There was plenty to cheer about from a Welsh rugby perspective this weekend

It was an enthralling weekend of European rugby, with three of Wales’ four professional sides recording victories.

The Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets all made winning starts to their Challenge Cup campaigns, while Cardiff were left to rue a hard-fought defeat against Northampton Saints.

There was also plenty of Welsh interest across the border, with a host of players featuring for clubs in the English Premiership.

But who impressed, and who endured a weekend to forget?

Here are our winners and losers from the weekend’s action.

Winners

Aneurin Owen

Few players in Welsh rugby have been as consistent as Dragons centre Owen.

The 25-year-old delivered another outstanding performance on Friday night, helping the Dragons sweep aside Perpignan 29-14 at Rodney Parade in their opening Challenge Cup fixture.

Owen was influential at both ends of the pitch, making 10 carries, the joint-second highest tally among Dragons players, and completing 23 tackles. He also won two turnovers before capping an impressive display with a well-deserved try.

There's talk behind the scenes that Wales head coach Steve Tandy is considering Owen for international selection, with the centre's consistent performances making a compelling case for inclusion.

It will not be long before we discover whether Owen's form has finally earned him a first senior Wales call-up, with the squad announced on Tuesday.

Morgan Morse and Gwilym Evans

Tibilisi is not an easy place to visit and the Black Lions are certainly no mugs, so this 39-14 victory was a good day's work by the Ospreys.

Backrower Morgan Morse had a fine game, making 13 carries and eight tackles, while he also touched down for a try.

His backrow partner Gwilym Evans also enjoyed a fine game making 11 carries and 10 tackles.

Expect to see more of the 23-year-old as the season progresses.

Ellis Mee and Macs Page

The Scarlets played some scintillating rugby as they thrashed Newcastle Red Bulls 47-14 in the Challenge Cup on Saturday night.

There were a number of players who impressed but chief among them was Ellis Mee and Macs Page.

Mee was imperious under the high ball and finished a try superbly well in the second-half.

Page was threatening whenever he got the ball and pounced for two impressive tries.

It would be a shock if both of these players weren't in Steve Tandy's squad this week.

Taulupe Faletau

Cardiff may have suffered a 28-12 defeat by Northampton Saints at DPD Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday, but Taulupe Faletau delivered a performance of the highest class.

Playing his first game since March after an injury lay-off, the 35-year-old was a towering presence against the English champions, producing a display that belied both his age and his recent struggles with fitness.

One admirer on X captured the mood perfectly, describing the Wales great as a “timeless masterpiece”.

Faletau carried with trademark authority throughout the afternoon, repeatedly making ground behind a retreating scrum, while his influence extended to virtually every facet of Cardiff’s game.

At 35, and with injuries having increasingly disrupted his career in recent seasons, Faletau is approaching the twilight of his playing days. But on this evidence, his class remains undimmed.

Indeed, such was the quality of his performance that a recall to Steve Tandy’s Wales squad this week cannot be ruled out.

Losers

The Cardiff lineout

Had Cardiff possessed a functioning lineout, they might well have left DPD Franklin’s Gardens with a victory on Sunday afternoon.

Time and again, the Welsh side worked hard to secure valuable field position, only to squander it through a lineout that repeatedly let them down.

Whether it was Northampton Saints stealing the throw, an overthrown ball or an underthrow, Cardiff’s set-piece proved a persistent source of frustration.

They finished the match with a lineout success rate of just 50 per cent; a statistic that tells its own story.

Such profligacy is simply not good enough for a side aspiring to compete with the best and win the biggest games.

Cardiff created opportunities to put the English champions under pressure, but their inability to deliver at the lineout undermined their efforts and ultimately proved costly.

Aidan Boshoff, Kenzie Jenkins and Sam Scott

It was a chastening afternoon for former Wales Under-20s wing Boshoff, who was part of a Bristol Bears side thrashed 49-12 by the Stormers in Cape Town.

Boshoff endured a difficult examination against Stormers wing Seabelo Senatla, who repeatedly exposed him with his pace and footwork to cause problems throughout the contest.

The Bristol youngster also misjudged a high ball that should arguably have been left to scrum-half Kieran Marmion, with the error directly contributing to a Stormers try.

It was a day to forget for Boshoff, but there is little doubt that he remains a talented player with considerable potential. Experiences such as this are part of the learning curve, and he will emerge a better player for it.

Backrower Kenzie Jenkins worked hard throughout but the Stormers had far too much power for the Bristol pack.

Tighthead prop Sam Scott was a late replacement in the second-half but the Bristol scrum was on rollerskates by this time.

Llandovery

It was a very difficult day at the office for the reigning Super Rygbi Cymru champions, who suffered a heavy 57-19 away defeat to Newport.

The Droves shipped nine tries as the game got away from the west Walian outfit after the break.

Euros Evans' side will hope to bounce back quickly when they host Ebbw Vale at Church Bank this weekend.