Cardiff Rugby are thrilled to confirm the signing of Rory Jennings from Newcastle Falcons ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The ball-playing inside centre joins the Blue and Blacks after spending a year in the North East, following the sad demise of London Irish.
Jennings is the second arrival from Kingston Park this summer following the signing of Iwan Stephens. He will provide further strength in depth in the centre as well as cover at fly-half.
The 28-year-old said: “Joining Cardiff is a really exciting prospect for me. It’s a club that has got ambition to improve and be really competitive in the United Rugby Championship.
“That’s always one of the first things that I look for in a Club, is its intent to improve and be better than where it has been in the past and present.
“I know from watching them over the last few years, and speaking to Jockey and other people within the organisation that it’s a team who like to play attacking rugby and that suits me.
“There are some really talented young players that are already established in the squad and others that are coming through, so I’m looking forward to competing with those boys.
“It’s also a chance to play another league, The URC is a fantastic competition and it’ll be great to compete against some of the best teams in Europe and South Africa.
“Moving to Wales is an unknown for my fiancée and I, however I have heard so many great things about Cardiff over the years.
“I’m looking forward to meeting a new set of players and staff and getting stuck in from there.
“I’ve got high hopes for next year and I don’t see a reason why Cardiff can’t be competitive in the top half of the league.”
A product of the Bath Rugby Academy, Jennings represented England at U16, U18 and U20 level.
He gained Premiership experience with Bath, as well as London Irish and Newcastle, and also enjoyed time in the Top 14 with Clermont Auvergne.
With such vast experience and a skill-set, which will suit the style of play at Cardiff Arms Park, Matt Sherratt is excited to see the impact Jennings can have in Blue and Black.
He added: “Rory is a player I’ve admired for a long time now. He is someone who has an attacking mindset and fits the Cardiff Rugby game model as an inside centre with a triple threat in terms of his run, kick pass game.
“From seeing him when I visited London Irish previously, and from chatting to coaches and players and Rory himself its clear that he will add to Cardiff culturally and help the development of our exciting young players such as Steff Emanuel.”