Tension building as Welsh teams facing fight for play-offs

THE final weekend of last season saw just one of the Welsh clubs in contention for the United Rugby Championship’s top eight, albeit with just a two per cent chance of reaching the play-offs.

- By BEN JAMES

Of course, even with that slim hope, the Ospreys ended up making the play-offs.

Heading into the final weekend this season, the race for the top eight is just as tight - however, this time, there are two Welsh clubs in the mix.

The Ospreys’ own slim hopes were extinguished last weekend with defeat to the Sharks in South Africa, while the Dragons remain cast adrift at the bottom of the league.

However, Cardiff and Scarlets - having been in the mix for much of the season - head into the final weekend in contention to reach the play-offs.

Starting with the west Walians, their fate is in their own hands after a mightily impressive win over the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend.

That victory moved Dwayne Peel’s side up to sixth in the league, with the Scarlets now on 48 points.