The future looks bright at Cardiff Arms Park for Jarrod Evans, after the outside half penned a new deal with his home club last week.
The academy graduate has committed his foreseeable future to life in the capital, extending his Cardiff career after initially breaking into the first team in 2015.
Despite interest from across the border, the Welsh international playmaker put pen-to-paper - after being left encouraged by the direction that the club is heading towards - and he has his sight set on forcing his way into Wayne Pivac’s plans.
“It was a bit of a long process, which has been going on for a good few months, but it’s a relief to get it out of the way now. I can now focus on the rugby and what is left of this season to get myself in the best possible shape for next season,” said the homegrown talent.
“There was definitely interest from clubs in England, but it’s been such an unusual year that you need to weigh-up all sorts of things.
“I’ve been at the club for such a long time, and all my mates are here.
“I wanted to make sure the club were heading in the right direction and that seems to be the case with the personnel coming in and the facilities up in Pentwyn being brought up to date.
“The club wants to go in the right direction and push on for bigger things.
“I want to play as much as I can, and the only way you learn is by being put in those situations during a game.
“It’s been a stop-start season for myself. When the clubs get a bit of momentum, we look good with all the boys back but then they go off again and we can look a little bit disjointed.
“Personally, I went eight weeks without playing up there, so it was frustrating by the time I came back into club rugby.
“But there’s nothing you can do about that. Now I want to get those games together and once you get that consistency then that’s when good things will happen.
“First and foremost, you have to perform at club level. We haven’t got many games left now but hopefully I can string some games together in the Rainbow Cup and that can lead to potentially bigger things.
“But I don’t want to comment about things that are too far down the line because I can only control the next couple of games I have here.”
Fellow Wales international, Rhys Priestland, has agreed a move to the capital ahead of next season, bolstering an outside half rank which also includes Ben Thomas, Jason Tovey and Luke Scully.
With Matt Sherratt also returning to the Arms Park as backs coach, Evans is excited about what lies ahead in the coming months.
The playmaker added: “Rhys has been on fire for Bath and he’s got a lot of experience both at international and club level.
“It will be good to work alongside him, and see what I can pick up from him and maybe what I can give to him as well.
“I’m really looking forward to working with him.
“Jockey is a quality coach and a lot of the boys here know him and have a huge amount of respect for him, having worked with him for three years.
“A lot of the boys are excited to see him coming back, and he comes back with a lot of experience from other clubs.
“It will be interesting to see what he comes back with, and a lot of the boys are happy to see him coming back and hopefully we can kick on as a club.
“He’ll also be good for a lot of the members of staff so it’s all-round a good move for everyone.”