Efan Daniel has put pen-to-paper on his first professional contract with Cardiff Rugby.
The Wales under-20 international is the latest product to graduate from the club’s academy, joining a senior hooker division which includes Kirby Myhill, Liam Belcher and Kristian Dacey.
Daniel was signed onto academy terms as a 16-year-old in 2019 - in a development intake which also included Mason Grady, who signed his first senior deal with the club last season, and Theo Cabango, who has made his mark on the first team in recent weeks.
He said: “It’s a real proud moment for myself and my family and it feels like a massive achievement, especially for someone like myself who comes from the top of the Rhondda.
“However, I know this is only the first step on the ladder and it’s going to take a lot more work in order for me to get to where I want to be. The hard work starts now.
“I thrive on the competition for places, and there’s plenty of that for the number two jersey at the moment. That only motivates me more to grab that shirt and make it my own.
“But on the other hand, the likes of Kirby Myhill, Kristian Dacey and Liam Belcher really help me along by sharing their experience and knowledge and it’s great to have that bond with them in the environment.
“I’m looking forward to making the step up and hopefully in the short term future I can have more opportunities to run out there in the jersey.
“The trust the club shows in its own players to transfer from academy rugby to the senior team is fantastic and shows that progressing through the pathway is achievable.
“It takes a lot of hard work but it’s also about having trust in the system and the process. The coaches here have been great in looking at the bigger picture and putting a plan in place for each individual with a long term view.
“The club showed faith in me from an early age, earlier than usually, and that showed the belief and plan they had for me.”
Former Treorchy Comprehensive School pupil, Daniel, came through the club’s pathway system and captained the Under-16 North side to the Regional Age Grade Championship in 2019.
The hooker, who represented Treherbert, Treorchy and Llantwit Fardre in his younger days, was also part of the Coleg y Cymoedd side who finished runners up in the 2020 School & Colleges League.
The 19 year old went on to make his international debut for Wales under-20 in the Six Nations last season, and made his Blue and Blacks bow as a replacement in January's URC win over Leinster.
Cardiff’s Director of Rugby, Dai Young, added: “We are very pleased to hand a first senior contract to Efan and believe he can have a big future in the game.
“He’s a young, academy player who has really stood out during the past year and he deserved his first team debut last month, which would have come earlier, if not for injury, and did really well.
“He is a physical man, who carries hard and has a bit of an edge about him, while the fundamentals of his game are also sound and aways developing. The dedication and determination Efan has displayed since I have been here has also been impressive and I am sure he will learn a lot stepping into the senior environment and working and competing with our other hookers.
“It’s great to see another member of the academy stepping up and is another example of the clear pathway from club, school and age-grade rugby through to our academy and first team set-up.”
Gruff Rees, who oversaw Daniel’s progress through the academy, said: “For Efan, to earn a senior deal at only 19 years of age is a huge testament to his dedication since joining the club’s academy.
“As an academy department, we’ve been extremely proud to see his progress over the last few years, both within our teams as well as on an international level, but with each milestone he displays a determination to work even harder to reach the next step in his career.
“There’s no doubt that he has competition on his hands for the number two jersey, but that will only drive him and he can improve from the experience around him.
“We wish Efan the very best of luck. He’s deserved this opportunity, not only for the way he’s performed on the field but for the way he’s conducted himself off the field.
“He has matured well off the field and is a more rounded individual with a fuller understanding of the requirements of the professional game and he can truly flourish. I am proud of him and also the academy staff who have helped nurture, mentor and support him so well over the past three years.”