Cardiff have handed out new senior academy contracts to seven talented young players ahead of next season.
Scrum-half Sion Davies, centre Osian Darwin-Lewis, wing Ollie Das, hooker Thomas Howe, No. 8 Evan Rees, back-three player Kodie Stone and prop Dylan Barratt have all signed deals with the Arms Park club after impressing in the pathway set-up.
All seven have represented Wales at age-grade level, with Stone playing for Wales U20s this season and Davies, Das and Howe all featuring for the U18s in Italy recently. Howe is playing two years above his age level.
Speaking about the seven youngsters, Cardiff’s academy manager Gruff Rees said: “It is really pleasing to award senior contracts to these talented young men, all of whom we really believe we can support on and off the field over the next few years to really thrive in our professional environment.
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“When you add these boys to a playing pool that includes Lucas De La Rua, Harri Wilde, Elijah Evans, Matty Young, Cameron Tyler-Grocott and recent returnees Steffan Emanuel and Tom Bowen we are excited by the potential within the group and the possibilities with our succession planning.
“There is also a strong possibility that we will add to this group shortly and, with the scholarships awarded also, we are well stocked to push on nicely”.
Cardiff‘s academy system will also be boosted by the addition of Josh Turnbull as a coach. The 36-year-old, who made 200 appearances for the Blue and Blacks, has combined his playing career with coaching for a number of years – working with age-grade sides at both the Scarlets and Cardiff, as well as roles with Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthen Quins and Wales U18s.
“This is more fantastic news for the academy and pathway and underlines our ambition to give each player – from contracted status to those within our Age grade programmes – the best possible high performance support,” added Rees.
“Josh has already built up an impressive coaching reputation – including his WRU Level 4, age grade and Welsh Premiership experience – on the back of an unbelievable playing career.
“He has all the attributes to develop his coaching to a high level and we are thrilled to support this next stage for him. He will fit in brilliantly, complementing the coaching strengths of Dan Fish and Craig Everett, whilst pushing each player to maximise the most of the opportunities in our environment”
The seven players awarded senior academy contracts:
Sion Davies (scrum-half): Glantaf
Osian Darwin-Lewis (centre): Glantaf
Ollie Das (wing): Hurstpierpoint College
Thomas Howe (Hooker): Glantaf
Evan Rees (No 8): Natngwyn
Kodie Stone (back three): Coleg y Cymoedd
Dylan Barratt (prop): Coleg y Cymoedd
