Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel is in the hot seat, and it’s not getting any cooler after a tough festive run. Following a shaky season, Peel faced the heat from jubilant Dragons fans who chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning” after Scarlets fell to a 28-5 defeat at Rodney Parade. The loss keeps them at the bottom of the United Rugby Championship, leaving pundits like Tom Shanklin puzzled by their lack of ambition. The team’s well-known expansive style was missing, with Shanklin noting, “we’re used to seeing a team that wants to throw the ball around.” Peel admitted the recent losses were a setback, despite earlier wins against Cardiff, Bristol, and Bordeaux-Begles.
Meanwhile, the Dragons celebrated their impressive start to 2026. After clinching a victory over Lyon in December, they kicked off the New Year by dismantling Scarlets, displaying confidence and clinical finishing in the second half. Co-captain Angus O’Brien and head coach Filo Tiatia praised their team’s performance and resilience.
In other news, Wales back-row Olly Cracknell cherished his memorable 2025, finally earning his Test debut after years of hard work. Playing consistently for Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership led to his longed-for international cap under coach Steve Tandy.
Over at Ospreys, co-captain Sam Parry expressed relief after two significant derby wins lifted them into play-off contention. The Ospreys were determined to recover from a humbling defeat by Munster and fought hard against Cardiff with standout performances, especially from scrum-half Kieran Hardy.
On Cardiff’s side, they may have been defeated by Ospreys but didn’t leave empty-handed, securing a losing bonus point thanks to tries from Josh Adams, Taulupe Faletau, and Javan Sebastian. Cardiff will be looking to build on these positives in their upcoming fixtures. It’s all happening in the rugby world – stay tuned for more action!