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Cardiff lock Josh McNally will miss their United Rugby Championship (URC) final regular league game against Stormers on Friday because of his Royal Air Force playing commitments.
McNally, 35, is employed as a weapons engineer by the RAF, who have allowed him to continue his rugby career in Wales as part of the organisation’s elite athlete programme.
The RAF expect him to play in showpiece games against the British Army and Royal Navy each season.
They allowed McNally to miss the game against the Navy in April to play for Cardiff in the win against the Scarlets in Llanelli.
The lock has to be available to face the Army in Gloucester on Saturday which is being staged a day after Cardiff host the South Africans at the Arms Park (19:45 BST).
Whether McNally is available this weekend remains in doubt after he suffered a head injury in the 40-17 defeat against Glasgow.
The former England lock has been a successful signing since joining from Bath in 2024.
McNally has played the most minutes for Cardiff in the league this season having been involved in all 17 URC games.
His absence leaves Rory Thornton and George Nott as the only fit senior specialist locks.
Teddy Williams, who has been named as one of 12 Cardiff players in Wales’ summer squad despite being out injured since October 2025, is unlikely to make his return, while flanker Alex Mann is missing because of a foot injury.
Wales wing Josh Adams is also a doubt after suffering a head injury against Glasgow.
Race for the top eight
After seven months of league action, the race for the URC top eight has gone the distance with five teams battling for four spots.
With Glasgow, Stormers, Leinster and Bulls having booked their play-off places, Lions, Munster, Cardiff and Ulster are currently in the remaining spots with ninth-placed Connacht chasing hard.
Cardiff are hoping not to miss out on a play-off spot again after being pipped by the Scarlets by a point last season.
Victory against second-placed Stormers – which would be Cardiff’s 11th of the league campaign – would seal a play-off place, regardless of what Connacht manage at Edinburgh or Ulster achieve at home to Glasgow on Friday night.
Cardiff’s own home record has been impressive this season, having won nine of 10 games at the Arms Park.
