Much fancied Welsh age grade prop among three academy stars to pen first senior contracts at Cardiff
Three of Cardiff Blues’ rising stars have put pen-to-paper on their first senior deals with Wales’ Capital Region.
Forwards Keiron Assiratti, James Botham and Shane Lewis-Hughes have pledged their future to Cardiff Blues and will continue their development at the Arms Park.
Highly-rated tight-head prop, Assiratti, has already racked up 25 first team appearances, having made his debut during the 2016-17 season.
He has made six appearances to date in the current campaign, while also turning out for Cardiff Blues A and Pontypridd.
Assiratti has represented Wales through all the age-grades where he has forged a reputation as not only a devastating scrummager but a mobile and skilful ball-carrier.
He is one of several promising front-row forwards coming through the ranks at Cardiff Blues with Dillon Lewis, Corey Domachowski and Rhys Carré all under the age of 23.
Botham made his Guinness PRO14 debut earlier this season, against Connacht, and has been tipped for a bright future.
The Wales under-20 international comes from rich sporting pedigree as the son of former Cardiff RFC and England wing Liam, and grandson of cricket legend Sir Ian.
Botham, who was born in Cardiff while his father played for the Blue and Blacks, is the latest in a long line of exciting flankers to graduate from the Cardiff Blues academy, having attended the famous Sedbergh School in the North West and represented Wales at Under-18s, 20s and Sevens.
Meanwhile, Lewis-Hughes has been rewarded for his impressive form with a long-term senior contract at Cardiff Blues.
The versatile forward, who specialises at blindside flanker, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Cardiff Arms Park having been handed his Heineken Champions Cup debut at the start of the year against Glasgow Warriors.
He has featured in every game since, taking his overall tally of senior appearances to 14, and enhanced his already formidable reputation.
Twenty-five of the current first team squad are academy graduates with a new generation establishing themselves in the Blues’ first team squad.
Head coach John Mulvihill is delighted to see three home-grown talent commit their future to the region and has been thoroughly impressed by the progress of the academy trio.
Mulvihill said: “Keiron has had some big moments with the first team this season particularly doing very well in his Heineken Champions Cup games against Lyon.
“He is a great competitor both in training and in games and continues to improve his set piece skill working with Dillion Lewis, Dmitri Arhip and Scott Andrews.
“He’s most definitely a player with a big future at the Cardiff Blues and in time internationally providing he remains focused and continues his hard work.
“James is a very talented young athletic player who will continue to improve working alongside some of the best back row players in Wales. The competition will be of huge benefit to James and he will have a lot more opportunities in the future.
“He carriers well, competes hard on the floor and brings good enthusiasm and energy to our group. He is yet another academy product with a very bright future in the game.
“Shane has taken his opportunities well this year and has had real impact in some of our biggest games this season.
“He is a very focused individual with a very bright future who prepares each week to best the best he can be come game day.
“He brings real energy and the right physicality to make a big impact for the Cardiff Blues.”
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments