Leinster stroll past Cardiff for happy homecoming

Champions Leinster score five tries to beat Cardiff in Dublin for their first win of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship campaign. Jimmy O'Brien started against Australia, Japan and New Zealand in July 2026 Champions Leinster made a successful return to the revamped Laya Arena by beating Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The Irish province recorded their first victory of the 2026-27 season in front of 20,600 supporters, and condemned the Blue and Blacks to a first loss. Leinster scored three tries inside the first quarter through Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O'Brien and Jack Conan, then O'Brien's second in the 37th minute secured the four-try bonus. But, with a raft of Ireland internationals making their first outings of the campaign, the second half was flat and scoreless until Jamie Osborne went over with five minutes to go.

Cardiff failed to claim a URC match point just once when making the play-offs last season, but left Dublin without anything after being limited to Mason Grady's first-half try. Leinster will play their Champions Cup group games at Laya Arena Leo Cullen's side started the defence of their title in South Africa and returned with three bonus points from defeats by Lions and Sharks. The head coach brought back his big hitters to ensure it was a successful return to the redeveloped €52m