The URC talking points as Wales hopefuls impress

Only two rounds of the United Rugby Championship (URC) have been completed but it is Cardiff and Dragons who are the early Welsh pacesetters, while Scarlets and Ospreys are languishing at the bottom of the table in 14th and 15th respectively.

Cardiff have won both games and lie second, while Dragons in sixth are unbeaten after winning an entertaining 10-try derby against Scarlets in Newport.

Ospreys and Scarlets are battling for long-term survival, with only one west Wales side set to exist in two years, but currently they would love just a victory after two defeats each.

While Louis Rees-Zammit, Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan continue to star in England's Prem, BBC Sport Wales looks at what has happened in the URC over the weekend.

A year ago Dragons were lamenting missed opportunities in the first block of the season.

Now, aided by the belief built in the second half of 2025-26, they have started to take them.

Filo Tiatia's men are digging deep in tough moments when previously they have folded, with the head coach deserving great credit for that.

"You are not just fighting for the players on the field. There is a deeper understanding in the group around what they are actually fighting for," said Tiatia.

Dragons scored six tries against Scarlets and the driving line-out that earned a late leveller at Benetton was once again a weapon.

There is also variety to their game with balance in wide positions courtesy of the power of new recruit Anzelo Tuitavuki and the pace of Rio Dyer.

Dragons also blew several chances to add to their try tally and can certainly be more clinical in the 22.

"There is lots to grow, lots to improve, but to come away with the points at home was important," said Tiatia.

Dragons will hope to extend their unbeaten start to the campaign with Ospreys and Perpignan visiting Rodney Parade in the URC and Challenge Cup.

With those games followed by a trip to Swansea and a home fixture against Zebre, the first block could give Tiatia's side a launchpad.

Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies was left to reflect on some familiar problems as his side suffered a second successive defeat.

The continued inability to defend driving line-outs and giving away stupid penalties, typified by the second-half yellow card picked up by captain Josh Macleod, contributed to another loss.

"There were probably three or four big moments which the game turned on," said Davies.

"Those moments added up eventually to a yellow card and we were under pressure in the last 20 minutes."

Scarlets, who also suffered a slow start in 2025-26, are missing influential injured back-row forwards Fletcher Anderson and Taine Plumtree.

"There is no doubt those two are high-quality players and would bring ability and quality to any team," said Davies.

“It would be nice to get them back and have them as options.”

Scarlets face a reunion on Saturday with former head coach Wayne Pivac, who is now coaching a Benetton side also looking for a first victory.

"It is very important," said Davies. "All points are crucial and that's why we're into a massive game next week."

A tour to South Africa to start the season was always going to test Ospreys and they failed to upset the odds against Sharks or Lions.

A four-try bonus in Durban at least got the points tally moving and Mark Jones should profit from team bonding and having given 27 members of his squad starts.

Another big plus came from former Australia captain Liam Wright wearing six on his back in successive professional fixtures for the first time since 2024 after several years of injury misfortune.

The blind-side flanker has already made an impression with his work rate, line-out skills and ability to do the simple stuff well, with his leadership an added bonus.

It could be argued that Ospreys lack big ball carriers – and they will hope to get that from a different department in the coming weeks with the availability of former Australia wing Marika Koroibete – but Wright will be an excellent addition if he stays fit.

There should be plenty more to come as the 28-year-old builds momentum.

Cardiff have claimed nine points from wins against Scarlets and Zebre but their programme will ramp up in the next two weeks.

After defeating teams that finished 14th and 16th in the URC last season, Corniel van Zyl's side will face defending league champions Leinster on Saturday in Dublin before a Champions Cup opener at English Prem winners Northampton.

Cardiff coasted into a 40-8 lead against Zebre but know they cannot afford to repeat the concentration lapse that allowed the Italians to score three tries and 19 points.

"It's something to work on," said Van Zyl. "It's stuff we can control but we take the win. We don't normally have that kind of lead, so it's unfamiliar territory."

Leinster have been in South Africa for the opening two games with narrow defeats by Lions and Sharks, claiming three bonus points.

The Irish province return for the first competitive game at their expensively-redeveloped home, which is now called the Laya Arena and has a capacity of 20,600.

"We know they're a mega club, have very, very good players, good systems and good coaches, so it will be a nice challenge for us," said Van Zyl.

"Hopefully we'll have a few players back. We have eight days this time around, so more time to prepare and recover."

The Zebre fixture was one to remember for 18-year-old Cardiff hooker Tom Howe, who celebrated his Cardiff debut as a replacement.

"It is unbelievable," said Howe. "I have grown up watching these games and my dad used to take me, so to get the chance to come here and play with my family watching is amazing."

Wales head coach Steve Tandy will have been an interested observer because he names his Nations Championship squad in 16 days' time.

There are only two more matches for some fringe players to impress, so the past weekend will have been important.

The player-of-the-match, two-try display from Dragons hooker Elliot Dee was timely as he looks to challenge Lake, Ryan Elias, Evan Lloyd and Liam Belcher in the international pecking order.

Scarlets wing Macs Page, who was an unused player in a Wales squad in 2025, demonstrated some of that past form with two tries of his own, including a superb solo effort.

He enjoyed a fascinating battle against Dragons favourite Rio Dyer, who had a mixed first half followed by an outstanding second period where his early kick-off regather set the tone.

Dyer’s searing break later led directly to Macleod‘s yellow card, which helped tip the match in Dragons' favour.

Rees-Zammit, Blair Murray, Ellis Mee, Josh Adams, Tom Rogers, Mason Grady, and Gabriel Hamer-Webb might be above Dyer, Mee and Tom Bowen in Tandy’s mind but this weekend in Newport just provided the Wales boss with a gentle reminder.