The Ospreys defeated Ulster 21-10 in a United Rugby Championship match at Brewery Field on Saturday, according to multiple reports. The Ospreys kept their playoff hopes alive with the victory over Ulster, scoring two tries in the final 13 minutes through James Ratti and Daniel Kasende. Ulster held a 10-7 advantage through Zac Ward and Tom Stewart scores before the Ospreys' late tries, with Cormac Foley opening the scoring for the Ospreys with a try. The Ospreys are the likeliest region to be cut by the Welsh Rugby Union, a revelation that occurred almost a month before this match, adding pressure to their performance.
Ulster entered the match with a strong season, having improved from 14th last season to second in the URC table after a bonus-point win in Edinburgh. Ulster had lost just four matches in all competitions before this game, with two of those losses in Wales, and this was Ulster's third defeat to a Welsh region this season. Their win over Edinburgh was their first dominant away victory in the league outside of Ireland this season, and Ulster had seven Ireland internationals in the matchday squad against Wales last week, compared to none last year. However, Ulster was weakened due to the ongoing Six Nations, with Stuart McCloskey, Robert Baloucoune, Tom O'Toole, and Nick Timoney playing for Ireland.
In other Welsh team performances in URC round 13, Scarlets were the only Welsh winners, beating Zebre in a URC match and running in six tries. Scarlets' Macs Page had a try disallowed for a knock-on in the build-up against Zebre, while Lions beat Dragons in a URC match in Johannesburg, with Dragons earning a try bonus point. Cardiff lost to Sharks in Durban but earned a losing bonus point, highlighting a mixed weekend for Welsh regions beyond the Ospreys' success.
On the injury front, Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan, and Elliot Dee returned from injury for Welsh teams in the URC, according to multiple reports. However, Taulupe Faletau suffered an arm injury in Cardiff's match against Sharks and was helped off the field, and Cardiff lost Josh McNally and Corey Domachowski to injuries in the first half against Sharks. Dragons ended their match against Lions with fly-half Jac Lloyd at scrum-half due to injuries, compounding challenges for Welsh squads.
Munster lost 34-31 to the Bulls in a URC match in Pretoria, despite scoring one more try than the Bulls but still losing the match. Munster's Calvin Nash failed an HIA during the match against the Bulls, adding to the team's setbacks in a narrow defeat that impacted their standings.
In European competition, Ulster beat Ospreys 28-24 in the Challenge Cup to reach the quarter-finals, with La Rochelle beating Newcastle Red Bulls in the Challenge Cup to set up a quarter-final trip to Ulster. Ulster's last five games include a win over Zebre 28-24 on 4th Apr, 2026 in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, according to research sources, though the exact timeline of these matches relative to URC fixtures remains unclear.
Connacht beat Ulster in a URC match at the Affidea Stadium, securing a bonus-point win, with Ulster suffering their first defeat in Belfast this season against Connacht. Connacht's Finlay Bealham was sin-binned for direct shoulder to head contact on Tom Stewart in the match against Ulster, contributing to Ulster's recent struggles.
Earlier in the season, Ulster beat Zebre 28-12 in a URC match in Parma, where Simone Gesi was shown a red card for clawing at Stuart McCloskey's eye in the Ulster vs. Zebre match. This disciplinary incident highlighted physical contests in Ulster's campaign.
The Ospreys' recent form includes a win over the Dragons 19-13, which kept them in the playoff hunt, and Jac Morgan produced a textbook jackal to win a breakdown penalty for Ospreys against Benetton. The Ospreys are historically Wales's most successful region and are ahead of the Dragons and Scarlets in the URC table, bolstering their case amid uncertainty. In their Challenge Cup match against Ulster, the Ospreys had a late try disallowed due to a forward pass, showing close margins in prior encounters.
Reactions to the Ospreys' victory over Ulster focus on playoff scenarios, with the team now positioned to challenge for a top-eight finish, though specific scenarios depend on upcoming matches and results from other teams. The regional future remains uncertain, as the Welsh Rugby Union's official stance on potential cuts to the Ospreys region has not been publicly detailed, leaving fans and players in limbo.
Unknowns persist regarding the timeline confusion between URC and Challenge Cup matches, particularly the exact date of the Ospreys vs. Ulster URC match reported by BBC Sport for the Challenge Cup quarter-final and how it relates to the 28th Feb 2026 match reported by ESPN. Injury status updates are also pending, including the current status of Taulupe Faletau's arm injury and his expected recovery time, along with the extent of injuries to Cardiff players Josh McNally and Corey Domachowski, and their impact on the team. The Welsh Rugby Union's position on regional cuts remains unclear, with no official statement on whether the Ospreys will face reduction or elimination.