No excuses for Cardiff with South Africa trip

Flanker Dan Thomas has been named the Cardiff players' player of the year for the 2025-26 season [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Cardiff say there will be no excuses when they travel to face South Africa for the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off quarter-final against Stormers. Cardiff face an expensive and logistically challenging trip to Cape Town for the match on Saturday, 30 May. After looking at the cost and availability to travel this weekend, Cardiff will fly on Tuesday and land in South Africa a few days before the match.

Cardiff lock Josh McNally and flanker Dan Thomas say the coaches and players will not allow the 12,000-mile round trip or the prospect of sitting in economy class distract them from their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. "We've all travelled enough now to know what's happening and what's coming," Thomas told the Scrum V podcast. "There is no excuse when it comes to travel or the body being sore or anything like that.

"As long as your mentality is up there, your body will catch up and we need to turn up next Saturday with the right mentality. "There are no excuses, this is a great opportunity. How many boys have played in quarter-finals before?

If you're not up for it mentally, you shouldn't be on the pitch. " How Cardiff made next step to URC play-offs Cardiff provide special night Welsh rugby needed 'Underdog tag will suit Cardiff' Cardiff cemented their quarter-final qualification with a 22-16 victory against Stormers to set up a rematch in South Africa . The game will be played in Cape Town which means there are no issues with altitude, so Cardiff will begin the week training in Wales and finish it in South Africa.