Leinster beat Cardiff 29-5 to secure first URC win of the season

Leinster claimed their first United Rugby Championship victory of the 2026-27 season with a 29-5 home win over Cardiff, scoring five tries on their return to the redeveloped Laya Arena. According to BBC Sport’s match report, 20,600 spectators watched the defending champions secure a bonus-point result and hand Cardiff their first defeat of the campaign.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0iGdR13OTU

The hosts established their advantage early, with Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O’Brien and Jack Conan all scoring inside the opening quarter. Keenan finished the first opportunity by kicking ahead and collecting the ball after a passing move brought him into space on the left. Cardiff scrum-half Aled Davies was then sent to the sin-bin for illegally stopping possession near his own line, and O’Brien and Conan added tries.

Cardiff did respond while a player short. Fly-half Callum Sheedy used a penalty to deliver a cross-kick to Mason Grady, whose try reduced the deficit to 15-5. Leinster nevertheless reached half-time with a commanding lead. O’Brien scored his second try in the 37th minute following a set move, securing the four-try bonus point, before Sam Prendergast’s first successful conversion made the score 22-5.

The second half produced far fewer scoring opportunities that ended in points. Cardiff enjoyed territory and made several visits to the Leinster 22, but could not turn those attacks into another score. The interval margin remained unchanged until five minutes from the end, when centre Jamie Osborne finished from close range. Prendergast added the conversion to complete the scoring and leave Cardiff without a match point.

For Leinster, the result followed an opening trip to South Africa that brought defeats against the Lions and Sharks, along with three bonus points. Head coach Leo Cullen restored several Ireland internationals for their first appearances of the season. The fixture also marked the team’s return to the ground formerly known as the RDS Arena after two seasons playing at the Aviva Stadium.

Cardiff’s selection changed late, with Taine Basham replacing Taulupe Faletau after the Wales number eight had initially been named to start. BBC Sport reported that Cardiff opted not to bring Faletau back for his first appearance since a shoulder injury in March. Their next assignment is a Champions Cup trip to Northampton on 18 October, followed five days later by a home URC match against the Sharks.