Posted by Cardiff RFC have a first confirmed fixture for 18 months as the Rags are set to host London Welsh at the Arms Park on Saturday 28th August.
The side haven’t taken the field since an 18-20 defeat at the hands of Aberavon on the 7th March 2020, but will meet the Exiles in a pre-season clash ahead of a possible return to competitive action in September, whether through a knockout cup competition or the restarting of the Indigo Group Premiership.
London Welsh haven’t visited the capital since February 1995 when tries from Mike Budd, Owain Williams, Andy Moore, Simon Davies, Owain Thomas and Jonathan Westwood secured a 34-0 victory for the Blue and Blacks, with the intervening 26 years seeing the men in red reach the heights of the Gallagher Premiership before going through bankruptcy and starting again in the London local leagues.
After three promotions in three years they are preparing to enter the RFU London 1 South division in 2021/22, with former Cardiff Blues fly-half Steve Shingler on the coaching staff and having struck up a strategic relationship with the Academy at the Arms Park which saw Theo Bevacqua and Gwilym Bradley train at Old Deer Park last summer.
Speaking to the London Welsh website, Academy manager Gruff Rees said “We are delighted at the Cardiff Blues, especially after such a tumultuous period of non rugby activity for our RFC players. The game can hopefully kickstart what is an exciting period for us and against historic opponents.
“Indeed, it has been great to see both Gwilym Bradley and Theo Bevacqua (both of whom could feature in this fixture) make their senior debuts after spending pre season at Old Deer Park last year. It should be a great occasion and we look forward to welcoming our friends from London.”
On the same day at the Arms Park, the London Welsh Druids will face an invitational side made up of players from the Eastern Divisions of the Welsh League.
Cardiff Rugby Life 