United Rugby Championship

Cardiff (7) 21

Tries: Adams, Botham 2 Cons: Evans 3

Sharks (17) 36

Tries: Hooker, Romao 2, Jenkins, du Toit, Bester Cons: Lombard 2, Masuku

Sharks became the first side to beat Cardiff at the Arms Park in 2026 with an impressive victory in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

The Blue and Blacks had not lost in the Welsh capital since defeat by Scarlets last December – their only home loss of the 2025-26 campaign – but the six-try South Africans deservedly took the spoils.

Sharks led 17-7 at half-time thanks to tries by Ethan Hooker, Matt Romao and Jason Jenkins to one by Josh Adams, but the visitors should have had an even more commanding advantage.

Cardiff turned the game around with a double by the hugely impressive James Botham only for Thomas du Toit to put the Durban side back in front inside the final quarter.

They secured the win through Ethan Bester and added a flourish through Romao to continue a strong start to the URC.

Cardiff, who were overpowered and struggled at the set-piece, were left pointless and could have no complaints.

Cardiff featured six of their seven players from Wales’ Nations Championship squad – wing Adams, hooker Liam Belcher, lock Teddy Williams and the back row of Alex Mann, Botham and Taine Basham – and Steve Tandy will be relieved that all appeared to come through a bruising encounter unscathed.

The same could not be said for Springboks centre Andre Esterhuizen, who lasted just 20 seconds after injuring his right Achilles when jumping for a high ball.

Sharks did not let that disrupt them with Hooker, swiftly moved from wing to midfield, going over in the second minute from Jurenzo Julius’ offload.

Cardiff responded with a flowing move that saw Adams go over from Cam Winnett’s pass after a break by former Shark Le Roux Malan, with Jarrod Evans adding the conversion.

Sharks were held up over the line and then had a try chalked off by the TMO after a knock-on in the build-up to full-back Zekhethelo Siyaya going over.

But they got the reward for their pressure in the 27th minute when flanker Romao exposed some weak defence in the 22.

Cardiff were second best in all departments, so would have been content to be just five points down after playing the first half into the wind.

But Sharks earned a penalty with the clock in the red, kicked to the corner and lock Jenkins eventually muscled over.

Cardiff cut the gap to three points when Botham went over from close range after a tap penalty early in the second half.

Evans converted and then produced a peach of a touch-finder with a penalty for the flanker to crash over for his second after peeling off a driving line-out.

The try was followed by a brawl and Sharks had the bit between their teeth to respond impressively, hammering away at the line for tight-head Du Toit to get their bonus-point try.

Victory was sealed in the 74th minute when replacement hooker Bester guided a driving line-out over the line.

Cardiff chased a pair of bonus points in the closing stages, but instead the final try came from Romao.

Cardiff: Winnett; Adams, Malan, Emanuel, Millard; Evans, Mulder; Sio, Belcher (capt), Sebastian, McNally, Williams, Mann, Botham, Basham.

Replacements: Lloyd, Southworth, Assiratti, Manz, Paea, A Davies, Sheedy, Bowen.

Sharks: Siyaya; van der Merwe, Julius, Esterhuizen (capt), Hooker; Lombard, Jaden Hendrikse; Ganyane, Swart, Jacobs, Jenkins, van Heerden, Romao, M Tshituka, Hatton

Replacements: Bester, Nche, du Toit, Lewies, V Tshituka, van Zyl, Masuku, Williams

Referee: Andrea Piardi (France)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse & Carwyn Sion (Wales)

TMO: Stefano Penne (France)