Ebbw Vale edged Swansea RFC 27-26 after Cai Evans landed a late penalty in a tense return to the revamped St Helen's. It was a bitterly disappointing result for Swansea, who were still searching for a first win of the 2026-27 season, but it also marked a significant day for the club as they played their first home game back at the venue after redevelopment.
Only one stand was open for the occasion, with more than 1,000 fans inside St Helen's to see the reopening begin in staged fashion. A second stand will be available for Swansea's next home game against Cardiff on Thursday, 15 October, while Ospreys will play their opening United Rugby Championship match in Swansea against Dragons on Saturday, 24 October.
Cai Evans makes the difference
The decisive moment came from Cai Evans, whose late penalty settled a game that had been finely balanced. In a match that stayed tight throughout, Swansea could not find the one final stop they needed, and Ebbw Vale were able to take advantage when it mattered most.
For Swansea, the frustration was obvious. They had returned to St Helen's with the hope of turning a new page, but the result left them still waiting for a breakthrough. For Ebbw Vale, it was a sharp and efficient away win, sealed by a player who kept his nerve under pressure.
A stop-start second half
The contest was also disrupted when Iwan Glynn suffered a serious leg injury, leading to a lengthy second-half stoppage. That only added to the sense of tension around the fixture, with both sides having to reset before the game reached its decisive closing stages.
Even with the interruption, the match kept its competitive edge until the end. Swansea showed enough to suggest they can compete, but the return to St Helen's ended with a narrow defeat and a reminder that the homecoming would not be defined by the setting alone. The next game, and the next chance to fill out the rebuilt ground further, now carries added significance.
