Cardiff clinched their United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off position with a dramatic 22-16 victory against Stormers at the Arms Park. This bonus-point win not only solidified their play-off spot but also ensured their entry into the European Champions Cup next season.

Jacob Beetham starred for Cardiff with two tries, while Tom Bowen added another, and Ioan Lloyd contributed with seven points. Stormers fought back with a try from Adre Smith and 11 points from South African fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

The match attracted a crowd of 10,143, who may have witnessed the last appearance of Leigh Halfpenny, who came on as a substitute in the 78th minute. Following the match, Cardiff rose to fourth in the standings, pending the outcomes of other games involving Munster, Lions, and Bulls.

Cardiff aimed to avoid a repeat of last season, where they missed the top eight by just one point. Their performance was marked by resilience, especially when Liam Belcher was shown a yellow card. Despite being down to 14 men, they executed effective close-quarter attacks, showcasing their determination.

Key moments included:

• Josh McNally’s absence due to military commitments.
• Basham playing a crucial role in ball retention while short-handed.
• A disallowed try for Danny Southworth due to a forward pass.

As the play-offs approach, Stormers face the risk of dropping to third in the final standings, while Leinster could potentially rise to second place with their upcoming match against Ospreys.