When two teams eyeing up a trophy treble come head-to-head in their biggest game of the season then you can expect some fireworks in the ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’.
And that’s what will be on offer when Blaina meet Abercrave in the WRU Division 1 Cup final, which will be the first game of four at Principality Stadium on Sunday 12 April (kick-off 10.45am).
It promises to be a noisy occasion with Blaina bringing 10-bus loads of fans with them down from the Gwent valleys, while Abercrave have sold 773 tickets via their club for the game.
As the first game up of four on the opening day of ‘Go Compare Road to Principality 2026’ series it looks like setting the scene and temperature for a classic day of community action at the home of Welsh rugby.
Blaina are seeking to crown their 150th anniversary season with not only a win this weekend, but with a third promotion in a row and a potential Ben Francis Cup final triumph over Cross Keys. They face table-topping Blackwood on 18 April in a decisive game in Division 1 East as they try to keep their title hopes alive with a win to cut the seven-point gap at the top.
Abercrave sit proudly at the top of Division 1 West Central with a four-point lead over Builth Wells. They also pipped Ystalyfera by a point, 12-11, to reach the final of the Swansea Valley Cup against Vardre.
There is still so much riding on the season for both clubs, but there will be no prize bigger than the one on offer at the home of Welsh rugby.
Blaina have achieved back-to-back promotions in recent seasons and were in the Division 3 Cup final in 2024, when they went down 24-21 to Cardiff Quins. But it could have been a different story.
“We learned from our last trip to Principality Stadium, when we backed our pack to go for a driving lineout try in the last minute rather than kick a penalty. Had we levelled things up at 24-24 we would have won on try count,” said coach Shaun Connor.
“That won’t happen again! Our cup run this season, which includes beating the holders Caernarfon, has given us confidence for our league campaign and some of our best performances have been in the cup.
“We got through by the skin of our teeth against Caernarfon and Aberavon Green Stars, so we are pretty battle hardened. We know Abercrave have a great goalkicker to Steff Castle, so our discipline will need to be good.”
“We beat Abercrave in the quarter finals two years ago on our way to the final, although they won when we met in a pre-season friendly last summer. It’s going to be a game between two evenly matched teams.”
Blaina will have no fewer than nine players back from their 2024 cup final side and they will have a very big family feel. Outside half Richard Powell will be their chief playmaker and his 60th game for the club will take his family’s appearance record up to 1,457 – father Graham (465 games),uncle Martin (666 games, 4016 points) and grandfather John (177 games).
Prop Ieuan Evans, whos father Anthony (364 games, 719 points) also played for the club, is hoping to celebrate his birthday in style, while replacement prop Rob Samuel is also treading in big family footsteps.
Dad Steve (160 games) and uncles Malcolm (333 games) and Martin (395 games) take the Samuel’s total though 900 appearances.
TEAMS
Blaina: Kallum Rosser; Matthew Powell, Adam Tetley, Cobi Edwards, Regan Watkins; Richard Powell, Carl Brimble; Ieuan Robins, Dan Wall, Morgan Davies, Adam Lane, Michael John (captain), Mason Coughlin, Ben Cooper, Luke Harwood
Reps: Joe White, Rob Samuel, Richard Jones, Kian Hayman, Corrie Thomas, Dai Jones, Jack Griffiths, Jonathon DanielsAbercrave: Steffan Castle; Curtis Griffiths, Rowan Lovering, Connor Hughes, Cellan Lloyd-Davies; Darren Hodge, Cellan Davies;Kelvan Ashby, Nick Evans, Cellan James, Carwyn Owen, Craig Price, Luc Gwilym, Mackenzie Clayton, Jon Hapgood (captain)
Reps: Kyle Jones, Keelan Marney, Owen Pritchard, Ben McPhail, Keiran Ashby, Tyler Lewis, Dewi Pritchard, Joel Williams
ROAD TO THE FINAL
21 March 2026 – Semi Final
Abercrave 13 – 12 Dowlais
Blaina 22 – 20 Aberavon Green Stars
31 January 2026 – Quarter Final
Abercrave 13 – 10 Tenby United
24 January 2026 – Quarter Final
Blaina 25 – 22 Pwllheli
13 December 2025 – Round 3
Abercrave 29 – 5 Blackwood
6 December 2025 – Round 3
Caerphilly 10 – 27 Blaina
25 October 2025 – Round 2
Blaina 31 – 17 Caernarfon
St Albans 26 – 31 Abercrave
27 September 2025 – Round 1
Blaina 27 – 21 Brynmawr
Laugharne 17 – 20 Abercrave
THE GO COMPARE ROAD TO PRINCIPALITY CUP FINALS
WRU NATIONAL CUP WINNERS – 2025
Premiership: Merthyr
Championship: Llanelli Wanderers
Division 1: Caernarfon
Division 2: Caerphilly
Division 3: Newport Saracens
Division 4: Seven Sisters
Division 5: St Peter’s Athletic
WRU NATIONAL CUP WINNERS – 2024
Premiership: Llandovery
Championship: Bargoed
Division 1: Llanelli Wanderers
Division 2: Llanharan
Division 3: Cardiff Quins
Division 4: Newport Saracens
Division 5: Seven Sisters
WRU NATIONAL CUP WINNERS – 2023
Premiership: Cardiff
Championship: Pontypool
Division 1: Newbridge
Division 2: Morriston
Division 3: Abertillery BG
Division 4: Bryncethin
Division 5: Crumlin
WRU NATIONAL CUP WINNERS – 2022
Premiership: Newport
Championship Cup: Neath
Championship Plate: Trebanos
Plate: Penallta
Bowl: Llanharan
Shield: Tonna