Connacht

35 - 20

Full Time

Cardiff Rugby

Cardiff Rugby vs Connacht

Events

Commentary

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Live Updates

The 80 minutes is up! The referee has blown their whistle to end the second half.

79'

This is dangerous for the defence as Evan Lloyd bursts through to advance the Cardiff Rugby attack.

78'

Conversion

Josh Ioane has kicked a conversion.

75'

Try

Paul Boyle scores the try from close range.

74'

Jack Aungier played a key part in that try.

74'

Cardiff Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Ellis Bevan getting some game time.

74'

Cardiff Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Johan Mulder being replaced.

74'

Yellow Card

Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby) is shown a yellow card

74'

A gap opened in the defence and Finn Treacy took full advantage.

74'

A gap opened in the defence and Ben Thomas took full advantage.

67'

A gap opened in the defence and Rey Lee-Lo took full advantage.

67'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Rory Thornton coming on.

66'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Josh McNally coming off.

66'

Conversion

The Connacht Rugby supporters go wild as Josh Ioane successfully kicks the conversion.

65'

Try

Great hands by Connacht Rugby leads to a try for Shayne Bolton

65'

Mack Hansen sets up the try.

65'

The defensive line has been broken as Josh Ioane goes through the gap.

64'

Connacht Rugby sub Niall Murray comes onto the field.

64'

Darragh Murray departs for Connacht Rugby.

64'

Cardiff Rugby sub Corey Domachowski comes onto the field.

60'

Danny Southworth departs for Cardiff Rugby.

60'

Cardiff Rugby sub Rory Jennings comes onto the field.

60'

Callum Sheedy departs for Cardiff Rugby.

60'

Cardiff Rugby sub Thomas Young comes onto the field.

60'

James Botham departs for Cardiff Rugby.

60'

Connacht Rugby sub Cathal Forde comes onto the field.

60'

Hugh Gavin departs for Connacht Rugby.

60'

Ben Thomas curls the ball too far, missing the posts to the right.

60'

Try

Great hands by Cardiff Rugby leads to a try for Josh Adams

59'

Alex Mann played a key part in that try.

59'

The defensive line has been broken as Alex Mann goes through the gap.

59'

Jack Aungier comes on for Connacht Rugby.

55'

Finlay Bealham leaves the field.

55'

Evan Lloyd comes on.

53'

Liam Belcher comes off.

53'

Denis Buckley comes on.

53'

Jordan Duggan comes off.

53'

Paul Boyle comes on.

53'

Shamus Hurley-Langton comes off.

53'

Caolin Blade comes on.

53'

Matthew Devine comes off.

53'

Josh Ioane comes on.

53'

JJ Hanrahan comes off.

53'

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Ben Thomas kicks the conversion.

53'

Try

Ben Thomas scores! That alone was worth the admission price!!!

52'

What a run here by Ben Thomas as they get over the gainline!

52'

That's a great try assist by Callum Sheedy.

52'

What a run here by Liam Belcher as they get over the gainline!

52'

Rhys Litterick comes on.

50'

Keiron Assiratti comes off.

50'

Alex Mann comes on.

50'

Taulupe Faletau comes off.

50'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Dylan Tierney-Martin coming on.

43'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Dave Heffernan coming off.

43'

Conversion

JJ Hanrahan adds the two points for Connacht Rugby.

42'

Try

Incisive passing by Connacht Rugby is finished off by Finn Treacy, as they goes over for the try.

41'

Dave Heffernan played a key part in that try.

41'

Fabulous play by Connacht Rugby has led to Dave Heffernan being able to wriggle through a gap.

41'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Shayne Bolton coming on.

41'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Josh Ioane coming off.

41'

The second half kicks off.

40'

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

45'

Conversion

JJ Hanrahan adds the two points for Connacht Rugby.

45'

Try

The defence are desperately trying to hold out here but it was to no avail as Sean Jansen dots the ball down from close range.

44'

Spellbinding play by Finlay Bealham is finished off with a try.

44'

Yellow Card

Josh McNally (Cardiff Rugby) is shown a yellow card

42'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Josh Ioane coming on.

41'

Connacht Rugby make a substitution with Shayne Bolton coming off.

41'

Cardiff Rugby go for goal with Callum Sheedy taking the conversion but their aim is not up to scratch as the ball slides to the left of the post.

38'

Try

Incisive passing by Cardiff Rugby is finished off by Rey Lee-Lo, as they goes over for the try.

37'

That's a great try assist by Teddy Williams.

37'

Fabulous play by Cardiff Rugby has led to Teddy Williams being able to wriggle through a gap.

37'

Yellow Card

Mack Hansen (Connacht Rugby) is shown a yellow card

32'

Trouble here as Taulupe Faletau breaches the defence.

32'

Trouble here as Ben Thomas breaches the defence.

32'

Trouble here as Hugh Gavin breaches the defence.

30'

Trouble here as Finn Treacy breaches the defence.

29'

This is dangerous for the defence as Oisin Dowling bursts through to advance the Connacht Rugby attack.

23'

Penalty Goal

Callum Sheedy makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.

12'

Conversion

JJ Hanrahan has kicked a conversion.

Try

Great hands by Connacht Rugby leads to a try for Matthew Devine

Mack Hansen sets up the try.

The defensive line has been broken as Sean Jansen goes through the gap.

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Connacht v Cardiff Rugby 
  
 Round of 16 
  
 Sat 5th April 2025, 12:00pm PDT 
  
 Dexcom Stadium 
  
 Luc Ramos

Points Flow Chart

Connacht win +15

Time in lead

Mins in lead

89%

% Of Game In Lead

33%

Possession Last 10 min

67%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Ioane

35 - 20

75'

Boyle

33 - 20

74'

Thomas

74'

28 - 20

Ioane

28 - 20

65'

Bolton

26 - 20

65'

Adams

59'

21 - 20

Thomas

53'

21 - 15

Thomas

52'

21 - 13

Hanrahan

21 - 8

42'

Treacy

19 - 8

41'

Half Time

Hanrahan

14 - 8

45'

Jansen

12 - 8

44'

McNally

42'

7 - 8

Lee-Lo

37'

7 - 8

Hansen

7 - 3

32'

Sheedy

12'

7 - 3

Hanrahan

7 - 0

Devine

5 - 0

Start

Win Probability

Connacht

71%

Draw

Cardiff Rugby

28%

Maul-Won by Niall Murray

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

5.8

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

1.6

Entries

Attack Profile

Connacht

Cardiff Rugby

More Less

Defence Profile

Connacht

Cardiff Rugby

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

74%

75%

3-6 secs

14%

18%

6+ secs

12%

Rucks Won

113

Last 5 Penalties

55'

61'

63'

68'

74'

Connacht

Cardiff Rugby

Connacht vs Cardiff Rugby Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Connacht face off against Cardiff Rugby in Challenge Cup Round of 16 on Sat 5th April 2025 at Dexcom Stadium. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 20:00 and is broadcast on Premier Sports. In South Africa it’s at 21:00 SAST, 07:00 NZST in New Zealand, 05:00 AEST in Australia and 12:00 EST in the US.

Cardiff Rugby won the last encounter but both teams are in the same form for their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 3 places in the league table with Cardiff Rugby in 1st and Connacht in 4th underlining just how tight this match could be.

Connacht vs Cardiff Rugby Squads

The official squads for Connacht vs Cardiff Rugby will become available around 24- 48 hours before kick-off. Teams can still make changes up to an hour before the match however.