Cardiff Rugby celebrated a commanding victory over Dragons Rugby on Boxing Day, with a final score of 55-21, marking their 18th consecutive league win against the Dragons. The match, which was played at a sold-out Arms Park with an attendance of 12,000 fans, saw Cardiff secure a bonus point try within the first 18 minutes, a feat only matched once before in United Rugby Championship (URC) history by Tommy Bowe for Ulster in 2006. By halftime, Cardiff had built an overwhelming 45-7 lead, tying the all-time URC record for the most tries in one half, with seven tries. Notable performances included Tomos Williams, who grabbed his second try, Rhys Carre, and James Botham, each scoring twice in the first half, while Harri Keddie also scored his second try for the Dragons. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Dragons managed to score three tries. The match report highlighted several impressive individual displays from Cardiff in their dominant victory. In other Boxing Day action, Ospreys secured a win over Scarlets with Jack Walsh securing the West Wales Derby victory, Neath triumphed over Aberavon with a score of 24-19, and the Irish derby between Munster and Leinster rounded out the day's fixtures.
โซ๏ธ The Ospreys' power proved too much for the Scarlets. #SCAvOSP โ๏ธ The match report following their #URC derby win on Boxing Day. https://t.co/tC1n4homP8
โ๏ธ The big Irish derby completes the Boxing Day action! #MUNvLEI ๐ข Follow the #URC clash live. ๐ https://t.co/k8UbtLfU18 https://t.co/aOH7OLJ785
Drama right until the very end ๐ฑ Jack Walsh secures the West Wales Derby victory for @Ospreys ๐ #BKTURC #URC #SCAvOSP https://t.co/r2OMnm0D3M
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ Ospreys claim the derby spoils by beating the Scarlets! #URC #SCAvOSP https://t.co/kRpuvNkPc9
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ There were several impressive individual displays in Cardiff's win. โ๏ธ The report following their dominant #URC victory over the Dragons. https://t.co/JJLRWaOnYa
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ There were several impressive individuals displays in Cardiff's win. โ๏ธ The report following their dominant #URC victory over the Dragons. https://t.co/JJLRWaOnYa
A sold-out crowd, a thrilling match, and a standout performance by Tomos Williams - what an unforgettable Boxing Day derby! ๐คฉ #BKTURC #URC | #CARvDRA | @Cardiff_Rugby https://t.co/JQE6cdynHw
Cardiffโs rout of their nearest and not-so-dearest exposes the absurdity of the points system used by @URCOfficial. Despite conceding 7 tries before half-time, Dragons ended up one short of a bonus point. @top14rugby has it right: only the winning team can earn a try bonus. https://t.co/EwlCSt4klJ
MATCH REPORT Cardiff Rugby claimed their 18th consecutive league victory over @dragonsrugby in front of a 12,000 Boxing Day sell-out crowd at the Arms Park ๐ https://t.co/51Kv4dixC7 #AlwaysCardiff ๐๐ค https://t.co/v5zO17k7am
A massive Boxing Day victory for the home side. #CARvDRA For all the stats and insights๐ฒ https://t.co/USAibncXoP https://t.co/dJMgHa6qUG
FULL TIME: @Cardiff_Rugby ๐ต55-21๐ @dragonsrugby A tough afternoon in the Capital, thank you to all the Dragons that travelled! #WeAreGwentRugby #CARvDRA https://t.co/uOEDaSct1D
F-T: Cardiff 55, Dragons 21. A game that was over as a contest before the break, with Cardiff turning round 45-7 up. It was nine tries to three in the end at a sold-out Arms Park - two apiece for Rhys Carre, James Botham, Tomos Williams and Harri Keddie.
Final Score: Neath 24 Aberavon 19 Neath grind out the elusive โWโ in an exciting Boxing Day Derby. Best wishes to @aberavonrfc for the rest of the season. @allwalessport https://t.co/VeMPrUKrKo
SEVEN first-half tries equals the all-time @URCOfficial record, set by Edinburgh at Caerphilly in 2002 and equalled by @Cardiff_Rugby themselves v Connacht at the Arms Park in September 2008.
H-T: Cardiff 45, Dragons 7. Seven tries to one in favour of the hosts at the break with prop Rhys Carre, flanker James Botham and scrum-half Tomos Williams all crossing twice at a sold out Arms Park. https://t.co/GJPPURpznK
Tomos Williams grabs @Cardiff_Rugby's 4th try. The only other try bonus point in 18 minutes or less in @URCOfficial history was scored by Tommy Bowe for Ulster v Border Reivers in 2006.
Tomos Williams grabs @Cardiff_Rugby's 4th try. The only other try bonus point in 18 minutes or less was scored by Tommy Bowe for Ulster v Border Reivers in 2006.
Good to watch some live rugby today - but to be completely blunt Cardiff are playing at a different level to Dragons. Pace and power all over the place. TBP secured inside the first quarter
Cardiff are on absolute fire. Bonus point try inside 18 minutes, and what a score it was. #BKTURC
The Dragons respond via Harri Keddie to level the score ๐ Cardiff Rugby 7-7 Dragons ๐ ๐บWatch Live on BBC Two Wales ๐ป Updates on @BBCRadioWales #BBCRugby https://t.co/HE0IDMxt08
A 12,000 sell-out at the Arms Park for @Cardiff_Rugby v @dragonsrugby. Great to see the old ground full to the rafters! https://t.co/viFAPb8woK
REMINDER: Today's Boxing Day Derby ๐ @dragonsrugby is a SELL OUT! ๐ Please do not attend without a match ticket. #AlwaysCardiff #PackedCAP https://t.co/CynrZHscTD
Boxing Day Rugby? LOVE IT. ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ Cardiff vs Dragons - 15:00 GMT ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ Scarlets vs Ospreys - 17:15 GMT โ๏ธ Munster vs Leinster - 19:35 GMT Three great derbies. #BKTURC