Llandaff North will return to Principality Stadium on Sunday for the ‘Road to Principality 2026’ Women’s Cup Final looking to settle a score with Bonymaen.
Having won the cup with a record breaking 85-14 win over Seven Sisters in 2024 they wanted to make it back-to-back titles last year but ran into an inspired Bonymaen side who beat them 26-12 in the semis.
That took Bony back to the home of Welsh rugby for the third year in a row, only to find themselves outgunned by Burry Port, who triumphed 34-24. Now they are hoping to make it third time lucky in the cup final having been beaten by Llandaff North 24-7 in the 2022 South Wales Cup final.
These days the two teams are only one point apart at the top of the WRU Premiership, with Llandaff North leading the way as they seek to retain their title. They have won the two league contests this season between the two clubs, 15-5 at Bonymaen on 1 March and 38-19 at home in November.
“We are both worthy of reaching the final and you are going to see the two best teams at this level in Wales going head-to-head,” said Llandaff North coach Jo Jones.
“We know what they are capable of with the physicality of their forwards. They also have a very astute kicking game.
“Even though we have beaten them twice this season we know that we haven’t faced their full-strength side as yet. We are expecting to meet that team on Sunday.
“We have to front up, be brave and try to win the physical battle. If we can do that then we can play our more natural attacking game.
“The last time we were in the final it turned into a bit of a walk over, but we expect this game to be a real showcase of women’s club rugby. We know how big an occasion this is having been to the Principality Stadium a number of times before and we won’t be over-thinking things – we just want t go there and enjoy it.”
Jones played in the win two years ago but has switched to coaching this season, working in tandem with Sam Turner. A league and cup double is the goal.
Two of the team, fullback Nia Grundy and No 8 Erin Williams, were in the Gwalia Lightning squad in the Celtic Challenge this season, while flanker Katie Sims captained Wales U18 in 2022. The other player in the highly mobile back row unit is skipper Cerys Sweetnam, who had her first child in August.
Her husband, Robert, is a former coach and she has played more than 100 times for the Wales Women’s Touch Rugby team. Her baby girl, Poppy, was delivered by midwife teammate Tirion Thomas.
Bonymaen team manager Demi Stevens is another who has returned to playing this season after having a baby. Her second child, Mali, arrived last year and she was determined to have one final crack at playing.
She is on the bench for the final and admits it was a lot harder returning after her second child than her first.
“I couldn’t play last season during my pregnancy, but I stayed on as team manager. I just couldn’t leave the girls,” said Stevens, who played in Bonymaen’s first women’s fixture against Nantymoel 10 years ago.
“It would be great to celebrate out 10th anniversary as a club by winning the cup but we know how tough it is going to be. We know how good Llandaff North can be and we have been in all the necessary preparation.”
Back-to-back Premiership wins over Burry Port (72-12) and Seven Sisters (22-19) since their big semi-final victory over Ynysddu (80-0) have got them battle hardened for their latest trip to the Welsh capital and they are travelling in a bid to upset the odds.
“We know what we will be coming up against and we are ready for it. The club have been marvellous to us, the coaches have been brilliant, and we have a squad of 30 very passionate rugby players,” added Stevens.
“I’ve seen a lot of players come and go over the past decade, but we’ve managed to develop in that time and we are proud to have established ourselves as a Premiership side and to have reached another final at the home of Welsh rugby.
“We’ve got some really talented players, a great team spirit and we’d love to give long-standing coach Colin Jones a winning send-off.
“Lauren Smyth controls things for us at outside half and has excellent support from her centre Charlie Manns. Tyler Tipene is a strong all-rounder in the front row, Ffion Clarke has been training with Wales U20 and out captain Amy Thomas is in the back row.”
The Women’s Cup Final is the second game of four on the first weekend of #RTP26 and kicks off at 1.00pm.
TEAMS
Llandaff North: Nia Grundy; Anna Stowell, Sophie Peters, Elin Hopkins, Sacha Legouais; Claudia Meyrick-Ward, Niamh Tinman; Sophie Waugh, Emma Preece, Cari Pritchard, Megan Jenkins, Rosie Turner, Katie Sims, Cerys Sweetman, Erin Williams
Reps: Cadi Roberts, Tirion Thomas, Lowri Pritchard, Caitlin White, Joanna Hunt, Beca Edwards, Harriet Nicholas, Biba ChutaBonymaen: Lili Anne Roberts; Seren Croydon, Lowri Davies, Charlie Manns, Cerys Beynon; Lauren Smyth, Sophie Moore; Tegan Rumming, Charlotte Peters, Tyler Tipene, Taylor Briggs, Cherry Morris, Amy Thomas (captain), Tili Hopkins, Georgia Evans
Reps: Sianon Nolan, Demi Stevens, Natalie Murphy, Karis Stevens, Hannah Jones, Amy Price, Lucy Rees, Ffion Clarke
ROAD TO THE FINAL
22 March 2026 – Semi Final
Bonymaen 80 – 0 Ynysddu
Llandaff North 63 – 5 Burry Port
14 December 2025 – Quarter Final
Pontyclun 17 – 24 Bonymaen
7 December 2025 – Quarter Final
Llandaff North w/o v Senghenydd
19 October 2025 – Round 1
Llandaff North 57 – 7 Llantwit Fardre
Seven Sisters 5 – 38 Bonymaen
PREVIOUS WOMEN’S CUP FINALS
2025
Cup: Burry Port 34 – 24 Bonymaen
Plate: Seven Sisters 25 – 15 Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd
Bowl: Senghenydd 57 – 14 Taffs Well
2024
Cup: Llandaff North 85 – 14 Seven Sisters
Plate: Bonymen 32 – 26 Haverfordwest
Bowl: Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd 34 – 21 Old Penarthians
2023
Cup: Pontyclun Falcons 20 – 7 Llandaff North
Plate: Whitland 38 – 34 Burry Port
Bowl: Haverfordwest 20 – 17 Clwb Rygbi Cymry Caerdydd
2022
South Wales Cup Final: Llandaff North 24 – 7 Bonymaen
South Wales Plate Final: Lampeter Ladies 38 – 22 Blackwood
North Wales Cup Final: Caernarfon 45 – 10 COBRA