Cardiff top Judgement Day cast as future explored

Cardiff lifted the Welsh Shield at the Principality Stadium in 2023 and 2025

Four teams, two derbies, one venue and a trophy presentation for a Welsh side.

Judgement Day is over for another year as Welsh rugby's showpiece took over Easter Saturday at the Principality Stadium.

Cardiff were the headline act as they overcame off-the-field financial issues to beat Ospreys and enhance their United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off hopes.

This also allowed captain Liam Belcher to lift the Welsh Shield as Cardiff became the leading side this season among Wales' four professional teams.

Scarlets were the main support act, with a later victory against Dragons to maintain their own hopes of a top eight finish.

Will there be another Judgement Day?

This was Judgement Day's 10th edition of the derby double-header concept involving all four regions on the same day at the same venue.

The 28,328 crowd was the lowest attendance of the nine Principality Stadium occasions, although it was 8,000 more than turned when the event was switched to Cardiff City Stadium in 2024.

In comparison, more than 40,000 tickets have already been sold for when Bath and Bristol arrive in Cardiff next month for an historic English league game at the home of Welsh rugby.

And 68,000 fans turned up to Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium in 2016.

Being held on Easter Saturday, the timing of the late scheduling in the season and general apathy towards Welsh rugby have been floated as reasons to explain the loss of 40,000 supporters in nine years.

However, the question turns to whether this format should continue in the Welsh calendar with indifference existing towards the event inside Wales and no interest from outside.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones hopes it remains, if crowds of old can be coaxed back.

"The concept is the right one where you have a day where everyone comes together and celebrates Welsh rugby with the talent we have and way we can perform," said Jones.

"We need to work out how we get 60,000 in there like we used to, that's the challenge.

"The selfish side of me says open it up, make tickets £1, fill the place out and get them in love with rugby.

"But I know electric is not free and you have to pay people to staff it and make money, so I get it."

Jones says struggling Welsh rugby needs showpiece occasions.

"At some point we have to get people back in love with Welsh rugby, get them in the stadiums and cheering on the teams," said Jones.

"We have got to create heroes out of players. We should definitely try and keep it going and here at the Principality Stadium.

"Everybody is aligned around the fact it needs to be a big spectacle from a visual point of view also."

Scarlets captain Josh Macleod echoed Jones' sentiments.

"It is always a special occasion," said Macleod.

"This was the first time in a while we have had three sides battling it out for a top eight place and play-offs.

"It is vital for Welsh rugby to have a spectacle like this with four sides going against each other in back-to-back games.

"We need to get fans through the door. This is one way we can do it."

Cardiff did not 'down tools'

Cardiff have won four out of six Welsh league derbies this season

Cardiff took a significant step towards securing an end-of-season play-off spot after defeating Ospreys.

Wales-qualified wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb claimed a hat-trick against a jaded Ospreys side who were left counting the cost of a European Challenge Cup defeat to Lyon the previous week.

Matt Sherratt's side overcame adversity in the first game since Cardiff were temporarily placed into administration before being swiftly taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

So what would making the play-offs mean?

"It would be massive," said head coach Sherratt.

"When I took the job, I was thinking within three years I would love to get us into a play-off or a knock-out game.

"We are in the fight. There's been a backdrop of a lot of negativity and twists and turns over the last two years."

Sherratt praised how his players had dealt with the most recent turmoil.

"It would have been so easy for them in the last two weeks to down tools," said Sherratt.

"What I said to the players before the game is they are the club and outwardly people will judge Cardiff by watching them on the field.

"If they can show the heart and ambition they have shown over the last two years that's what 90% of people will judge Cardiff on, not the stuff off the pitch.

"It's important for the players to realise they are the perception of the club and credit to them they have done themselves proud."

Cardiff face a massive game against play-off rivals Munster at the Arms Park next Friday before two matches in South Africa to finish the regular season.

"Our fans have got history in terms of when the club needs them, they usually come out so let's hope we can get the Arms Park rocking on Friday night," said Sherratt.

"It is always a special place to play and we will definitely use that in the week to build the players up.

"It will be a big occasion for many reasons. Not only the league table, but there's going to be personal reasons because it will be some people's final home game together."

Scarlets still in the hunt

Blair Murray and Josh Macleod are both Wales internationals

Scarlets were far from convincing but what they required was the bonus-point win - and eventually it was job done against Dragons.

Dwayne Peel's side overcame a major scare to secure a 31-23 victory to keep alive their play-off hopes.

Henry Thomas, Alec Hepburn, Vaea Fifita and Blair Murray scored Scarlets' tries with Ioan Lloyd converting all four and kicking a penalty.

"I would have taken the five points before the game," said Peel.

"It was tough and I am pleased with the character we showed. It was all on the line for us and we now move into the next couple of weeks. We are in the hunt."

Scarlets have risen to ninth, two points off the top eight and they welcome runaway league leaders Leinster to Llanelli next Saturday evening.

"It's a massive challenge and we want to test ourselves against the best," said Peel.

"It will be an awesome occasion and why we play the game."

Same old sorry story for Dragons

Dragons have lost 14 out of 15 league games this season

It was the same old story for Dragons as they suffered a 14th successive league defeat and remain rooted to the bottom of the URC table, 18 points adrift of Zebre.

Two tries for Jared Rosser and another score from fellow wing Ashton Hewitt helped Dragons lead 20-7 and 23-21, before Scarlets ensured the Gwent side left the Principality Stadium empty-handed.

Two yellow cards and a couple of crucial errors cost Dragons their second win of the season.

"We gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game but we've got to be more clinical around some of the basics," said head coach Filo Tiatia.

"We've got to be at our best every time and it's fine margins.

"It's about when we have momentum, how do we keep the foot on the throttle and don't let it off.

"We've got to be better with another opportunity to prepare next week."

That will be a trip to Swansea to face Ospreys, who Dragons defeated on the opening weekend of the season in Newport.

That distant memory of eight months ago remains their only league success during this campaign.

Penalties galore

Ben Connor is the son of former Ospreys fly-half and current Wales attack coach Shaun

It was not only players gaining experience.

Young referee Ben Connor was a busy man in only his second league game when he took charge of Cardiff and Ospreys.

Connor, 21, issued five yellow cards with Cardiff trio Teddy Williams, Alex Mann and Harri Millard and Ospreys duo Morgan Morse and Keiran Williams sent to the sin-bin.

There was also the little matter of 31 combined penalties also conceded by both sides.

Ospreys lock James Ratti put excessive transgressions down to the local derby element.

"Games go like that sometimes, especially in a derby," said Ratti.

"Both sides were competing for everything around the breakdown and set-piece.

"Nobody goes out to concede penalties but it is part and parcel of rugby."