Cardiff Rugby Union’s Challenging Season Under New Head Coach Matt Sherratt
After Dai Young’s departure, Matt Sherratt was promoted to head coach for the first time in his professional career. The results, however, have been stark, with Cardiff Rugby recording four wins, 17 defeats, and a draw in their 22 matches. The team finished 12th in the league and suffered a winless European Champions Cup campaign.
The team’s home victories came against the Stormers and Dragons, whom they achieved the double over, and they also secured an away victory against a shadow Sharks side. However, they were unable to secure any triumphs against Irish, Scottish, or Italian teams.
“That really sums up our season,” said Sherratt. “Hopefully we can turn those into narrow wins next season.”
Despite the team’s win rate of less than 20%, Cardiff have managed to attract healthy crowds to Arms Park, demonstrating the resilience and dedication of their supporters.
One of the challenges faced by Cardiff has been the limited availability of their British and Irish Lions duo, Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau, who have only managed a combined total of eight appearances. Survival has been the key, with Cardiff starting pre-season training almost 12 months ago with single figures of players due to the financial constraints of the Welsh game and Wales’ World Cup training camp.
“It has been 50 weeks and it has felt like 50 weeks. I have loved it though,” said Sherratt. “It has been trying to imprint what a blue and black game looks like on the field and be true to ourselves.”
Looking ahead, Cardiff will be losing experienced players like Ellis Jenkins and Josh Turnbull to retirement, while Tomos Williams, Rhys Carre, Owen Lane, Willis Halaholo, Shane Lewis-Hughes, and Lopeti Tomani will be moving on. However, the club is looking to bring in some new signings, including the arrival of Wales fly-half Callum Sheedy, to help develop their young talents like Cameron Winnett, Alex Mann, and Mackenzie Martin, who have already been picked by Wales.
“We want to bring in three or four players and it will be people from good environments who can help our young talent,” said Sherratt. “I think we have something special here developing in terms of the amount of Cardiff boys playing for Cardiff. I am passionate about that.”
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