Cardiff RFC Squad 2022 / 23

Cardiff RFC are delighted to announce the 2022 / 23 squad that will take on the challenge of defending the Indigo Premiership title.

There are familiar names old and new in a squad that balances youth and experience. At full back two names that have come through the Blue & Blacks set up and represented Cardiff Rugby during last season. Jacob Beetham – who now trains fulltime with the senior team- was the highest points scorer for the Blue & Blacks last season. Cameron Winnett played for the senior side in the final two games of the season and was on the recent Wales Under 20s tour to Italy.

On the wing James Beal will be looking to continue his fine ruin of form last season, he is joined by new names to the squad, Joe Goodchild and Dewi Cross. Goodchild is a former Dragon who has arrived from Ampthill and has plenty of Premiership experience having also played for Ebbw Vale. Cross is another with Regional experience having made his Ospreys debut at 17yrs old and played for Wales Under 20s. “it’s great to be here and the boys have been working really hard in the last couple of weeks” Dewi said of his move to CAP “having the Academy here with us too keeps us on our toes and having Dan (Fish) to learn from I am very excited for the start of the season. I am looking forward to working hard with Cardiff RFC and who knows where it could go from there”

In the centre Ioan Evans and Ryan Wilkins will be looking to put their injuries from last season behind them. Academy member Harrison James will also continue from last term. Aaron Pinches – a former Blue & Black – returns following his stint with Merthyr and will add considerable experience to the young players around him.

Ever the youngster Dan Fish continues his role as player coach, this season he will be guiding Ben Burnell, an academy product who will also be training with the senior squad. As will Ethan Lloyd who, along with Tom Habberfield returns to the squad for another year. They are joined by Penarth youth product and former Age Grade player Joe Williams who will be dual registered.

Up front there is the potential to have an all Wales under 20 front row. Rhys Barrett, Efan Daniel and Adam Williams all playing in Blue & Black this season, Williams moves to the Arms Park from the Dragons Academy, combining his rugby with his studies at Cardiff Uni. Ollie Drake and Brynley Toms continue from last term whilst Theo Bevacqua is back in training following surgery. We also welcome Marc Thomas back to the Club as the former Osprey and Worcester Warrior settles back into life at the Arms Park. Freddie Barnes will pack down having graduated from Cardiff Uni. “Cardiff Arms Park is such an iconic place and I am very excited to be here. I have a lot to learn but am looking forward to making my mark. Having Scott Andrews here will really help – he is quality and I hope I can learn a lot from him” said Freddie “the squad has a great mix of younger boys as well as the older heads, everyone has been really welcoming and that has helped settle the new boys in”. Scott Andrews will be looking after the scrum and contact areas as player coach and he will be aligning his role with Academy coaching.

Hooking sees player of the season Alun Rees join Daniel in the middle of the scrum along with an Arms Park favourite Joey Tomlinson returning from Canada. Evan Lloyd will combine his senior duties along with those of the Blue & Blacks as he looks at a positional switch to the front row.

In the powerhouse Rhys Anstey, Sean Moore and James Richards – who will combine his back row duties – are back and they are joined by Joe Peard and Owain Lloyd will also feature having graduated from Loughborough and it is great to welcome the Cardiff pathway and Wales u20s player back to the club. Callum Bardbury – a former Blue & Black -also returns to add his considerable experience to the pack having signed from Merthyr.

The back row has a lot of familiar names, Morgan Allen, Nathan Hudd, Gwilym Bradley all of who played a huge part in the Blue & Black success last term are signed for another season. They are joined by Alex Mann the former Wales U20 captain and exciting ball handler Mackenzie Martin who is another  that was in Italy a few weeks ago, Gwilym Evans and Ellis Thomas – a former Llanelli RFC captain – make up the final members of the squad.

There are also several names training with the squad currently allowing the coaching staff to assess what impact they could have in a Blue & Black shirt.

Speaking of the squad Head Coach Steve Law said “I think we are in a stronger position than we were last year and we are going in the right direction. It was the first season of a new model last year and the young boys are a year older and they had an opportunity to shine last year, we have also added some great quality Premiership players this season. The academy boys who come in will have their opportunity again this season and there will be plenty looking to catch the eye of the senior coaching staff. In terms of ambition we want to continue the progress we made last season, and we will obviously want to win every game.”