The dream player

It will be incredibly odd when the 2024/25 season rolls around for Cardiff Rugby and Josh Turnbull is not front and centre of the pre-season photos or media duties.

The utility forward has been an almost ever-present in that regard for the Blue and Blacks for a decade since his move from the Scarlets, to the extent where it’s actually tough to remember a time when he wasn’t part of the club.

In the intervening 10 years he’s been a lock, blindside, openside, number eight, leader, captain, coach, blonde, Challenge Cup winner, interrogator of blazers, record breaker and award winner. There’s very little in rugby at the Arms Park and beyond that Turnbull hasn’t impacted in some form during his career, a testament to the player and man he is.

On-the-field he’s everything you want from a forward, leader and clubman. A ferocious defender, adept jackal, hard carrier, top lineout technician, a leader by example and through his voice, and always able to produce at least 7/10 no matter what number jersey he pulled on.

His professionalism is reflected by the numbers, with over 330 first team appearances across the Scarlets and Cardiff. Turnbull was averaging an incredible 23 games per season for the Blue & Blacks prior to the current campaign, which feels like more than the amount of games we actually played each season. Durability beyond belief.

During some tough times it has felt like the Newcastle Emlyn man has single-handedly carried the team on his back at points, and it is on the strength of players like him that successes such as those seen in Bilbao are formed. His part played in nullifying that Pau pack in the semi-final will go down in Arms Park folklore.

And that segways nicely into his role off-the-field, where his leadership and embracing of everything good about Cardiff Rugby has been felt across the city and region.

Whether it’s fronting up after tough performances, leading the team through adversity or going on Scrum V and not letting Professional Rugby Board Chairman Malcolm Wall waffle his way through a media appearance, his selflessness and drive have ensured he is respected and well-liked across more than just Llanelli and the capital.

His story with the national team is a lesson in that desire to be the best at all times, where after three years away from the test arena Turnbull earned a recall in summer 2021 for the tests against Argentina at 33 years old, taking his tally up to 13 caps.

The back rower’s legacy will only grow at the Arms Park too, as he transitions into a coaching role with the Academy and Rags. It starts with his own playing performances, continues with his mentoring of Alex Mann and Mackenzie Martin this season, and will live on with the countless future players that will benefit from his knowledge of the game.

To finish on a personal level, the class of the man is summed up when he sent a personal message following the passing of my eldest son in December 2021 on behalf of the squad. Having seen other similar stories told by supporters since he announced his retirement, this doesn’t appear to be a one-off. A true clubman and a genuinely top bloke.

The only two-time winner of the Cardiff Rugby Life Player of the Year Award, he hangs his boots up a Cardiff and Welsh Rugby legend, with plenty of story still to be written from the coaches box.

Diolch JT!