enough points per 22 entry.

Need to get more clinical.

#MUNvCAR

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 7d

Thought the NFL was in Ireland last week? #MUNvCAR

Cardiff Rugby Life @cardiffrugbylife.bsky.social · 7d

Stop that Sheedy 😍 #MUNvCAR