Liam Belcher has hailed Cardiff’s BKT United Rugby Championship win over Leinster as a special night as the Blue & Blacks keep their play-off hopes well and truly alive. 

The home side battled tooth and nail in atrocious conditions against the reigning champions, who were on an 11-game winning run. 

Cardiff edged the kicking and aerial battles, while remaining squeaky clean to secure a nail-biting win.

It lifts them to third in the URC table with a trip to South Africa next, as the play-off race intensifies.

Belcher said: “It’s a special night. Coming into it we didn’t really speak about it (record against Leinster), but for the table it’s quite big, especially with two weeks off before we go to South Africa. 

“Hopefully it puts us in a better position than last year but from the boys’ point of view, the fight we showed in that weather is unbelievable. 

“It’s sopping out there. Like a monsoon in the first half so credit to them. We did 14 minutes with 14 men at the end because we could get Jakey back on but it’s a credit to the squad one to 23 and the boys not involved today. You see in training, that’s what they do, and it comes through on the weekend.”

Looking ahead to the southern hemisphere showdowns with Hollywood Bets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls, he added: “You can’t go there just to make up the numbers. The way we done this season, the performances we have put in, will hopefully give us something out there. We will go out with our heads held high after that performance.”