**Welsh Rugby Round-Up: Heartbreak, Emotional Call-Ups, and Champions Crowned in a Stellar Weekend**
The weekend brought with it a torrent of emotion, highs and lows, for Welsh rugby and the global game. From dramatic playoff defeats to history-making title wins, we bring you the latest developments shaping the rugby landscape.
Sam Davies, the seasoned Welsh fly-half, experienced fresh disappointment as his Grenoble side failed yet again to secure a coveted promotion to France’s Top 14, following a tense showdown with Perpignan. Despite being instrumental in Grenoble’s journey throughout the season, Davies was forced to watch another opportunity slip through his fingers as Perpignan edged a narrow 13–11 victory in the so-called ‘Top 14 Access Match’.
The heartbreak was palpable for Grenoble, who had already suffered defeat a week earlier against Montauban in the Pro D2 play-off final. Yet a second lifeline was handed to them, pitting them against Perpignan, who finished 13th in the Top 14 regular season. Hopes were momentarily raised when Grenoble led 8–7 at half-time thanks to a try from Thomas Lainault and a penalty from Davies. However, in a contest dominated by tactical kicking and nervy exchanges, it was Perpignan’s Tommaso Allan who had the final word. His penalty with just minutes left ultimately dashed Grenoble’s dreams and left Davies and his side to ponder a third consecutive play-off defeat.
Amid the anguish in France, joy and pride swept over one Welsh family back home. Garyn Phillips, an uncapped Ospreys prop, shared his emotional response to being called up for international duty, revealing how the news left his father in tears. In an interview posted by the Welsh Rugby Union, Phillips described the moving moment: “The first person I told was my old man. I gave him a ring and he was a bit teary on the phone.” Phillips credited the support of his Ospreys team-mates with easing his transition into the national set-up, having played previously alongside several of them at age-grade level.
Elsewhere in Europe, Leinster Rugby ended a period of near misses by powering to the BKT United Rugby Championship title, seeing off South Africa’s Pretoria Bulls with a convincing 32-7 triumph at Dublin’s Croke Park. The Irish side, led by captain Jack Conan, raced into a commanding first half lead, with tries from Conan himself, Jordie Barrett, and Josh van der Flier. Although the Bulls staged a minor fightback, Leinster’s control remained unshaken, and a record crowd of over 46,000 witnessed them become the first team in the URC era to convert a league-topping finish into championship silverware.
In England, Bath Rugby broke a remarkable 29-year title drought, punctuating their resurgence with a hard-fought 23-21 Premiership final victory over Leicester Tigers. Bath’s Ben Spencer, standing proudly as captain, expressed both relief and optimism for the future, hailing the work ethic of the squad and the impact of the fans on the club’s success. The triumph marks a return to the summit for Bath and caps off a treble-winning campaign.
For Leicester, the final proved bittersweet. Club legends Ben Youngs and Dan Cole bowed out after distinguished careers, making their final appearances in a frenetic contest at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium. Despite a spirited late charge, Leicester fell just short as Bath held firm, even with a numerical disadvantage following a controversial sin-binning of Cole.
Coaches on both sides offered candid reflections post-match. Bath’s Johann van Graan underscored his ambition for continued progress, stating the team “must always train like number two because the other guys are coming. The best is yet to come.” Leicester’s departing boss, Michael Cheika, commended his team’s resilience and insisted brighter days are ahead for the Tigers, as new talent and leadership are set to take the reins.
Overall, the weekend embodied the extremes of rugby—despair for those denied by fine margins and jubilation for long-suffering supporters finally rewarded. With Wales’ young prospects stepping up and club fortunes shifting across the continent, the stage is set for another bold chapter in the sport’s storied narrative.