Cardiff RFC will face St Albans RFC tomorrow afternoon (KO: 2:30 PM), as Dan Fish’s side play their first pre-season match at Tremorfa Park.
It will be just under 100 days since the Blue and Blacks were last in action come Saturday, as preparation heats up ahead of the 2025/26 Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) campaign.
After facing ‘The Buns’ Fish’s side will then welcome Esher RFC a week Saturday to the Cardiff Arms Park before facing Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) 1404 in the opening round of SRC league action on September 13th at Stadiwm CSM, Colwyn Bay.
“It’s exciting now to be able to put what we’ve been training onto the pitch,” began Ethan Lloyd, who is the most experienced Blue and Black player in the starting XV with 63 appearances for the club.
“We know there will be some mistakes as it’s the first time a lot of us have played together, but it’s about trying to put as much of what we have been training together against a different opposition.
“And it’s all trying to put our best foot forward, ready for the first league game up in RGC.
“Pre-season has been tough, especially in the heat we’ve had, but we have all pushed each other hard to help us improve as a team to hopefully push on from last season.”
Lloyd who scored six times last season in 18 appearances, will for the first time as a Blue and Black captain the side.
“It’s a massive honour to captain Cardiff RFC,” he added.
“I’m really looking forward to captaining a young, exciting side. It’s exciting to see some new young players.”
Head coach Fish has named six players within the match day 23 who will make their Cardiff RFC debuts. These include Gruff John-Morris, Sonny McCabe, Rhodri Morgan, Ioan Leyshon, Harry Turner, Rhys Cummings and Rhys Ruttley.
“They’ve brought a lot of energy to pre-season, and it’ll be good to see them bring it on the pitch Saturday,” added Lloyd.
St Albans last season claimed promotion for the second consecutive year after winning 12 out of their 18 matches in the National League 2 East Central, and currently find themselves only two leagues below the Admiral Premiership.
“We know St Albans will be looking forward to it.
“I’m expecting them to come out of the blocks fast. So it will be a good challenge for us to try and deal with that.
“Then implement our style of play onto the pitch against whatever they throw at us,” concluded Lloyd.
For those unable to make it to Tremorfa Park on Saturday, you can stay up to date with live updates via our social media channels (X, Facebook, and Instagram).