While Cardiff Blues took on Worcester Warriors on the weekend, several players were on international duty with Sam Warburton starting for Wales, Blaine Scully skippering the USA and eight young guns on display for Wales Under-20s.
Italy 7 Wales 33
Sam Warburton played a starring role as Wales kicked off the RBS 6 Nations with a convincing victory over the Azzurri.
For the first time since 2012, the Cardiff Blues flanker went into the Championship without the captaincy but that did not stop him from producing a barnstorming performance.
Warburton topped the ball carrying and metres made charts in the Welsh pack, made nine tackles and made several turnovers – including a key intervention before half-time – in a dominant performance at the breakdown.
Wales trailed 7-3 at the interval after failing to turn pressure into points but produced a ruthless second-half performance.
They racked up 30 second-half points with Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams and George North all crossing the whitewash.
USA 29 Uruguay 23
Blaine Scully scored the winning try as he captained USA to a winning start in the Americas Rugby Championship.
The BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park favourite owned the skies to pluck a cross kick out of the air for a decisive score.
Bryce Campbell also crossed the whitewash while Fly-half Ben Cima kicked 11-points and AJ McGinty eight.
Scully will now return to Cardiff Blues for a crucial month of PRO12 fixtures.
Italy U20s 5 Wales U20s 27
Ben Jones and Rhys Carre were among the scorers as Wales U20s battled to a hard-fought victory in difficult conditions.
Italy claimed the first try from a driving lineout but Wales responded in similar vein through Cardiff Blues prop Rhys Carre as the scores were tied 5-5 at half-time.
But Blues fly-half Ben Jones kept the scoreboard ticking and further tries from Ryan Conbeer and Kieran Williams ensured a winning start for Jason Strange’s men.