Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff finished as Wales' leading club last season, making the play-offs and earning Champions Cup qualification.

The Blue and Blacks have grown year on year in the URC recently, going from 32 points in 2024 to 47 in 2025 to 55 last season.

Building on that is a tough challenge and relies on maintaining strong form at Cardiff Arms Park and picking up points on the road.

"Look at the last three years and Cardiff has grown. That's the main focus for us, to be a better team, and better individually and collectively as a club," said head coach Corniel van Zyl.

"We are not the cream of the crop yet, so the mission is to get better and have consistency in our performance.

"Last year we were very good at the Arms Park and we would love to replicate that, and also get better away from home. That's the challenge."

Read more about Cardiff's prospects here.

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Scarlets endured a torrid 2025-26 in which they narrowly avoided finishing as Wales' lowest-ranked side courtesy of a draw with Dragons in the final round, which meant they edged out the Rodney Parade club for 14th place on win count.

There was change during the season with the return of Nigel Davies as director of rugby, with Dwayne Peel staying beneath him with the same title of head coach.

Scarlets supporters will demand more from a talented squad in the coming campaign.

"We were absolutely not happy with 14th," said Davies.

"I'm not going to sit here and give any predictions of where we're going to finish, but what we're going to see is a Scarlets team with intent, wanting to play quickly, wanting to excite our crowd and be hugely competitive and abrasive."

Read more about Scarlets' prospects here.

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Scarlets need a fast start to the season after their struggles a year ago but they have suffered an injury blow.

Fletcher Anderson was the pick of their players in 2025-26 after arriving from Crusaders in November.

The number eight did not feature in pre-season and misses out on the opener because of a groin injury.

Read more about the loss of Anderson here.

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Cardiff give debuts to loose-head prop Scott Sio and centre Le Roux Malan, while Wales fly-half Jarrod Evans is on the bench after returning from Harlequins for a second stint at the club.

Former Australia prop Sio, who now represents Samoa, has made the move from Exeter and is tasked with helping the Blue and Blacks be more of a force at the set-piece.

It is hoped that South Africa-raised Namibia international Malan will add some bite to midfield to go along with the club's lively Welsh talent.

Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, Malan, B Thomas, Grady; Sheedy, Mulder; Sio, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, T Williams, Mann, D Thomas, Basham.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Barratt, Wainwright, Thornton, Botham, Bevan, J Evans, Millard.

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Scarlets start the season with injury concerns, with Wales fly-half Sam Costelow the latest to join the absentee list.

The playmaker misses out after a head injury suffered in the friendly defeat by Saracens, meaning a swift starting debut for Gareth Anscombe.

It's up front where the hosts are looking a little light with the likes of Fletcher Anderson, Taine Plumtree, Archer Holz, Corey Domachowski and Kemsley Mathias are absent.

That has provided chances for number eight Osian Williams and lock Will Evans, who was a real physical presence in the second row for Wales Under-20s.

At 6ft 6ins and with an aggressive streak, the 20-year-old Evans could be one of the breakthrough players of the season but Nigel Davies will manage his workload carefully.

Scarlets: Murray; Mee, J Roberts, E James, Page; Anscombe, Blacker; S O'Connor, Elias, Henry Thomas, W Evans, Cuckson, Lousi, Macleod (capt), O Williams.

Replacements: McKee, J Morse, Hawley, Groves, T Davies, Hughes, Hawkins, I Jones.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The final fixture of the opening round of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship takes place in Llanelli where Scarlets and Cardiff get under way with a derby.

The Blue and Blacks were the standard bearers for Welsh rugby last season when they made the play-offs and qualified for the Champions Cup.

Scarlets had a nightmare campaign and only pipped Dragons to 14th on win count.

Both teams will be desperate to set the tone for the season with victory against Welsh rivals.

This could be a cracker so let's have a look at the teams...