Academy players get Premiership allocations

Cardiff Blues academy have allocated their transitional and tracked players to the three Welsh Premiership teams ahead of the coming season.

A total of 22 players will be linked to either Cardiff, Pontypridd or Merthyr this year, with four players from the senior squad included in that figure as the Blues embark on the start of a development journey at a time of financial restriction.

The strong front row youth prospects have been split between Cardiff and Ponty as Tom Mably, Rhys Carre and Ethan Lewis stay at the Arms Park while Corey Domachowski and Kieron Assiratti head up the A470 to Sardis Road. Tracked hooker Iestyn Harris will also appear for the Valleys side this season.

Of the loose forwards, Seb Davies, Joe Miles and James Botham will appear in blue and black, while Callum Bradbury, Alun Lawrence and Shane Lewis-Hughes will wear white and black.

In the backs we see the three young fly-halves at the club split between sides, as Ben Thomas is allocated to Cardiff, Pontypridd get Jarrod Evans and Ben Jones will turn out for reigning Premiership champions Merthyr.

Centre Harri Millard joins Jones at The Wern, while scrum-half Dane Blacker will turn out for Ponty again alongside centres Cameron Lewis and Garyn Smith, as well as winger Aled Summerhill.

Cardiff will welcome Owen Lane to their ranks once again, and fellow centre Daf Smith has also been allocated to the Arms Park but may well spend some time with the Wales 7s setup after appearing for them in the short-sided game’s European Grand Prix series over the summer.

Interestingly, Rhun Williams and Dillon Lewis have not been allocated to teams, seemingly confirming the desire of Danny Wilson to treat them as fully fledged first team players despite being in the academy’s transition squad.

Cardiff Blues academy Premiership allocations

Cardiff RFC – Rhys Carre (loosehead), Tom Mably (loosehead), Ethan Lewis (hooker), Seb Davies (lock), Joe Miles (lock), Jim Botham (back row), Ben Thomas (fly-half), Owen Lane (centre), Daf Smith (centre)

Pontypridd RFC – Corey Domachowski (loosehead), Iestyn Harris (hooker), Kieron Assiratti (tighthead), Callum Bradbury (lock), Shane Lewis-Hughes (back row), Alun Lawrence (back row), Dane Blacker (scrum-half), Jarrod Evans (fly-half), Cameron Lewis (centre), Garyn Smith (centre), Aled Summerhill (winger)

Merthyr RFC – Ben Jones (fly-half), Harri Millard (centre)