Cardiff Rugby have continued building ahead of their 150th season by securing Keiron Assiratti to a new long-term contract.
The tight-head prop, who surpassed 100 appearances this season, had interest from across the border but has pledged his future to the Blue & Blacks.
He follows fellow homegrown stars including Alex Mann, James Botham and Mason Grady by signing a new contract to remain at the Arms Park and he is excited by what the future holds.
Assiratti said: “I’m absolutely loving it at Cardiff. There is such a good environment and culture here, with a good group of boys and it’s obviously my home club.
“I’ve been here a long time now and it has always been my preference to stay at Cardiff and fight to not only make myself a better player but to help the club improve year on year.
“With the players we already have, the exciting young talent coming through and the recruitment plans in place, I am really excited about the future.
“There is also still plenty to play off this season and we are all really on focused on taking that next step and reaching the play-offs. That would show the progress we have made and we can keep building.”
The 28-year-old came through the ranks at Wattstown RFC and is a product of the Cardiff Rugby pathway.
He made his first team debut during the 2016-17 season, has gone on to make 108 appearances and will now hit a decade at the club.
Assiratti has also established himself on the international stage and earned a call-up to the recent Wales Six Nations squad, after initially withdrawing through injury, and took his tally of caps to 19.
A Welsh international with more to come
And Corniel van Zyl is pleased to retain the services of one of the leading tight-heads in the country, pointing to the competition for places in the position.
Van Zyl said: “We are really pleased to retain Keiron. He is a proven Welsh international, who has come through our ranks, making more than 100 appearances for the club and there is more to come.
“Tight-heads with that ability and experience are not easy to find so it is great that Azza has committed his future to us.
“He has matured and grown as a player on and off the pitch in the last couple of years, but I feel he has an even higher ceiling and it is about continuing to push to that next level.
“His point of difference is obviously around his set-piece work but he also has a high skill-set and ability on both sides of the ball.
“He brings a lot to the group and I know this club means a huge amount to him and his family, who are all at the Arms Park week in, week out.”