Posted by Cardiff Academy duo Ben Burnell and Iwan Pyrs-Jones will play in the Indigo Group Premiership for Pontypridd this season as part of their continuing development.
Although the Rags will be the primary development tool for players coming through the Academy, Pontypridd and Merthyr will still be utilised where it suits the player’s individual needs, and with both players playing in competitive positions it has been felt that joining the Pontypridd squad for the season will be beneficial.
Fly-half Burnell was set to feature at Sardis Road in the second half of the 2019/20 campaign before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but still kicked on to earn a call-up to the Wales U20 squad for the 2021 U20 Six Nations, making his debut off the bench against Scotland U20.
Winger Pyrs-Jones came on to the radar as a 12-year-old when he scored a stunning individual try at Wembley Stadium as Ysgol Glantaf won the Champion Schools National Year 7 Final in Rugby League. Since then he has kicked on in Union, as a standout in successful Cardiff U16 and U18 sides.
Both players have featured for Ponty in pre-season games against Newport and the Ealing Academy. They complete pre-season against Bargoed on Saturday before kicking off the Indigo Group Premiership Cup at home to Newport the following weekend.
Cardiff Rugby Life 