Departures are tough, but necessary for a rebuild

The New Year brings with it resolutions, fresh focus and, of course, the beginning of contract silly season in professional rugby union as teams begin to announce signings they have made ahead of the next campaign.

For the first time in a good few years Cardiff are in a position where we’ve actually known our basic budget for the following year in good time, albeit that budget is very measly thanks to the mis-management of the Welsh Rugby Union and their continual under-investment in professional club rugby in Wales.

However, the budget is at least known for next season and a good few after that, and with the takeover of the majority ownership by Helford Capital on the horizon, a solid recruitment and retention plan can be put in place in order to guide the Blue and Blacks back towards some form of competitiveness.

In a summary of their aims sent to shareholders ahead of the company’s EGM, Helford Capital noted that 2026 was the aim to start returning Cardiff towards the top of European rugby once again, giving them two years from the upcoming summer when they replace the Thomas Family as the “Regional Principal Investor” to implement the changes necessary to achieve that.

Investment in the club’s facilities, academy and pathway, and coaching are all important, but the fact remains that investment in the playing squad, both in terms of retaining current stars and signing new players, will be needed in order to raise the quality and increase the depth. A small squad of largely homegrown lads will only get us so far.

It’s with that in mind that attention turns to this upcoming silly season, with the knowledge that things will seemingly get “worse” before they get better at the Arms Park, but that it all becomes a part of a longer term plan of returning to the top.

As has been reported in the media in recent weeks, it’s likely that Cardiff will lose two big names over the summer as Rhys Carre and Tomos Williams are set to depart for Saracens and Gloucester, respectively. A blow, no doubt, to see two quality players depart, but as one door closes another one opens.

Carre, soon-to-be 26, and Williams, just-turned 29, are players who Matt Sherratt will have wanted to retain, and indeed relatively competitive offers were made to both. However, both have chosen to try something new with Carre having had his issues with Warren Gatland and Wales set up, while Williams has only ever played in the Welsh capital. Good on them both, I say.

So now the opportunity for the Blue and Blacks is to funnel the majority of the money offered to those two back into the current squad. Of course there will need to be some recruitment done to bolster the loosehead stocks, with only Corey Domachowski and Rhys Barratt remaining on the books, but scrum-half is satisfactory with Ellis Bevan and Jamie Hill battling for the 9 jersey, Matthew Aubrey backing them up and Sion Davies emerging from the U18 set up.

Instead the money can focus on retaining the young stars that have broken into the first team so far this season; Efan Daniel, Evan Lloyd, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Lucas De La Rua, Mackenzie Martin, Mason Grady, Theo Cabango, Cameron Winnett and Jacob Beetham.

They are the backbone of the squad building towards 2026 and going beyond that, and who will benefit most from two more years of development at the Arms Park as part of the club’s overall evolution. Keeping hold of them is arguably more important than some of the top level internationals who can be short-term assets but could stunt medium-term growth.

Then, once we get towards 2026 and the likes of Carre and Williams are nearing the ends of their contracts in England, Cardiff could be in a better financial position that allows us to bring quality players like that home to complement the core of players developed in the intervening two years. They will be better off from time getting a fresh perspective on life and rugby, and can really add to the Blue and Blacks on and off the pitch.

I’ll caveat the above though with the statement that letting all senior and experienced leave would be harmful. Retaining a solid number of top level players to guide the youngsters through is still important, but those future talents remain the ultimate priority.

There’s a temptation to say that after a few months of positivity on the field and the announcement of new owners coming in, suddenly things should become rosy at the Arms Park, but we will have to remain patient for at least next season, and possibly into 2025/26. There’ll be some more tough outings and frustration before we reach a happier place.

However, I continue to firmly believe that if Cardiff can navigate the next two years well then it could set the club up for a prolonged spell of competitiveness, and hopefully success will follow. When the good times arrive, a tough few years will be very quickly forgotten.

Stick with it!