Five up-and-coming Cardiff Blues talents have put pen-to-paper on their first academy contracts with the region.
The Cardiff Blues academy continues to invest in promising age grade youngsters across the region, having announced seven new intakes earlier this season.
Now Alex Mann, Theo Cabango, Rhys Anstey, Evan Lloyd and Jake Thomas have all committed to their home region, making up a 23-man academy squad.
Wing Cabango and lock Anstey both represented Cardiff Blues A in the recent Celtic Cup campaign, while all five are also a part of the Cardiff Blues under-18 squad.
The five players have been training with the Cardiff Blues academy, under the watchful eye of coaches Gethin Jenkins, T Rhys Thomas, Aled James, Craig Everett and Nick MacLeod.
Academy manager, Gruff Rees, said: “We’re delighted to see five more of the region’s exciting young players committing to their home region and wanting to continue their development here.
“We have a really good group of players in camp at the moment, and it all points towards a really exciting future for the region’s philosophy of developing home-grown players and backing local talent. We’re clearly seeing the senior coaches living by this philosophy as well, and the belief they have in the academy system and players is great.
“It’s invaluable for both the region and the players themselves. They’re able to train in a professional environment, following a similar schedule to the first team, and are surrounded by the senior players, which really inspires them.
“Another huge positive for us is that these boys will become more and more comfortable around each other and the benefits of that, on the pitch, is massive as they build links and connections with each other.
“Day-in, day-out, they’re working with coaches who have the highest of expectations, and they will reap the rewards in the future.
“We’re encouraging these boys to play for their schools and colleges, as well as continuing their studies, and you can see how they’re growing as people both on and off the field. The relationships we’ve developed with Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg y Cymoedd and Ysgol Glantaf is key to making it work.
“We’ve deliberately contracted these boys early, once again, because we have heaps of talent coming through the region in both the north and south, and you can see that from the performances of our age grade sides. We are able to offer these boys key support and quality coaching at a crucial point in their development.
“As a department, we’re delighted with this news and it’s another positive step for our development process.
“Hopefully, others will be able to see the opportunities on offer for young players at this region and be inspired.”
Senior academy:
Rhys Davies
Ioan Davies
Will Davies-King
Jamie Hill
Alun Lawrence
Max Llewellyn
Teddy Williams
Academy: (Existing)
Ioan Rhys Davies
Iestyn Harris
Callun James
Ben Warren
Ben Burnell
Efan Daniel
Ethan Fackrell
Mason Grady
Cameron Lewis
Ethan Lloyd
Ryan Wilkins
New Intake
Evan Lloyd
Jake Thomas
Theo Cabango
Alex Mann
Rhys Anstey