Cardiff RFC in their final pre-season match welcome Esher RFC to the Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow afternoon (KO: 3:00pm) for only the pairs second ever meeting and the first in Wales.
This encounter will also see Dan Fish’s side play their first home match in 111 days as the Blue and Blacks begin to edge closer to their opening match of the 2025/26 Super Rygbi Cymru season.
After coming off the bench against St Albans in the Blue and Blacks’ opening game of pre-season at Tremorfa Park, Jason Harries will captain the side on his 40th appearance for the club.
“It’s an honour to captain Cardiff RFC, I had the privilege last year in pre-season and looking forward to doing it again on Saturday,” began Harries.
“It was good for us to get a run out against St Albans. We had a young team take the field, with most of them making their debuts in senior rugby and it was great to see.
“It’s invaluable for them and a great opportunity for them at the start of their rugby careers. You could see things we implemented in pre-season transfer onto the pitch.
“A lot of learnings still to be made and another great opportunity on Saturday to move forward.”
The last time Harries captained the side was against Cambridge Rugby, where the Blue and Blacks ended their preparations for last season with a narrow 14-12 victory.
However, they come into this contest against National League 2 East side having put aside St Albans 66-0 whilst also having six players make their debuts. Five of which are products of the Cardiff Rugby pathway.
“It’s great for the pathway that these young players are getting game time, and the only way you learn is if you play,” added Harries.
“We’ve got some experienced players back in the mix for Saturday and our youngsters hopefully will thrive in that environment.
“There’s no pressure and would love for them to go out and express themselves on Saturday, which will be the first time we run out at the Arms Park this season.”
Saturday will be the last time that Fish’s men will have game time prior to playing Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 at Stadiwm CSM, Colwyn Bay on September 13th (KO: 2:30pm).
“This is another step towards that first SRC league fixture against RGC,” he said.
“Our focus for now will be this Saturday against Esher, making sure we take the learnings from the first pre-season game into this one and continue to learn and grow as a team.
“We haven’t looked at Esher, it’s all about us this pre-season and how we can implement our game on the opposition and we’re looking forward to the challenge on Saturday,” concluded Harries.