Posted by It is quite remarkable to say, after so much going on away from the keyboard for this writer and for Cardiff Rugby Club, that this is the 10th annual Cardiff Rugby Life Awards.
As I looked at last week it was a 2024/25 campaign that took rollercoaster ride to another level with the Blue & Blacks enjoying continuing development, big wins and a stab at the United Rugby Championship play-offs, while dealing with some disappointing defeats, financial ruin and the usual WRU-inspired professional rugby agreement uncertainty.
There’s still plenty to celebrate though for Matt Sherratt’s men, so let’s get into handing out some non-existent trophies…
Unsung Hero
A change-up from ‘Most Improved Player’ towards a celebration of those who may not be in national team squads or top earning, but have been crucial for Cardiff over the previous campaign as either a leader, character, player or a mix of all three.
Ben Donnell was a consideration here having quietly become a very important cog in the pack since his arrival during 23/24, covering second row and blindside, getting through mountains of work in open play and at the set piece, while Harri Millard was also in the running after an incredible campaign that saw him top the URC try scorers list.
The winner though is Big Al Lawrence after a season in which he churned out shift-after-shift in the back row. His 179 carries were the 7th-most in the league, with his 75 times across the gain line being ninth, and his 243 tackles not being bettered by anyone. The 26-year-old also featured in every single Cardiff game over the course of the year, testament to his commitment and durability.
Young Player of the Year
After the incredible success of young players during 23/24, this past season was a case of consolidation before progress for a few as Matt Sherratt stressed that the rapid elevation of some to the first team would be slowed back down to normal levels of development with the first team recovering it’s age profile and experience.
Having said that, particularly during the second half of the season, there was plenty of U23s catching the eye as the Blue & Blacks pushed for a play-off spot. Last year’s winner of this award, Cam Winnett, continued to impress at full-back as he played almost every minute of the campaign while loosehead prop Rhys Barratt had a very successful run in the team before injury struck, and Evan Lloyd enjoyed a good end of the year.
Having been unlucky to miss out last year though the winner is Alex Mann as the flanker took the natural rugby ability shown during his breakout season, worked hard to go to the next level physically, and came back around the turn of the calendar year to cement his spot in the matchday 23. Still incredibly athletic, but now hitting a bit harder, he has a bit of edge to him that the Cardiff pack is sometimes lacking and knows the way to the try line, earning a deserved recall to the Cymru squad.
Best Performance
A welcome change to last season, when it was a case of picking the bravest performance in defeat, this year Cardiff enjoyed a number of excellent victories and, as such, the shortlist for this award is a strong one.
The wins away at Scarlets and home to Ulster were standout in the early part of the season, and the victory at home to Lions just after the Six Nations was a great start to that fixture block. For me though the choice comes down to the back-to-back bonus point wins over Ospreys and Munster, respectively, before heading to South Africa.
Getting the win at Judgement Day was crucial, but the award goes to the victory over Munster at the Arms Park for reasons of the fight shown to come back from 12-21 down, the backing up of the performance the week before, the atmosphere in the ground on the night, and the brilliance of the game management in the final 15 minutes to hold on for the win.
Best New Signing
After a season off following the shenanigans of summer 2023, this award returns after a busy off-season ahead of 24/25 campaign during which Jockey made what turned out to be a number of shrewd signings.
The headline incoming was fly-half Callum Sheedy returning to the Welsh capital and leading the side brilliantly around the field, although the goal kicking issues are well-documented. Elsewhere Danny Southworth was a revelation at loosehead prop coming in as an all-action replacement for Rhys Carre, while Johan Mulder quickly nailed down the nine jersey after adjusting to the northern hemisphere.
However, there is a clear winner for the best signing of last summer, and it’s Josh McNally. It wasn’t a particularly high-profile announcement when the second row came over from Bath, with most probably expecting an experienced rotation player to come and see out his career at the Arms Park, but the 34-year-old quickly became a cult hero in the pack with his workrate, physicality and leadership taking him to being indispensable in the starting XV and even stepping in as captain when required.
Try of the Season
A couple of top contenders for the try of the season award after another campaign where Cardiff moved the ball around fluidly and scored 79 tries in 23 games, giving us a strike rate of 3.43 tries per game – the most in the post-2003 era across the league and Europe.
The move that Harri Millard finished off away at Leinster after Callum Sheedy had released Cam Winnett in midfield was up there, as was one of Gabriel Hamer-Webb’s efforts at Judgement Day following Sheedy again having a hand, this time releasing Ben Donnell before the flanker found the winger on his shoulder and he finished well under pressure.
This is the winner though, Harri Millard finishing a scintillating off-the-cuff team move that sees some of the best elements of Cardiff’s attack come together with Callum Sheedy and Ben Thomas linking up at 10/12 before Gabriel Hamer-Webb’s work rate keeps the counter attack going.
The world class Taulupe Faletau makes a vintage break down the left and then Hurricane Harri is on hand to finish it off, as he was all season on the way to being the first Blue & Black to top the URC try scorers list since Tom James in 2008/09.
Special Recognition
It’s barely worth even doing a build up for this one because who else other than Rey Lee-Lo could it be worth honouring as the Samoan centre hangs up his boots after 16 years at the professional level, 10 of which he spent at Cardiff.
On-the-field Razor Rey has been one of the most consistent performers across the league during his decade at the club; carrying hard, beating defenders, organising team-mates and spot blitzing for fun. At least a 7/10 every game for 180 games, his quality and longevity have been incredible.
Off-the-field he was never a big talker in the media, but team-mates and coaches are quick to label him a leader in the dressing room, an infectious personality and a good man. While not too well documented his family life is there to be seen as not the most straightforward, but he manages that admirably and is yet another example of a Pacific Islander coming over and making South Wales home.
It’s encouraging that the club are keen to keep Lee-Lo on in some capacity, hopefully with at least an element of mentoring the next crop of centres, because any knowledge gained from him will be invaluable for those young players, but for now he takes the Cardiff Rugby Life Special Recognition Award as a terrific player and an even better bloke.
Player of the Year
And so we end on the big one again, and it’s a very good field of candidates this year.
Keiron Assiratti was considered, perhaps under appreciated but never less than 100% from a tighthead that continues to get better and better, as was Best New Signing Josh McNally for his immediate impact in the engine room and Unsung Hero Alun Lawrence for his repeated huge efforts.
Ben Thomas had another terrific season putting in top performances right across the year, while Harri Millard’s try scoring exploits put him in the conversation, as well as his shift switching back into the centres in the latter part of the campaign.
The winner though is someone who, to my mind, is now the clear first name on the teamsheet – permanently inked in to the engine room beside McNally, who he can thank in-part for this award as someone who has helped take his game to the next level.
Teddy Williams was talismanic this year. His lineout calling and captaincy shifts a sign of his maturity at still a young age, his athleticism now paired with a power game that makes him a key cog on either side of the ball, and his scrummaging and maul work a major part of improvements under Corniel van Zyl in those tight exchanges.
It’s been a while since we’ve brought through a second row to this level, you probably have to go back to Big Bad Bradley Davies for that, but it’s worth the wait for the Ysgol Glantaf man who will now likely go to Japan with Cymru as a starter in the engine room, and rightly so.
The 2024/25 Cardiff Rugby Life Player of the Year is Teddy Williams.
Llongyfarchiadau to all the winners!
Cardiff Rugby Life 