Alun Lawrence was full of emotion as he reflected on a rollercoaster two years.
The abrasive back-row forward had not started for the club since 2022. In the meantime, he moved to Jersey Reds and saw the Championship outfit enter administration, before taking up a “lifeline” with the Blue and Blacks.
And on that first start in two years, Lawrence repaid the faith with a try-scoring performance as Cardiff triumphed 36-14 over Hollywoodbet Sharks in Durban.
Lawrence said: “I got a bit emotional beforehand when Jockey was talking about that in the changing room and I’m starting to do the same now. But it's something that we pride ourselves on and it's something that I pride myself on.
“That sort of six to eight months, however long it's been now, since Jersey went into administration. It was an incredibly tough period and I will be forever grateful for Jockey and Cardiff for taking me back when they didn't have to do that for me.
“I'll always really be appreciative of that because it gave me a lifeline and it allowed me to be able to put some pride back into the jersey myself which is something that I really wanted to do just to repay the faith.
“I was in a dark place then and to come out there on the other side of it my first start for Cardiff in two years is something I'll be very very proud of and especially with that performance with the boys.”
Cardiff had to weather an early storm at Kings Park before taking control of the encounter in ruthless fashion.
Lawrence crossed for the first try and the Blue and Blacks bagged three more in the first-half after the Sharks were reduced to 14 men.
That sealed the bonus-point and put Matt Sherratt’s men within touching distance of a first win since Boxing Day. The second-half was a scrappy affair but Cardiff never looked in doubt and Mason Grady’s late try sealed the Shark’s fate.
He added: “It’s tough to put an actual mark on it but just a one thing we talked a lot about in the week, was backing up our efforts.
“A lot of boys in that changing room and that 23 today, it could potentially be their last away game for the club. So we just said to represent the club, put the jersey on and fight and work hard for what they've done in the jersey beforehand. So that's kind of what we were going in with the game.
“A lot of fight, a lot of effort, which is something we've prided ourselves on all year. So to do that and then reap the benefits of that hard work and that effort.
“I'm sure you can hear in the background that the celebrations that's going on in the changing rooms, they meant a lot and it's nice to finally get rewarded for the hard effort that we do put in.
“The first 15 minutes, was a big defensive effort and then when we got down to the other end, we just wanted to be ruthless, wanted to imprint our game and the boys worked hard.
“It was nice to get over the line for the first time in a bit of a while. I was the beneficiary of a lot of hard work from the other seven forwards. It was nice to set the trend and I thought we really put a foot on the pedal and kept it on there for a good 80 minute performance.”