A number of Cardiff Blues players were in action this weekend as Wales slipped to defeat against England in the 6 Nations while Wales Under-20s and Wales Students also lost to the old enemy.
The weekend kicked off in Oxford with Wales Students, a side packed full of Principality Premiership players, including Blues Academy player Jack Maynard took on England Students.
Wales Students got off to a good start with Maynard gaining the lead for the visitors. England looked to hit back straight, Wales cleared the danger and it wasn’t long before Maynard extended Wales lead to 6-0.
Both sides looked threatening but it was England who scored the only try in the first half. Wales proved clinical with points and furthered their lead with another penalty.
England proved to be the stronger side with majority of play in the second half, running in three tries to secure their win. Final score England Students 26 Wales Students 16.
Later that evening Wales Under-20s – who included Blues trio Tomos Williams, Ben Roach and Ethan Lewis - travelled to Kingston Park in Newcastle where a poor performance saw them suffer a 67-7 defeat.
Wales Under-20s never got going in the first half, allowing England to build what was a match-winning 38-0 lead. The scoring continued after the break with Zach Kibirige getting things going and Jones adding two more scores. Alex Lundberg and captain Maro Itoje completed the scoring on a miserable evening for Wales. A late penalty try, converted by Luke Price, was Wales' only response.
The senior England side topped the weekend off by claiming their first Triple Crown since 2003 with a convincing 29-8 victory over reigning RBS 6 Nations Champions Wales.
Cardiff Blues full back, Leigh Halfpenny – who was forced off with injury in the second half - kept Wales in the game with his accurate boot, but it was the hosts who ran out 29-18 winners. Wales included Gethin Jenkins, Alex Cuthbert and captain Sam Warburton from the Blues.