CF10 Rugby Trust

Notes from the online programme for Cardiff v Connacht 11 October 2025

The romantics amongst us perhaps like to think that Cardiff heroes like Bleddyn Williams, Gwyn Nicholls and Percy Bush have never really left the Arms Park.

From somewhere, they are still casting an eye over events. Their spirit is still felt in the air on these chilly autumn evenings when the Blue and Blacks once again take to the Arms Park.

If they are indeed watching, they will have been delighted by what this Cardiff team has served up so far this season.

There has been bravery, there has been fight, there have been men putting their bodies on the line, and most importantly there has been style.

Some of the rugby played so far this season has been sumptuous. And in the tradition of the passing game first created here by Frank Hancock 140 years ago. 

They’ve done the jersey proud. They’re doing this club proud.

When people begin citing reasons for the apathy often now surrounding the sport in Wales, they frequently forget one important fact. Over the past 20 years, the off field drama of Welsh rugby has frequently overwhelmed the action on the field and completely stolen the headlines.

And its never been more true than of this season, where everyone connected to the pro game in Wales waits on a decision from the governing body.

A governing body which, sadly, has rarely covered itself in glory in recent years.

Before matches, the chat should always be about who is playing and what is at stake for the players. But yet again, the game’s endless labyrinth of off field politics casts a shadow over the whole sport in this nation.

The players and coaches at Cardiff deserve huge credit for not allowing their attention to be distracted by the off field drama.

In the first two matches they have focused on the things they can control and the things they are good at. Hitting hard in tackles, staring down bigger opponents, and playing sexy rugby in the Cardiff style.

Successive leaders at the WRU deserve the everlasting disdain of everyone in the game for having led us all to this point. But these players show us that the things which make Welsh rugby and this club special do not go away easily.

Its an honour to support them.