Ioan Lloyd has described pulling on the Blue and Blacks jersey as a moment of pride, as the versatile back prepares for his first season with his hometown club.
The 24-year-old returns to the capital after spells at Bristol Bears and then Scarlets, and admits that even after all this time, the Cardiff badge still holds a special place in his heart.
“It’s kind of surprised me this week as it’s been seven, eight years since I left the Cardiff system,” said Lloyd
“It’s surprised how proud it’s made me putting on the jersey and seeing the Cardiff badge really ignited some sort of feelings that I didn’t really anticipate.
“I’m really looking forward to firstly getting through this pre-season and then hopefully getting the opportunity to wear the actual playing jersey.”
Lloyd is back at the Club where it all began, and has fond memories from his time coming to the Arms Park as a boy to watch Cardiff legends, and then rising through the Academy system.
“I still remember the £1 tickets and things like that. Friday nights was the main thing. I mainly remember players like Paul Tito, Casey Laulala, Ben Blair, people like that, and obviously the Welsh boys.
“Once the ground turned to 4G, then getting the chance to go on the field after games and little things like that, I just remember loving that little chance.”
There is a sense of familiarity in the environment, made easier by the number of teammates Lloyd already knew from his age grade days. He even played for the same club side as second-row Teddy Williams.
“I’ve known most of the boys, played with a lot of them through the age grade stuff and playing against boys you get to know them.
“They’ve been very welcoming and made it very seamless.
“We were at the same club. Teddy actually went to Glantaf when I went to Clifton in sixth form, Teddy ended up going to Glantaf in sixth form, so we missed each other school wise, but we played for the same club, Crick, the whole way through, which then transitions into Cardiff Quinns for youth.”
Lloyd has thrown himself into pre-season training and, while the return to full intensity has been demanding, he is enjoying every minute.
“It’s been tough, but I’m loving it. It’s good to rip in after a nice little off season,” he said.
“Very nasty way to start, but slowly getting back up to pace and as I said, enjoying it.”
His move to Bristol came at a young age, but the call of home was always there.
Now that he is back, Lloyd is eager to contribute to a team that is playing a style of rugby and at a ground that suits him.
“I was lucky enough to get an opportunity in Bristol. It was all about life experience going elsewhere.
“I’d been brought up and lived my whole life in Cardiff, but always knew that if I was ever to make it as a professional player, at some point, the opportunity to get to play for my hometown club would be amazing.
“I guess the sort of vision that Jockey’s got and the way that the team is trying to play at the moment suits my game.
“It’s something that is really exciting to get the opportunity to be a part of.
“It’s a nice surface to play on. I find the game tends to be a little bit quicker, the ball doesn’t tend to get as slippery even when it’s raining so it’s quite nice to play on.”
As the new season approaches, Lloyd is staying focused on the process, with clear goals in mind for both himself and the team.
“The playoffs has got to be an initial goal and anything further than that, and then European ambitions also.
“As an individual, I’m taking it week by week. My first job here is settling in, getting to know the boys properly and really ripping into the training side of things. Then I’m sure as things progress, I’ll start to develop some bigger goals.”