What have the Cardiff Blues ever done for us?

Cardiff is a political, geographic and economic capital. It is increasingly assuming the role that other major cities across Europe play and beginning to achieve a prominence unheard of since the coal boom (when, of course, it purloined the valleys’ coal, abused its female population, and ate peoples’ heads). To misquote Gwyn Williams, if the M4 is a main artery of Welsh economic survival, the Coryton to Pierhead section of the A470 is its jugular vein. The city deserves a rugby side and stadium which match its global ambitions-and pleasingly has both in prospect.

At present, rugby in Cardiff variously defines itself as club, region or professional team-and is in reality all three. Cardiff has always played a regional role on the national stage; the player pathway may now be a more formal concept, but it ain’t a new one. Cliff Morgan wrote a marvelously typical paragraph or two about his journey from the train station to the club gates, an extended metaphor for the journey toward and finally reaching excellence perhaps? I would like to think so. Other players who made the journey and lit up the world of rugby include the Welsh greats Bleddyn Williams, Gareth Edwards, Barry John, Gerald Davies, and Neil Jenkins.

They were joined in turn by outstanding players from other nations, such as John Scott, Dan Baugh and Jonah Lomu; these giants graced our ground and game, offering us a thousand memories in the process.  The romantic in me believes that it wasn’t money, while the pragmatist thinks that it was the immediacy of the city centre, that drew them to play on the Arms Park- but fundamentally it was the idea, reputation and name of ‘Cardiff’. It was the draw of a club whose world-wide fame was grounded in the heritage of the jersey. It was regional pull pre-Moffett.

That a great deal of money was spent to ensure this heritage was not diluted back in 2003 is lost on those who fail to understand the basis of professional sport and advocate instead some ill-defined and unfunded concept of meritocracy that can only lead to prolonged mediocrity and the worst kind of tokenism.

Looking at the Cardiff Blues website, we see a clear sign post to the regional pathway the club is responsible for. The sheer breadth of the Development and Club Liaison officers it dispatches across the region is impressive, yet invisible to some. Sitting beneath the structure of the ‘first team’ we have the coherent structure of the academy, the Under 18 and Under 16 (North and South) teams; as the great new promotional video states, this in turn sits alongside three premier clubs (one of whom is, of course, the Rags), 76 community clubs, 381 schools and 1,400 registered players.

The amount of work done in the community easily diffuses the squeals of toxicity from those who lack the wit and imagination to offer coherent visions of their own.  Unlike George Bush Snr’s famous economic mantra, there is no countenance of trickle down.

As a coach of an Under-10 rugby at Llantwit Fardre RFC, I am acutely aware that the pathway is structured to ensure that all players have opportunities to develop, but specifically that the better ones progress. There is a clear route up the pyramid and, in this area, Cardiff rugby sits atop. I know junior players who play rugby in their garden or in the street in their Cardiff Blues kit, sometimes they wear Cardiff shorts or socks for matches, they can recognise their Gareth Anscombes from Alex Cuthberts, attend home games and Judgement Days, and enjoy and learn from the experience. In doing so, they are creating their own history and adding to ours. The system, whilst far from perfect, works and, as with all structures, will work better the more it is used.

The goal of playing rugby for Cardiff or Cardiff Blues (or even the Blues!) is real and given meaning on local playing fields every Sunday morning. This is replicated across this small patch of land called Wales. It is here if anywhere we see regional rugby in its truest sense, it doesn’t matter if the game is at Beddau, Rhydyfelin or Pembroke Dock, there are a 1000 Sam Warburtons, Dan Biggars, and despite name calling from those who should know better, Leigh Halfpennys and George Norths. Aspiration is real, it is happening.

Despite winning the EDF and Amlin trophies and reaching a European semi-final, the performance of the professional side since the current restructuring has been unacceptable-something that we all recognise. Things are changing however, and the trust intends being part of a movement that places supporters at the centre of a bright future.

A team in the ascendancy, a fantastic heritage, a clear progression pathway, a 21st century stadium, a network of developmental support, children playing in kit with the club crest emblazoned on it-ok, apart from that, what have the Cardiff Blues ever done for us?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGxj3UNbqS4