Even with no Six Nations, it was still a busy weekend in Welsh rugby.
All of the regions were in United Rugby Championship action, while it was the penultimate round of the Celtic Challenge.
Here's this weekend's winners and losers...
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Winners
Winnett and young Welsh talent
There were a number of promising performances across the weekend from Welsh youngsters.
Even in defeat, Cardiff - as noted by statistician Russ Petty - were the first team to score four tries away to Leinster since December 2022. They did so in typical Matt Sherratt style, even if the man himself wasn't in Dublin as he tries to engineer a Welsh victory at Murrayfield next weekend.
It's easy to forget that Cameron Winnett, overlooked by Warren Gatland for the Six Nations, is just 22 after a breakthrough 2024. But in the Aviva Stadium, he showed just why he should be in Wales' plans with a brilliant performance.
The Dragons endured another league defeat, losing to Zebre, but the likes of Brodie Coghlan, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths and Huw Anderson all showed up well. Hooker Coghlan got over for two tries, while full-back Anderson set up one with his elusive running.
As for Kelleher-Griffiths, the 21-year-old loosehead showed some signs of promise after Rhodri Jones was unable to travel to Italy for family reasons.
For the Scarlets, Macs Page once again outlined his potential with another well-taken try against Ulster, while going around Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale with ease to set up Ioan Nicholas was just as impressive.
As the only Welsh team to win this weekend, there were naturally a number of impressive performances from the Ospreys up in Scotland. Morgan Morse was perhaps the pick of the bunch in a gutsy victory against the URC champions.
Rhys Patchell
The former Wales fly-half enjoyed his best afternoon since moving to Japan, as his NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu hammered Kyushu Electric Power Hyuden Voltex 48-7.
Patchell, who had a year in New Zealand with the Highlanders before the move to Japan, converted all six of his side's tries, while he also added a penalty and drop goal.
That helped move his side, coached by former Wales and Scarlets coach Wayne Pivac, up to third in Division Two.
Brython Thunder
It's not been the easiest of seasons for Brython Thunder, with the Welsh side having won just one of their opening eight matches in the Celtic Challenge.
However, they moved themselves off the bottom of the table with a 33-17 win over Glasgow at Scotstoun.
An early double from Wales international Gwen Crabb got them off to a fast start, before Ellie Tromans extended their lead after Briar McNamara had got one back for the home side.
Scotland winger Abi Evans and Roma Fraser crossed either side of a try for Brython's Rosie Carr, but any chance of a tense finish was extinguished when Crabb went over for her hat-trick.
Llandeillo and Pontypool United
Llandeillo remain on course to retain the WRU U18 Clubs Cup as they booked their place in the final on the weekend.
Last year's winners overcame 2022 champions Builth Wells in the semi-final at Lampeter RFC, edging past the young Bulls 17-13.
They'll face Pontypool United, after tries from Luke Daniels, Jake Jenkins and Charlie Gregory helped them to a 24-8 win over Glynneath at Tata Steel RFC.
Dan Jones and Louis Hennessey
It wasn't all smiles in the Premiership Cup for the few Welshmen involved. A week on from making his Test comeback, Jarrod Evans was helpless to stop another comeback as Bath battled back to beat Harlequins and reach the semi-finals.
One of Bath's scorers was Louis Hennessey, who dove over acrobatically in the corner for a superb finish.
There was another delighted Welshman in the competition, with former Scarlets fly-half Dan Jones guided Ealing Trailfinders to the last four in a 43-26 win over Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens.
Losers
Gwalia Lightning
Gwalia Lightning's title hopes were emphatically ended on the weekend, as the Wolfhounds moved a step closer to defending their Celtic Challenge crown.
The Irish outfit raced out to a 41-0 half-time lead at Ystrad Mynach. In fact, it was only when they extended that lead to 48 points that Gwalia showed any resistance, with some second-half scores bringing the final score to 48-17.
Gwalia now know that they will finish the season in third, regardless of what happens in the final round of fixtures. However, while the league will be won by an Irish side, they can at least have a say on which one.
They host Clovers in the final round and could end their title hopes, with Clovers needing to win and hope Wolfhounds mess up against Edinburgh in Dublin.
Dragons
There were some promising performances for the Dragons out in Italy on the weekend.
But the simple fact is they are woefully adrift at the bottom of the United Rugby Championship. Since beating the Ospreys on the opening day, they've lost 11 straight league matches.
A result against Zebre out in Italy likely wouldn't have stopped them finishing the season at the foot of the table, but it would have at least made the gap respectable.
Instead, they are 17 points behind the 15th-placed Italian outfit on a meagre eight points. In a year when the other three Welsh sides have largely punched above their weight, the Rodney Parade side are a reminder of the realities of Welsh rugby.
Rhys Barratt
How cruel can rugby be?
A week ago, on the back of a run of starts for Cardiff, Rhys Barratt was Wales' travelling reserve for the Six Nations clash with Ireland, offering him vital experience at an early stage of his career.
A week later, the young loosehead was forced off injured against Leinster. You just hope it's not too serious for the Wales hopeful, as he was just starting to hit his straps in terms of regular selection by the Arms Park side.
