Toby Booth’s Ospreys went to Exeter Chiefs and won 14-10, while Cardiff triumphed 29-18 over Bath at the Arms Park. In the other game involving a Welsh region, Scarlets were beaten 31-7 at Welford Road by Leicester Tigers.
Luke Scully crossed for a try at the posts late-on in the Ospreys victory at Sandy Park to give Booth the perfect start to his final season in charge at the region. In had been announced the previous day that he will step down as head coach at the end of the 2024-25 campaign to allow Mark Jones to step into the top role.
Current captain Justin Tipuric will also be in his final season as a player before transitioning into the role of defence coach.
“I came here four years ago with a very definite project, and I’m leaving because it’s the right time and there’s a natural succession in place,” said Booth.
“Sometimes it’s about timing, and I think the time is right for the group. I also think the time is right for me to move onto something a little different.
“I’ve got a lot of energy and excitement to do that. I’m immensely proud of the people and the individuals that are effectively my team.”
The Ospreys were once again the top performing region in Wales last season, reaching the quarter-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup and the play-offs in the BKT United Rugby Championship. They will open their 2024-25 account at Rodney Parade against the Dragons on Saturday, 21 September.
A Ryan Conbeer first-half try, converted by Dan Edwards, gave the Ospreys a 7-3 interval lead and despite conceding a touchdown to the Chiefs in the second half the visitors managed to hit back at the death and conjure up a match winner for Scully which Edwards improved.
The previous night, Cardiff fans were jumping for joy as they saw their side avenge their Investec Champions Cup defeat by west country rivals Bath in the Welsh capital last season with an excellent all-round performance.
They outscored the visitors by five tries to two, with summer signings Iwan Stephens and Dan Thomas both crossing in the first half. Even so, Bath led 15-12 at the break thanks to a brace of tries from skipper Ewan Richards.
Cardiff responded with three driving line-out scores to ensure they came out on top and picked up a major boost ahead of their opening URC fixture against Zebre Parma at the Arms Park on Friday, 20 September.
“Our penalty count has been pretty high in the first two weeks, but I think a lot of that is coming from having new boys playing. They’re almost searching for moments, so we’re maybe over-competing things a little,” admitted Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt.
“As they get more game time, that’ll ease off. We kicked and chased well on the second half, which is something we talked about at half time.
“We wanted as many entries as we could get in their 22 because our maul was pretty strong. We’ve done a lot of work on our maul in the week, so we went into the game talking about making sure that we went to it.”
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel still had plenty to feel pleased about despite his side outgunned ion Leicester. In what turned out to be a bruising contest for both sides, the Scarlets were stubborn in defence and picked up a try in the first half from flanker Jarrod Taylor which Ioan Lloyd improved.
Summer recruits Max Douglas and Blair Murray both made their debuts, but scrum half Archie Hughes, who captained the side, was a first half casualty with a leg injury.
The Scarlets head to north London to face Saracens in another warm-up match this weekend before heading to Italy to open their URC account with a tough game against Benetton Rugby on Saturday, 21 September.
