Cardiff Rugby have signed Wales Under-20s second-row Tom Cottle on a senior academy contract. 

The 18-year-old, who has been named on the bench for Wales Under-20s Six Nations opener against France, will link up with the Blue & Blacks in the summer. 

He will combine his academy programme with game-time for Cardiff RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru and study at Cardiff Met. 

Gruff Rees, Cardiff Academy Manger, said: “We have liaised with Tom for quite some time and are delighted that he has chosen to continue his development with Cardiff, after receiving a lot of interest. 

“Second-row has been an area we have identified within the pathway, where we need a bit more strength and bringing Tom into the fold not only gives him a great professional opportunity but supports our succession planning. 

“We identified his potential last season and have been monitoring his development since. It has been great to be fully aligned throughout the club with Matt Sherratt, Darren Allinson and Sam Warburton also playing key roles.

“We are looking forward to seeing how Tom goes in the Under-20s Six Nations but his potential is there for all to be seen. He is a physically imposing player, with good soft skills, who has been developed well by the RGC academy staff and I have no doubt he will continue that at the Arms Park next season.”

Cottle is a product of Mold RFC and attended Castell Alun High School in Wrexham. 

He represented RGC at Under-16s and Under-18s level and represented Wales Under-18s in April.