Archive December 13, 2025

European Challenge Cup

Cardiff (12) 29

Tries: Nott, Bowen, Southworth, D Thomas Cons: Halfpenny, Sheedy 2 Pen: Sheedy

Ulster (14) 26

Cardiff fly-half Callum Sheedy kicked a last-gasp winning penalty to defeat Ulster in a Challenge Cup thriller at the Arms Park.

Sheedy’s nerveless effort completed a remarkable Cardiff comeback from 26-12 down and ensured Leigh Halfpenny’s homecoming ended in a dramatic victory.

Cardiff had raced into a 12-0 lead through tries from lock George Nott and teenage wing Tom Bowen.

Ulster rallied with tries from captain Tom Stewart, centre James Hume and a double from wing Werner Kok to give the visitors a 14-point lead after 65 minutes.

Richie Murphy’s side had started their European campaign with a thumping 61-7 win over Racing 92.

In contrast, Cardiff suffered a 38-17 away defeat against Stade Francais.

Both sides rung the changes with Ulster making eight alterations as the likes of Jacob Stockdale, Rob Baloucoune, Jude Postlethwaite, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Rob Herring and Nick Timoney were rested.

Only captain Alun Lawrence, flanker James Botham, prop Rhys Barratt and lock Thornton survived in the Cardiff starting side from the Paris trip.

Centre Ben Thomas, prop Keiron Assiratti and lock Rory Thornton all made their 100th Cardiff appearance and led the team out with their children.

Halfpenny, who will celebrate his 37rd birthday later this month, was making his first Cardiff appearance in 4,347 days since he left for Toulon in 2014.

Despite all the milestones and comebacks, it was Nott who opened the scoring after a clever tip pass from fellow lock Thornton.

Bowen, who was only three when Halfpenny made his first Cardiff debut in 2008, scored a superb solo try when he collected his own grubber kick and outpaced Werner Kok.

The controversial score was given following a discussion between the referee and television match official (TMO) with the ball looked to have gone forward in the build-up off Halfpenny’s chest.

The French officials decided there was no further touch from Halfpenny’s hand so the score stood.

Ulster responded when Stewart marked his first game as captain by scoring a try from a rolling maul.

Assiratti was forced off the field just before half-time before Bowen, still just 19, demonstrated both sides of his game and showed why many are tipping him for Wales senior honours soon.

After his try-saving tackle denied Stewart a second score following a free-flowing move, Bowen’s burst down the right almost led to a third Cardiff try.

Instead, Ulster weathered the pressure and Hume capitalised on a Sheedy handling mistake to sprint 50 metres to score.

After extending the lead, Ulster were able to bring on imposing the forward trio of Angus Bell, Cormac Izuchukwu and Juarno Augustus.

The visitors’ dominance continued with Kok scoring his second in the right hand corner.

Halfpenny was replaced after 57 minutes by Cameron Winnett before tempers flared, with Ulster unhappy with a James Botham challenge on Zac Ward.

Lock Harry Sheridan and Botham clashed with both players sent to the sin-bin before Ulster were down to 13 men when the centre was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Cardiff made their extra man tell when flanker Thomas was driven over with Sheedy’s conversion levelling the scores with six minutes to play.

A surging home scrum then forced a penalty to give Sheedy the platform to win the match.

Both sides will return to the United Rugby Championship (URC) next weekend where Cardiff are second and Ulster fourth, with both sides only losing one league games this season.

It is the Welsh derby season for Cardiff in the Christmas and New Year period as they host Scarlets on Friday, 19 December before welcoming Dragons seven days later, with a trip to play Ospreys in Bridgend on 1 January.

Cardiff: Halfpenny; Adams, Millard, B Thomas, Bowen; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, D Hughes, Assiratti, Nott, Thornton, Botham, D Thomas, Lawrence (capt).

Replacements: E Lloyd, Southworth, Wainwright, McNally, De la Rua, Bevan, Beetham, Winnett.

Sin-bin: Botham 68

Ulster: S Moore; Kok, Hume, Carson, Ward; Flannery, McKee; Crean, Steward (capt), O’Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Reffell, Ward.

Replacements: Andrew, Bell, McGuire, Izuchukwu, Augustus, Shanahan, Humphreys, McNamara,

Sin-bin: Sheridan 68, Carson 72.

Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)

Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (France), Anthony Lac (Monaco)

European Challenge Cup

Cardiff (12) 29

Tries: Nott, Bowen, Southworth, D Thomas Cons: Halfpenny, Sheedy 2 Pen: Sheedy

Ulster (14) 26

Cardiff fly-half Callum Sheedy kicked a last-gasp winning penalty to defeat Ulster in a Challenge Cup thriller at the Arms Park.

Sheedy’s nerveless effort completed a remarkable Cardiff comeback from 26-12 down and ensured Leigh Halfpenny’s homecoming ended in a dramatic victory.

Cardiff had raced into a 12-0 lead through tries from lock George Nott and teenage wing Tom Bowen.

Ulster rallied with tries from captain Tom Stewart, centre James Hume and a double from wing Werner Kok to give the visitors a 14-point lead after 65 minutes.

Richie Murphy’s side had started their European campaign with a thumping 61-7 win over Racing 92.

In contrast, Cardiff suffered a 38-17 away defeat against Stade Francais.

Both sides rung the changes with Ulster making eight alterations as the likes of Jacob Stockdale, Rob Baloucoune, Jude Postlethwaite, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Rob Herring and Nick Timoney were rested.

Only captain Alun Lawrence, flanker James Botham, prop Rhys Barratt and lock Thornton survived in the Cardiff starting side from the Paris trip.

Centre Ben Thomas, prop Keiron Assiratti and lock Rory Thornton all made their 100th Cardiff appearance and led the team out with their children.

Halfpenny, who will celebrate his 37rd birthday later this month, was making his first Cardiff appearance in 4,347 days since he left for Toulon in 2014.

Despite all the milestones and comebacks, it was Nott who opened the scoring after a clever tip pass from fellow lock Thornton.

Bowen, who was only three when Halfpenny made his first Cardiff debut in 2008, scored a superb solo try when he collected his own grubber kick and outpaced Werner Kok.

The controversial score was given following a discussion between the referee and television match official (TMO) with the ball looked to have gone forward in the build-up off Halfpenny’s chest.

The French officials decided there was no further touch from Halfpenny’s hand so the score stood.

Ulster responded when Stewart marked his first game as captain by scoring a try from a rolling maul.

Assiratti was forced off the field just before half-time before Bowen, still just 19, demonstrated both sides of his game and showed why many are tipping him for Wales senior honours soon.

After his try-saving tackle denied Stewart a second score following a free-flowing move, Bowen’s burst down the right almost led to a third Cardiff try.

Instead, Ulster weathered the pressure and Hume capitalised on a Sheedy handling mistake to sprint 50 metres to score.

After extending the lead, Ulster were able to bring on imposing the forward trio of Angus Bell, Cormac Izuchukwu and Juarno Augustus.

The visitors’ dominance continued with Kok scoring his second in the right hand corner.

Halfpenny was replaced after 57 minutes by Cameron Winnett before tempers flared, with Ulster unhappy with a James Botham challenge on Zac Ward.

Lock Harry Sheridan and Botham clashed with both players sent to the sin-bin before Ulster were down to 13 men when the centre was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Cardiff made their extra man tell when flanker Thomas was driven over with Sheedy’s conversion levelling the scores with six minutes to play.

A surging home scrum then forced a penalty to give Sheedy the platform to win the match.

Both sides will return to the United Rugby Championship (URC) next weekend where Cardiff are second and Ulster fourth, with both sides only losing one league games this season.

It is the Welsh derby season for Cardiff in the Christmas and New Year period as they host Scarlets on Friday, 19 December before welcoming Dragons seven days later, with a trip to play Ospreys in Bridgend on 1 January.

Cardiff: Halfpenny; Adams, Millard, B Thomas, Bowen; Sheedy, A Davies; Barratt, D Hughes, Assiratti, Nott, Thornton, Botham, D Thomas, Lawrence (capt).

Replacements: E Lloyd, Southworth, Wainwright, McNally, De la Rua, Bevan, Beetham, Winnett.

Sin-bin: Botham 68

Ulster: S Moore; Kok, Hume, Carson, Ward; Flannery, McKee; Crean, Steward (capt), O’Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Reffell, Ward.

Replacements: Andrew, Bell, McGuire, Izuchukwu, Augustus, Shanahan, Humphreys, McNamara,

Sin-bin: Sheridan 68, Carson 72.

Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)

Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy (France), Anthony Lac (Monaco)

Glasgow Warriors 28 (0)

Tries: McKay, Brown, Tuipulotu Cons: Hastings 4

Toulouse 21 (21)

Glasgow Warriors mounted an epic comeback from 21-0 down to beat French giants Toulouse in the Champions Cup on one of the club’s greatest nights.

In torrential rain and gale-force winds, the six-time champions were still able to display all their signature power and precision in the first half as they threatened to comprehensively outclass their hosts.

Antoine Dupont, making his first start in eight months after a serious knee injury, got the ball rolling with the opening try and a double from Kalvin Gourgues saw the visitors race into what looked like an unassailable lead at half-time.

Warriors re-emerged like a team possessed and stunned Toulouse with tries from Josh McKay, Gregor Brown, Sione Tuipulotu and Gregor Hiddleston to send Scotstoun into raptures.

A big cheer went up when Dupont’s name was read out by the stadium announcer ahead of the match, and the little maestro wasted no time in showing his class.

Thibaud Flament burst through the Warriors defence and galloped into the 22, finding Dupont on his shoulder and he glided over for the opening try in a little over six minutes.

Dupont was instrumental as Toulouse struck again moments later, though the home crowd were furious as they were convinced his pass to send Gourgeus over for the second try was forward.

Warriors seemed to be on referee Matthew Carley’s bad side, with the penalty count and the pressure cranking up against them.

The home side were grimly hanging on for half-time, but Gourgeus shrugged off a weak tackle from Josh McKay to go over for his second and Toulouse’s third.

Glasgow survived another scare in the final play of the half when Ange Capuozzo’s try was ruled out after he was just bundled into touch as he grounded in the corner, but at 21-0 at the break, the contest was all but done.

Or was it? Glasgow needed something to offer a glimmer of hope and they got it when some slick handling set McKay free up the touchline to run in for the try.

Whether it was some strong words at half-time from head coach Franco Smith, or turning around to play with the wind now at their backs, a flick had switched and suddenly Warriors were putting it up to their illustrious opponents.

The Glasgow bench was making an impact and one of the substitutes, Brown, blasted over from close range to reduce the arrears to seven points and bring Scotstoun to life.

The roof nearly came off the place when Tuipulotu finished off an a period of intense pressure on the Toulouse line, and when Adam Hastings banged over the conversion we were all square.

Still Glasgow came. They had Toulouse rocking and they landed another blow, a rolling line-out maul thundering over the try-line with substitute Hiddleston touching down to give Warriors the lead for the first time.

Glasgow: McKay; Steyn, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Smith; Hastings, Dobie; McBeth, Hiddleston, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Stephen, Sutherland, Talakai, Craig, Brown, Miller, Horne, Lancaster.

Toulouse: Ramos; Capuozzo, Costes, Gourgues, Kinghorn; Ntamack, Dupont; Ainuu, Marchand, Aldegheri, Brennan, Flament, Willis, Banos, Jelonch.

Glasgow Warriors 28 (0)

Tries: McKay, Brown, Tuipulotu Cons: Hastings 4

Toulouse 21 (21)

Glasgow Warriors mounted an epic comeback from 21-0 down to beat French giants Toulouse in the Champions Cup on one of the club’s greatest nights.

In torrential rain and gale-force winds, the six-time champions were still able to display all their signature power and precision in the first half as they threatened to comprehensively outclass their hosts.

Antoine Dupont, making his first start in eight months after a serious knee injury, got the ball rolling with the opening try and a double from Kalvin Gourgues saw the visitors race into what looked like an unassailable lead at half-time.

Warriors re-emerged like a team possessed and stunned Toulouse with tries from Josh McKay, Gregor Brown, Sione Tuipulotu and Gregor Hiddleston to send Scotstoun into raptures.

A big cheer went up when Dupont’s name was read out by the stadium announcer ahead of the match, and the little maestro wasted no time in showing his class.

Thibaud Flament burst through the Warriors defence and galloped into the 22, finding Dupont on his shoulder and he glided over for the opening try in a little over six minutes.

Dupont was instrumental as Toulouse struck again moments later, though the home crowd were furious as they were convinced his pass to send Gourgeus over for the second try was forward.

Warriors seemed to be on referee Matthew Carley’s bad side, with the penalty count and the pressure cranking up against them.

The home side were grimly hanging on for half-time, but Gourgeus shrugged off a weak tackle from Josh McKay to go over for his second and Toulouse’s third.

Glasgow survived another scare in the final play of the half when Ange Capuozzo’s try was ruled out after he was just bundled into touch as he grounded in the corner, but at 21-0 at the break, the contest was all but done.

Or was it? Glasgow needed something to offer a glimmer of hope and they got it when some slick handling set McKay free up the touchline to run in for the try.

Whether it was some strong words at half-time from head coach Franco Smith, or turning around to play with the wind now at their backs, a flick had switched and suddenly Warriors were putting it up to their illustrious opponents.

The Glasgow bench was making an impact and one of the substitutes, Brown, blasted over from close range to reduce the arrears to seven points and bring Scotstoun to life.

The roof nearly came off the place when Tuipulotu finished off an a period of intense pressure on the Toulouse line, and when Adam Hastings banged over the conversion we were all square.

Still Glasgow came. They had Toulouse rocking and they landed another blow, a rolling line-out maul thundering over the try-line with substitute Hiddleston touching down to give Warriors the lead for the first time.

Glasgow: McKay; Steyn, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Smith; Hastings, Dobie; McBeth, Hiddleston, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Stephen, Sutherland, Talakai, Craig, Brown, Miller, Horne, Lancaster.

Toulouse: Ramos; Capuozzo, Costes, Gourgues, Kinghorn; Ntamack, Dupont; Ainuu, Marchand, Aldegheri, Brennan, Flament, Willis, Banos, Jelonch.