Cardiff Rugby vs Connacht Rugby Prediction & Betting Tips - Challenge Cup

Prediction published on 16/01/2025, 08:31  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 17/01/2025 at 03:47 in Challenge Cup Predictions

Third-placed Cardiff host pool 1 leaders Connacht in this European Rugby Challenge Cup match. The top four in this pool go into the knockout stages and Cardiff are yet to confirm their place. Here’s our match prediction.

Cardiff have seven points from their first three games, one ahead of Perpignan and Cheetahs who are both a point behind them. Both of those chasing clubs are away in their final match. Cardiff will hope to make home advantage pay against Connacht who have already qualified for the knockout stages.

The home side have won one of their three pool matches and that was at home against Cheetahs. They are third in the United Rugby Championships with three of their six home matches won. 

Connacht have won all three of their pool games and secured a bonus point in each victory. They lead the pool by six points from second-placed Lyon.

The Irish side are only 13th in the United Rugby Championship and have lost three of their four away fixtures. They have shown much better form in this competition though and won at Cardiff in February of last year.

A win in this match will secure them a top two seeding and a home draw in the next round. We tip Connacht to win this match.