The final game of the season for Cardiff Blues against Munster saw a number of youngsters from the Blues Academy taking on the Heineken Cup Champions.
The Blues are firmly committed to developing young players from within the region as they aim to build on the improvements made during the past twelve months.
Academy graduates Duane Goodfield and Wayne Evans have been offered full contracts with the region after some excellent performances this season. Duane made his debut for the Blues in the match against Saracens in the Powergen Cup and the Wales Under 21 captain and hooker has already impressed many this season. Scrum half Wayne Evans is also a real prospect for the future having already won caps at Under 18 and Under 21 level and recently performed well on the International Sevens circuit.
Second row forward, Bradley Davies, the Wales Under 19s Grand Slam winning Captain has also signed a development contract as has prop forward Scott Roberts. Centres Tom Riley and Dafydd Hewitt have also agreed similar contracts with the Blues which sees them both training full time with the senior squad with Riley playing semi professional rugby with Pontypridd RFC and Hewitt with Cardiff RFC.
Other notable young players who have committed to Academy contracts include Wales Under 21s prop and Ysgol Gyfun y Cymer product Rhys Gill, Konica Minolta cup winning hero, outside half, Dai Flannigan, hooker Ross Johnson and Adam Powell who can play blindside flanker or number eight.
Speaking of the announcements Cardiff Blues Chief Executive Robert Norster said,
"We have always tried to develop local talent whenever possible at the Arms Park and the new crop of exciting young players bodes well for the Region's future. The Academy in Treforest is producing some outstanding young players and all those we have signed have represented Wales at age grade rugby."
Director of Coaching, David Young also commented:
"Youngsters such as Duane Goodfield have settled particularly well into playing regional rugby with the Blues and Im confident that many of the newly contracted players will be equally successful in quickly making their mark in the professional game."