WALES URC Squads Ranked
Cardiff
Following a much-improved performance from the capital side, where they finished 9th in the regular season, Cardiff will aim to reach the playoff stage of the URC with their 7 new signings ahead of the upcoming season.
Their defence ranked as one of the best in the league, with the most tackles (3596) and 3rd lowest turnovers lost (102). However, other areas left much to be desired, with points scored and meters gained being notably below average, and their lineout success rate (84%) being the 3rd lowest of any team in the league.
Here’s my take on the depth of the squad heading into the 2025-26 URC season:
Loosehead Prop: Corey Domachowski, Rhys Barrett, Danny Southworth, Ed Byrne, Ioan Emanuel
Has been an issue for Cardiff for a while, especially in the absence of Rhys Carre, but steps are being taken to improve the front row as a whole. International Domachowski is usually the starting loosehead, and his experience & scrum reliability should pair well with Rhys Barrett’s more explosive carries. Leinster signing Ed Byrne will look to improve on a solid start from last year, and U20s starter Ioan Emanuel has clearly been brought over from Bath for a reason. Depth Rating: 7/10
Hooker: Liam Belcher, Evan Lloyd, Dafydd Hughes
Despite the inconsistent darts, this is one of Cardiff’s deeper areas. Captain Liam Belcher earned his first Wales cap after a stalwart defensive performance combined with athletic carries, best showcased in the Lions game last season where he won MotM. If Dewi Lake is a hooker who plays like a loose forward, Evan Lloyd is a hooker who is a loose forward; his physicality and pace made him a dangerous carrying threat post-Six Nations. Dayfdd Hughes filled in the gaps well when Belcher was injured, and should be able to do the same if one of them is called to the Wales Squad. Depth Rating: 7.5/10
Tighthead Prop: Kieron Assiratti, Sam Wainwright, Javan Sebastian, Will Davies-King
Prior to this season’s trades, not the strongest area for Cardiff. Kieron Assiratti did just enough to earn his call ups in a struggling position for the Wales squad, but without him, there wasn’t much depth afterward. However, Javan Sebastian and Sam Wainwright have deputised for two of the strongest scrums in the previous URC season, and both former internationals should bring some valuable consistency & experience to the jersey. RFC starter Davies-King may need to come in if emergencies arise. Depth Rating: 7/10
Locks: Teddy Williams, Josh McNally, George Nott, Rory Thornton, Ben Donnell
Teddy Williams and Josh McNally were probably the best of the Welsh regions’ locks last season, and can be expected to retain their starting jerseys even with the signing of George Nott. Their ability to compete at the lineout and steal opposition ball, and play an athletic attacking game that fits with Sherratt’s gameplan, helps the forward pack out massively, though discipline has been an issue for both of them. Flanker-hybrid Donnell’s performance against the Lions was excellent, though the week after he collapsed against Benetton, so consistency may be a concern for him, while Nott and Thornton have struggled for minutes. Still, an area of relative strength for Cardiff. Depth Rating: 8.5/10
Back Row: Alex Mann, James Botham, Taulupe Faletau, Taine Basham, Alun Lawrence, Dan Thomas, Lucas de la Rua
Also a strong area for Cardiff, with the depth to rotate 6 and 7 regularly. Alun Lawrence topped the charts for tackles made, and Faletau was arguably the region’s strongest player towards the end of the season. Taine Basham may be Cardiff’s most important signing, as his athletic carrying game aims to make a case for his return to the Wales squad. Mann and Botham may struggle with discipline, but are effective on both sides of the ball and have earned their recent call ups, while Dan Thomas is one of the region’s more underrated players, especially after his solid start to last season. If the back row functions as planned, they can be very difficult to manage, and the loss of Thomas Young hopefully won’t be felt too much. Depth Rating: 9/10
Scrum Half: Johan Mulder, Aled Davies, Ellis Bevan
Along with Harri Millard and Rhys Barrett, Johan Mulder was one of Cardiff’s most notable breakthroughs last season, as he remained effective in most areas of the game and elevated their attack out of the maul, something Cardiff struggled with after the departure of Tomos Williams. Ellis Bevan is still a great player, though he seems to have slipped down the pecking order as of Mulder’s emergence, while Aled Davies brings some valuable experience to the position. Still not one of Cardiff’s strongest positions compared to the other regions. Depth Rating: 7/10
Fly-Half: Callum Sheedy, Ioan Lloyd, Harri Wilde
Callum Sheedy’s conversion struggles aside, his ability to control a fast-paced attack was incredibly valuable to Cardiff last season. While Tinus de Beer’s departure is unfortunate, he’s replaced by another former Bristol fly-half in the form of Ioan Lloyd, coming off the back of his very successful season with the Scarlets and being able to play a similar game to Sheedy with much more versatility. I honestly don’t know which one will start more games, which is valuable for Cardiff’s stocks, especially with Harri Wilde’s U20s exploits. Ben Thomas and Jacob Beetham can also cover this position in a pinch, though as far as individual stars are concerned, they don;t measure up to the West Walians. Depth Rating: 8.5/10
Centres: Ben Thomas, Harri Millard, Rory Jennings, Steffan Emanuel
Rey Lee-Lo has finally brought his 10-year career with the region to an end, but Cardiff should be able to manage without his service for the time being. Ben Thomas has been Wales’ first choice 12 for a while now, and his ability to act as a second playmaker is crucial to the region’s playstyle. Rory Jennings is able to fill this role in his absence, and Steffan Emanuel’s try-scoring flair is always handy. As far as try-scoring is concerned, however, Harri Millard looks the most likely to lock down the 13 jersey after an exceptional season, though Mason Grady might challenge that upon his return from injury. Should Ioan Lloyd be deployed here, his quick footwork and solid kicking game make him a natural substitute for Thomas as well. Depth Rating: 8.5/10
Wings: Josh Adams, Mason Grady, Theo Cabango, Iwan Stephens
With all 4 of these players injured at some point last season, Cardiff’s depth was seriously challenged here, with Millard and the now-departed Hamer-Webb covering alongside short-term signings. However, at full strength, this backline is very intimidating. Josh Adams is a very experienced winger by Wales standards, with a brilliant defensive game on top of his attacking flair. Mason Grady’s size, speed, and off-the-bench versatility makes him one of the region’s most consistent try-scorers, while Cabango’s raw pace makes him incredibly difficult to defend against. Iwan Stephens’ portfolio may be more limited by comparison, but against Ulster, he showed how dangerous he can be on both sides of the ball. Combined with Tom Bowen of the U20s, and Cardiff could be incredibly dangerous here; once injuries are recovered, at least. Depth Rating: 9/10
Fullbacks: Cameron Winnett, Jacob Beetham, Tom Bowen
As the winner of last season’s Ironman award, Cameron Winnett will likely retain this jersey if he isn’t called into the Wales squad. Luckily, Beetham and Bowen are both highly capable deputies, and Ioan Lloyd can bring his Scarlets experience here as well. Cardiff tend to use their fullback as an effective counter-attacking option to restart their offensive momentum, and all three players are strong runners that can create clean breaks and setup tries; Winnett had an astounding 11 try assists last season, though his defence remains a work in progress. A lack of experience doesn’t hold this position back too much for Cardiff. Depth Rating: 8/10
Overall Score: 80/100 points
Predicted finish: 12th
While the forward pack is far from consistent, and certain positions struggle with depth in numbers, star power, or experience, Cardiff’s new signings should give them all the tools they need for a playoff push if they retain their form from last season. That said, other clubs may look to exploit their inconsistent discipline with patient and physical gameplay. Their overall solid depth may have been enough to one-up their previous performance, but with Sherratt departing just before the start to the season, it may prove to be too much of an uphill battle.
My Peak 23:
Domachowski, Belcher, Wainwright, McNally, T. Williams, Mann, Basham, Faletau, Mulder, Sheedy, Adams, Thomas, Millard, Grady, Winnett
Lloyd, Barrett, Assiratti, Nott, Botham, Bevan, Lloyd, Bowen
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