Cardiff have unveiled their senior academy squad for next season
Cardiff Rugby have unveiled their senior academy squad for the 2026-27 season after enjoying recent success in the realms of developing homegrown talent at the Arms Park.
A total of 24 players have been handed contracts or scholarships as part of the latest intake, with the Blue & Blacks placing significant emphasis on producing the next wave of Welsh stars.
The academy has become a cornerstone of the club’s long-term strategy, with around 60 per cent of the current first-team squad having progressed through the pathway system. Cardiff also boast strong representation across Wales’ age-grade sides.
The newly-confirmed group features a blend of emerging prospects already making strides in the senior game and others stepping into a full-time environment for the first time.
Virtually all have played age-grade rugby for Wales in some form or another, be that U18, U19 or U20s level.
Six have already played for Cardiff’s senior team this season.
Second-row Tom Cottle, back-row Evan Rees, fly-half Harri Wilde, full-back Matty Young and centres Elijah Evans and Osian Darwin-Lewis have all made their first steps into senior rugby with Corniel van Zyl’s side this season.
It’s unlikely that some of their academy colleagues will have to wait much longer to join them in senior rugby.
Hooker Tom Howe is one such player tipped for a big future, with Scott Baldwin having proclaimed him as a future Wales international within the next three years back in February.
His director of rugby at Ysgol Glantaf, Llywarch ap Myrddin, was equally impressed earlier this season, calling the explosive carrier an “outstanding” prospect.
“Tom is as high a calibre a player that has come out of this league,” said ap Myrddin ahead of his side’s victory on Wednesday. “He is very good and he’ll achieve what he wants to achieve in the game because of the type of the player he is, because of the background he’s had, in terms of the type of character he is.
“He is quite a unique player. He’s going to be an outstanding player for Welsh rugby moving forward.
“Hopefully, he’ll be one of many of this crop of U18, U19, U20s boys that will go on to represent Wales and win in a red senior jersey in a few years. They’ve got that mentality.”
In terms of Cardiff’s senior academy squad, academy manager Gruff Rees believes the latest intake reflects both the strength of the region and the work being done behind the scenes.
“We are thrilled with the senior academy group,” he said. “It’s a huge testimony to the talent in the region and the work of our staff and partners in developing players that fit our succession plan and have clear professional aspirations.
“A number of the players have been with us for a while now and have been shining lights for Cardiff RFC and Wales 20s and are obviously on the cusp of the senior squad.
“There are others who will be new to the full-time environment but are all players who have come through our pathway and our staff have been working closely with them as part of the junior academy and RAG programmes.”
Rees also pointed to the strength in depth coming through behind this group, with another crop of youngsters already pushing through the system.
“It’s also important to note that there is another cohort in the junior academy, many of whom have already been capped by Wales 18s,” he added. “With further depth and competition over the next 12 months they will also hopefully thrive.”
Forwards: Cameron Tyler-Grocott, Brayan Kamanga, Vinnay Cleak, Tom Howe, Isaac Jones, Harri Lewis, Tom Cottle, Gabe Williams*, Sonny McCabe, Evan Rees, Liam Williams*, Alfie Prygodzicz.
Backs: Matty Young, Rhys Cummings, Harry Turner, Calen Edwards, Devon Morris*, Elijah Evans, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Ioan Leyshon, Harri Wilde, Ben Coomer, Lloyd Lucas, Sion Davies.
*denotes scholarship
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