Posted by The focus on talented young breakthrough players at Cardiff over the last 18 months has largely been reserved for the group of lads that appeared in the first team from nowhere at the start of last season.
The likes of Evan Lloyd, Efan Daniel, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Cam Winnett and Jacob Beetham have all dominated the headlines with their rapid rise into the Blue & Blacks’ first team and then on to Cymru’s Six Nations and Summer Tour squads.
Going effectively about his business in the background though has been Teddy Williams, with the former Ysgol Glantaf pupil graduating from a bit-part player with undoubted potential to a key member of the starting XV and a leader within the playing group in just under two years.
Going back to 2021/22 the lock played as many times for the Rags as he did for the first team, and only ever came off the bench at the professional level, but by the mid-point of 22/23 had started to cement his spot in the firsts’ starting XV. Since the turn of the calendar year into 2023 he has missed just nine Cardiff games, playing 37 and starting 33 in that time.
Against Lyon at the start of last month he led the side out for the first time, and has been in-and-around the Cymru set up over the last 12 months. The reason why? Well, he’s a bloody good rugby player, that’s why.
What’s been clear to everyone who has been watching Teddy since he was a young prospect coming through the development pathway is that he had three main attributes at second row; athleticism, great hands and rugby IQ.
The third of those is unsurprising considering the stock from which he comes. His late Dad, Owain and uncle, Gareth, are both former Welsh internationals, and that has passed down to him as well as his brothers with Henri having played Championship rugby for Richmond and Gabe making the Cardiff U18s squad this year.
On to the second and his handling skills manifest themselves in multiple ways; he’s an adept offloader with an understanding of getting his hands through contact, he’s got great vision and backs himself to move the ball into the wider channels, and is particularly smart at first receiver where his decision making and the quality of his distribution are real assets.
And then when it comes to athleticism…
Williams is a real weapon on transition and particularly in the kick chase, his engine and pace get him in and around that drop zone more often than not, and at the very least he arrives before most forwards to make an impact at the breakdown.
And it has been a real positive impact he’s made in those tight areas, a part of his game that has come on with age and experience. Teddy is noticeably more physical around the breakdown and contact over the course of the last 18 months, backed up this season by Josh McNally coming and offering more than a helping hand when it comes to doing that grunt work.
That physicality, along with the athleticism that he has retained, manifests itself in his carrying game too where he has improved to carry 63 times in the league this season, getting over the gain line 17 times and making 82 metres.
In open play there’s no doubt that Teddy Williams is contributing a lot to Cardiff on both sides of the ball, but it’s at the lineout and maul where the most progression has been seen this season. Working with McNally, and under the tutelage of new Forwards Coach Corniel van Zyl, he’s been given the responsibility of calling the lineout and is embracing that.
It hasn’t always gone to plan, nor would I expect it to when a young lineout caller teams up with a new lock partner and a new Forwards Coach, but lessons are learned quickly with the development noticeable, as it is with his maul work.
That culminated in the New Year’s Day showing against the Ospreys where, for the first time in my memory at least, Cardiff went toe-to-toe with the Ospreys at the set piece and came out on top.
All-in-all it’s been a standout campaign for Teddy Williams so far in 2024/25. As we discussed on this week’s Cardiff Central Podcast, there’s an argument that the Player of the Season award is already a foregone conclusion, such has been the form of the second row.
Warren Gatland names his Cymru squad for the upcoming Six Nations on Sunday, and while there is plenty of competition for the lock spots even with the absence of Adam Beard, the 24-year-old has put himself right in the conversation to not only be in the wider playing group, but also add to the 2 caps he has won so far in his career.
Having now reached 50 Cardiff appearances, captained the side and recently signed a new contract, he has it well within his power to kick on and be a real great of this Blue & Blacks pack for many years to come. =
Cardiff Rugby Life 