RGC 35–47 Coventry Rugby, Saturday 29th August 2026
Coventry kicked off their pre-season preparations with a thrilling, high-scoring victory on the road, battling past a spirited RGC outfit at Stadiwm Eirias. For the travelling Blue and White faithful who made the trip to North Wales, the afternoon delivered plenty of attacking flair, a resilient second-half fightback, and an encouraging first look at the squad’s engine ahead of the Championship campaign.
Cov struck first blood early on. Moving the ball swiftly through the hands, the lads found space out wide to slice open the home defence and race in for the opener, followed by a crisp conversion.
RGC hit back quickly, however, as their pack muscle answered with Daf Thirsk powering over and Billy McBryde converting. The hosts found some momentum through Tudur Jones feeding quick ball, and a sharp finish in the corner by winger Jac Williams edged them into the lead.
Coventry weren’t rattled and responded with real quality. Fly-half Bruce Houston orchestrated proceedings brilliantly, spotting a gap to dive over for a score of his own before slotting the extras to draw the sides level.
The first half remained a frantic, end-to-end affair. Williams managed a second for RGC to briefly reclaim the lead, and while Cov looked threatening every time they moved the ball into space, a bit of defensive rust allowed Dion Jones through just before the break. Despite Houston’s sharp control, Cov headed into the sheds trailing after McBryde converted to cap off a frantic forty.
Second Half
Whatever was said in the huddle at the break did the trick. While both benches were emptied early in the second half, it was Coventry who seized complete control of the tempo. Dominating possession and ramping up the pressure at the breakdown, Cov ran in two clinical tries—both expertly converted—to lock things up at the hour mark.
From there, the pack went to work. Setting up a rock-solid attacking platform from a lineout inside the 22, the Cov forwards set up an unstoppable rolling maul, powering over the whitewash to snatch the lead back.
RGC threw everything into a late rally, surviving a knock-on over our line before Tal Taylor crossed and McBryde levelled the scores yet again. But Cov had far too much gas left in the tank.
Stepping through the gears in the closing ten minutes, Coventry’s support runners tore through the middle. A slick sequence of offloads carved open the hosts for another converted score, before the boys put the contest completely to bed on the final whistle with a thumping last try to seal a well-earned 47–35 triumph.
A cracking, competitive run-out to blow off the cobwebs, and plenty for the travelling supporters to celebrate on the journey home.