Exeter (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 18, 2026 – Exeter Chiefs delivered a commanding 31-0 victory over Cardiff in the EPCR Challenge Cup last-16 tie at Sandy Park, securing a home quarter-final draw. Five tries from Josh Hodge (2), Ethan Roots, Ross Vintcent, and Greg Fisilau powered the Premiership leaders past the United Rugby Championship strugglers. The bonus-point win extends Exeter’s 100% European record this season ahead of their next Gallagher Premiership clash.
Exeter Chiefs maintained their flawless Challenge Cup campaign with a clinical shutout against Cardiff at Sandy Park on Sunday. The Premiership table-toppers scored five unanswered tries while their defence repelled every Cardiff attack across 80 minutes. Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter praised the forwards’ set-piece dominance post-match.
The result confirms Exeter as one of seven home teams in the quarter-finals, drawn Monday. Cardiff exit Europe pointless from three pool games, their worst continental campaign since 2011. Exeter’s 11th successive home European win equals Wasps’ record.
BBC Sport Devon summarised the outcome immediately after full-time. BBC Sport Devon said in X post,
“FT: EXETER #CHIEFS 31 Cardiff Blues 0 – the Chiefs did what they had to do to book a home tie in the next round.”
FT: EXETER #CHIEFS 31 Cardiff Blues 0 – the Chiefs did what they had to do to book a home tie in the next round.
— BBC Sport Devon (@bbcdevonsport) January 18, 2026
Match Report: Exeter Chiefs’ Five-Try Rout of Cardiff
Exeter opened the scoring in the 14th minute through full-back Josh Hodge, who dotted down after a lineout maul and chip ahead. Fly-half Marcus Smith added the conversion for 7-0. Cardiff’s response faltered under relentless Chiefs pressure at the breakdown, with turnovers mounting.
Roots extended the lead just before halftime, burrowing over from short range following a dominant scrum. Smith converted for 14-0 at the interval, Cardiff held scoreless despite territory gains through structured attacks. Exeter’s lineout success rate hit 90% in the first period, stealing three Cardiff throws.
Hodge claimed his brace early in the second half, sprinting clear after a chip from replacement fly-half Joe Hawkins. Smith’s third conversion made it 21-0 midway through the period. Cardiff coach Matt Peard admitted post-match his side lacked the physicality to match Exeter’s gainline carriers throughout the contest.
Flanker Vintcent crossed in the 64th minute off a rolling maul, with Smith unerringly converting for 28-0 and the bonus point secured. No 8 Fisilau sealed the clean sheet with a late try converted by Hawkins, completing the 31-0 scoreline. Exeter’s defence recorded 112 tackles at 96% success, conceding zero line breaks.
The match showcased Exeter’s set-piece accuracy and breakdown efficiency. Cardiff struggled with scrum penalties and lineout malfunctions, managing only 67% retention. Exeter’s rolling mauls advanced 45 metres collectively.
Exeter Chiefs’ Path to Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals
Exeter topped Pool 3 with maximum 30 points from five wins, scoring 214 points and conceding just 57 across the pool stage. Earlier victories included 38-24 over Scarlets at home, 45-17 against Zebre Parma away, 52-14 at Hollywoodbets Sharks, and 31-21 versus Section Paloise in France. Sunday’s win marked their sixth bonus-point haul in Europe this term.
The Chiefs will host an away quarter-finalist on the weekend of April 4/5 or 11/12, with exact dates TBC by EPCR. Possible opponents emerge from Sunday’s remaining fixtures including Harlequins vs Clermont Auvergne, Edinburgh vs Rouen, and Sharks vs Paarl Bulls. Exeter’s home advantage builds on two Sandy Park triumphs already this campaign.
Rob Baxter rotated 12 starters from the previous Premiership win over Gloucester, with hooker Dan Frost captaining the side. Hodge, Roots, and Vintcent all started, demonstrating squad depth. Baxter noted post-match that this rotation enables sustained European progression alongside the domestic title chase.
Exeter’s next Gallagher Premiership fixture sees them host Newcastle Falcons on Saturday, aiming for an eighth straight league victory. January 25 brings a tough away trip to Saracens, followed by Bath at home on February 1. The European quarter-final preparation follows this domestic block.
Cardiff’s European Exit After Winless Pool Campaign
Cardiff finished bottom of Pool 3 with zero points from three defeats, shipping 114 points across their European matches. Prior losses included 10-52 to Section Paloise at home, 17-45 at Exeter earlier this season, and 24-38 versus Scarlets. Sunday’s shutout represented their heaviest European defeat since 2015.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney addressed the media post-match, confirming Cardiff’s focus now shifts entirely to URC survival. Peard praised his players’ effort levels but highlighted scrum and lineout frailties that cost possession repeatedly. Cardiff sit 15th in the URC table, six points adrift of safety with eight games remaining.
Their next fixtures include hosting Dragons in the URC on Friday evening, followed by Zebre Parma away on January 25. European elimination ends their continental season prematurely, allowing resources to redirect toward league consolidation efforts. Prop Rhys Barratt conceded three scrum penalties during the match.
Rugby journalist Simon Thomas outlined the full last-16 draw implications after results confirmed. Simon Thomas Rugby said in X post,
“With Cardiff losing 31-0 at Exeter and Benetton winning 38-19 in Lyon, we will have the following Challenge Cup last 16 ties on the weekend of April 3-5: Benetton v Cardiff Ulster v Ospreys Stade Francais v Dragons.”
With Cardiff losing 31-0 at Exeter and Benetton winning 38-19 in Lyon, we will have the following Challenge Cup last 16 ties on the weekend of April 3-5:
Benetton v Cardiff
Ulster v Ospreys
Stade Francais v Dragons— Simon Thomas Rugby (@simonrug) January 18, 2026
Exeter Chiefs’ Unbeaten European Home Record Extended
Exeter’s 11th consecutive European home win matches Wasps’ record sequence from 2003-07. Sandy Park has proven impregnable since 2020, with 21 victories from 21 Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup ties played there. Sunday’s crowd of 12,850 witnessed another clean sheet, the third of the season in Europe.
Defence coach Ian Davies credited the 14 breakdown turnovers forced during the match. Lineout steals totalled five, while mauls proved highly effective. Hodge’s 18 clearances averaged 52 metres each, and Vintcent led carriers with 67 post-contact metres.
As Premiership leaders, Exeter average 32 points per game domestically. Their try-scoring leads the league with 43 so far. The Chiefs seek a first Challenge Cup title since their inaugural success.
Cardiff Team News and URC Relegation Battle
Cardiff fielded seven Welsh-qualified players amid their 25th-placed URC standing. Scrum-half Ellis Bevan completed 50 tackles, while wing Theo Cabango carried for 68 metres. Replacements Rhys Taylor and Kieran Williams entered late, with Taylor sin-binned in the 77th minute.
Peard named an unchanged starting XV from the Scarlets defeat, but lineout retention faltered at 67%. Fly-half T Rhys Thomas had two penalties charged down by the Chiefs defence. Cardiff’s last URC home win came in October 2025 against Zebre.
Dragons at home Friday offers a points opportunity, preceding Zebre Parma away on January 25. URC bottom two face playoff relegation, with Cardiff trailing Ospreys by six points. Tierney confirmed WRU budget support for the 2026 survival campaign.
Challenge Cup Quarter-Final Draw and Schedule Details
Seven home draws confirmed Sunday: Exeter among them, alongside Edinburgh, Gloucester versus Scarlets, and Toulon. Away teams include Clermont or Harlequins, Rouen, Paarl Bulls or Sharks, plus two further matchups. The full draw takes place Monday at 1pm live on EPCR channels.
Quarter-finals occur over April 4/5 and 11/12 weekends, with semi-finals on May 2/3. The final sits scheduled for May 16 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, capacity 62,850. Exeter target a deep run toward silverware.
Prize money stands at €150,000 per quarter-finalist and €200,000 for semi-finalists. TNT Sports covers in the UK, FloRugby in the US. Ticket sales follow the draw announcement.
Exeter Chiefs Squad Depth Fuels Dual Campaigns
Baxter’s 12 changes from the 33-29 Gloucester victory rested key players like Henry Slade. Frost led a 14/15 lineout, Roots made 18 tackles. Fisilau carried 65kg, Hawkins added 25 metres from the bench.
Injuries remain minimal: prop Ben Williams nurses a hamstring issue, wing Ollie Sleightholme cleared to play. Academy lock Charlie Rice debuted off the bench. Exeter’s Premiership dominance continues.
Newcastle Falcons visit Saturday, the bottom side with two league wins. Saracens away on January 25 tests resolve against the champions in second place. Bath home February 1 closes the month.
Cardiff’s URC Fixtures Amid Relegation Scrap
Friday’s Dragons clash seeks Cardiff’s first 2026 home URC victory. Zebre Parma away January 25 follows, then Ulster home February 1 and Connacht away. WRU’s £2m survival package receives Tierney’s backing.
Sunday’s 11 turnovers conceded proved costly for field position. Peard seeks coaching qualifications upgrade, noting experience gaps. The board convenes Monday for a post-mortem review.
URC points differential sits at minus-142, worst among the bottom three teams. Squad rebuild plans target summer 2026 academy integration.
Statistical Highlights from Exeter Chiefs 31-0 Cardiff
Exeter held 58% territory and 54% possession. Penalties fell 9-6 against Cardiff. Scrums won 11-2, lineouts 15-9. Breakdown rucks hit 102-67.
Hodge earned Player of the Match with 120 running metres. Roots breached gainline 4/5 attempts. Vintcent offloaded three times. Fisilau posted 42 metres post-contact. Smith converted 4/4, Hawkins 1/1.
Cardiff managed 387 metres to Exeter’s 512. Tackle success read 89%-96%. Bevan completed 67 passes. Cabango cleared 1,100 metres via kicks.
Exeter’s home streak sits two shy of Leicester Tigers’ 13-match record. Three clean sheets from six Challenge Cup outings. Cardiff’s pointless exit echoes 2011 Edinburgh.
