Posted by Cardiff RFC get their Super Rygbi Cymru campaign back up and running this weekend with a short slide down the M4 to Aberavon to kick off the final fixture block of the season.
It’s been a disjointed few months for the Rags after the continuity of the first run of fixtures up to the festive period. That initial three months allowed the side to build up some consistency of selection, development of partnerships and individual progression, particularly among the young academy members stepping up to senior rugby.
Sion Davies and Harri Wilde at half-back, Steffan Emanuel and Elijah Evans in the centre, and Matty Young operating with Wilde as the 10 & 15, as well as Joe Goodchild, Tom Bowen or Dewi Cross on his wings, have all benefited from that week-in, week-out rugby, and for many that contributed to a successful stint with Cymru D20 in the U20 Six Nations.
That also translated to good results for the Rags, winning nine of the first 12 games in the SRC to be right in the fight for top spot. However, those national age grade call-ups along with a few injuries had head coach Dan Fish exploring the depths of his squad, as well as taking a look at some permit players from the local area and relying on a few members of the Cardiff U18 team.
It meant the SRC Cup was effectively a write-off for the Blue & Blacks, losing three of four pool games and heading out of the running before ever being in it. Fishy & co will no doubt have taken plenty from it in terms of exposing different players and giving fringe members of the squad game time, but the risk of losing momentum was real.
Fortunately, in amongst all the madness of the Cup, Cardiff were able to put together two huge performances in re-arranged SRC league games to actually sit top of the table coming into the run-in. Firstly, RGC were beaten at the Arms Park thanks to a battling team performance, bouncing back from losing to the Gogs the week prior.
And then at the start of March a quite unbelievable showing from the Rags saw the team go up to Church Bank and win 19-52 over Llandovery, something we haven’t done in North Carmarthenshire since 2022. The away side scored seven tries in the end, perhaps assisted by the Drovers’ new artificial pitch, all but securing a home quarter-final in the process.
The aim now for Fish’s men is to rediscover the cohesion levels they reached before Christmas as players return from injury and Cymru D20 duty. The first game of the block away at Aberavon is followed by a trip to Bridgend, a home game against Llandovery and then a visit to Pontypool to bring the regular season to a close.
No easy fixtures but all games where Cardiff will be favourites, as the young players continue their development and the team as a whole aim to develop enough momentum and confidence in order to finish as high up the table as possible for home advantage through a play-off run.
As ever the progress of the academy players is a major focus for the Rags, but what better way to help them step up to the next level than by playing in, and winning, the biggest games at the Super Rygbi Cymru level. As well as, of course, giving supporters something to cheer about after a season of travelling across the country backing the team.
It’s all to play for, UPPA RAGS!
Cardiff Rugby Life 