Posted by Cardiff Blues have signed Cardiff Met and Wales U20 scrum-half Ellis Bevan and Academy centre Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to senior contracts at the Arms Park.
Bevan, 20, has signed after impressing while training with the senior squad over the last few weeks, including a try scoring appearance for Cardiff Blues A against Dragons A back in October.
Originally from Solihull he qualifies for Wales through his Swansea-born father and was identified by the Welsh Exiles programme while playing for Bryanston School 1st XV and training with Bath’s Academy. After being released by the West Country side at 18 he arrived in the Welsh Capital to study at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
After catching the eye in BUCS Super Rugby he was called up to the Wales U20 squad for last season’s U20 Six Nations, starting as the replacement scrum-half before usurping Dafydd Buckland to start against Scotland, England and France, who he scored a try against.
Feyi-Waboso has taken a more conventional route to this senior contract, although is the first Academy graduate to have been retained while studying his A Levels in England.
Having played for Rumney RFC and Corpus Christi, he joined the development pathway with Cardiff Schools before going on to be selected for Cardiff Blues U16 and U18. He also won international honours playing for Wales U18 and Wales Rugby League U16.
From there he headed to Clifton College in Bristol on a full scholarship, but unlike others who have gone across the Bridge he signed an Academy deal to stay at the Arms Park and after impressing in senior training so far this season he’s signed a senior contract at just 18 ahead of going to Cardiff University to study medicine next year.
Speaking to the Cardiff Blues matchday programme about the signings, John Mulvihill said, “Both players have really impressed us on the occasions they trained with the senior squad and have a huge amount of athletic and rugby potential.
“It further demonstrates our ongoing strategy of developing our own players from within whether that is by working in collaboration with some of the fantastic schools, colleges and universities within our region or by being a little more creative and flexible to ensure we retain our best talent.
“Ellis has been a great addition to our squad and adds further quality to a competitive area, while having the ability to learn from two internationals in Lloyd Williams and Tomos Williams. Meanwhile, Immanuel possess an abundance of raw talent in terms of his pace and power with an impressive skillset and a maturity and willingness to learn beyond his years.
“We are really looking forward to seeing how they continue to develop and add to our programme in the years ahead.”
Cardiff Rugby Life 