Cardiff Rugby

33 - 20

Full Time

Lions

Cardiff Rugby vs Lions

Events

Commentary

Live Updates

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

80'

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.

76'

Try

Great forward play by Cardiff Rugby allows Evan Lloyd to score the try.

75'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with Heiko Pohlmann getting some game time.

72'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with SJ Kotze being replaced.

72'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with Darrien-Lane Landsberg getting some game time.

70'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with Dylan Sjoblom being replaced.

70'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with Renzo Du Plessis getting some game time.

70'

Lions decide to make a substitution, with Ruan Venter being replaced.

70'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Dan Thomas coming on.

68'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Taine Basham coming off.

68'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Ioan Lloyd coming on.

66'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Cameron Winnett coming off.

66'

Lions sub RF Schoeman comes onto the field.

63'

Asenathi Ntlabakanye departs for Lions.

63'

Lions sub Rynhardt Jonker comes onto the field.

62'

Tapiwa Mafura departs for Lions.

62'

Lions sub Morne Brandon comes onto the field.

62'

Franco Marais departs for Lions.

62'

Cardiff Rugby sub Ben Donnell comes onto the field.

60'

Alex Mann departs for Cardiff Rugby.

60'

Cardiff Rugby sub Aled Davies comes onto the field.

60'

Johan Mulder departs for Cardiff Rugby.

60'

Conversion

The Cardiff Rugby supporters go wild as Callum Sheedy successfully kicks the conversion.

60'

Try

Cardiff Rugby are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Evan Lloyd touching down.

59'

The defensive line has been broken as Evan Lloyd goes through the gap.

59'

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Callum Sheedy kicks the conversion.

51'

Try

Nothing was going to stop Alex Mann from scoring as they record the try for Cardiff Rugby.

51'

What a run here by Josh Adams as they get over the gainline!

50'

Cardiff Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Keiron Assiratti getting some game time.

49'

Cardiff Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Javan Sebastian being replaced.

49'

Cardiff Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Danny Southworth getting some game time.

49'

Cardiff Rugby decide to make a substitution, with Rhys Barratt being replaced.

49'

Conversion

Lubabalo Dobela adds the two points for Lions.

48'

Try

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

47'

Angelo Davids makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

44'

The second half kicks off.

40'

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

41'

Penalty Goal

Lubabalo Dobela has kicked a penalty goal.

36'

Trouble here as Angelo Davids breaches the defence.

32'

Trouble here as Taine Basham breaches the defence.

30'

Red Card

Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby) is shown the red card

29'

Trouble here as Cameron Winnett breaches the defence.

29'

Conversion

Lubabalo Dobela makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

27'

Try

The pressure has finally told as Ruan Venter scores from close range.

26'

Conversion

Callum Sheedy makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

23'

Try

A wonderful passing move by Cardiff Rugby is finished off by Cameron Winnett

22'

This is dangerous for the defence as Cameron Winnett bursts through to advance the Cardiff Rugby attack.

22'

That's a great try assist by Josh Adams.

22'

This is dangerous for the defence as Harri Millard bursts through to advance the Cardiff Rugby attack.

22'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Evan Lloyd coming on.

17'

Cardiff Rugby make a substitution with Liam Belcher coming off.

17'

Penalty Goal

Lubabalo Dobela does the business as their penalty goal attempt goes over.

16'

A gap opened in the defence and Taine Basham took full advantage.

12'

Conversion

Callum Sheedy has kicked a conversion.

Try

A series of passes by Cardiff Rugby results in a try for Ben Thomas

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

Callum Sheedy played a key part in that try.

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

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Cardiff Rugby v Lions 
  
 Round 1 
  
 Sat 27th September 2025, 11:45am PDT 
  
 Cardiff Arms Park 
  
 Flo Rugby 
  
 Filippo Russo

Points Flow Chart

Cardiff Rugby win +13

Time in lead

Mins in lead

86%

% Of Game In Lead

57%

Possession Last 10 min

43%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Lloyd

33 - 20

75'

Sheedy

28 - 20

60'

Lloyd

26 - 20

59'

Sheedy

21 - 20

51'

Mann

19 - 20

51'

Dobela

48'

14 - 20

Steenkamp

47'

14 - 18

Half Time

Dobela

36'

14 - 13

Thomas

14 - 10

29'

Dobela

27'

14 - 10

Venter

26'

14 - 8

Sheedy

14 - 3

23'

Winnett

12 - 3

22'

Dobela

16'

7 - 3

Sheedy

7 - 0

Thomas

5 - 0

Start

Win Probability

Cardiff Rugby

71%

Draw

Lions

28%

Start of Possession Passages by Morne Brandon

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.7

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.8

Entries

Attack Profile

Cardiff Rugby

Lions

More Less

Defence Profile

Cardiff Rugby

Lions

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

56%

47%

3-6 secs

37%

41%

6+ secs

12%

Rucks Won

Last 5 Penalties

62'

69'

72'

74'

80'

Cardiff Rugby

Lions

Cardiff Rugby vs Lions Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Cardiff Rugby face off against Lions in United Rugby Championship Round 1 on Sat 27th September 2025 at Cardiff Arms Park. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 19:45 and is broadcast on Premier Sports. In South Africa it’s at 20:45 SAST on SuperSport, 07:45 NZST on URC TV in New Zealand, 04:45 AEST on URC TV in Australia and 11:45 EST on Flo Rugby in the US.

Cardiff Rugby won the last encounter but Cardiff Rugby are in the best form of their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 5 places in the league table with Lions in 2nd and Cardiff Rugby in 7th underlining just how tight this match could be.

Cardiff Rugby vs Lions Squads

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