Cardiff confirm list of players leaving

Cardiff Rugby can confirm 14 players will depart the club following the culmination of the 2023-24 season at Judgement Day. 

Speaking on the departures, head coach Matt Sherratt said: “It is always a difficult time of year when any player departs, whether they have been here for a year or ten years, and we thank them for all of their efforts in a Blue and Black jersey. 

“All 14 of these players have given their absolute all for the club during their time here and can look back on their time at Cardiff Arms Park with enormous pride. 

“Six of the boys are products of a fantastic pathway and have been involved with the club since they were 15-16-years-old, they have dedicated so much of their life to Cardiff, and will always remain a Blue and Black. 

“The likes of Willis and JT, have also established themselves as adopted Cardiffians and will go down as among our greatest signings.

“We wish all 14 players the very best for the next chapter, whether that is experiencing something new with another club, moving into coaching or life after rugby.”

Arwel Robson

The boyhood Cardiff supporter fulfilled a lifelong dream when he signed a one-year deal at the Arms Park last summer. He went on to make two competitive appearances for the first team and eight for the Rags. Robson departs to join Chambery in the Nationale.

Matt Aubrey

Aubrey also joined the club last summer and has made two first team appearances, with injuries restricting his opportunities. 

Max Clark

The centre joined the Blue and Blacks on loan from the Dragons at the start of the season and has made four first team appearances. 

Gonzalo Bertranou

Argentina international Bertranou also moved to the capital on loan from the Dragons, following injury to Tomos Williams. The scrum-half has made three appearances since joining the Blue and Blacks in April but suffered multiple facial fractures against the Emirates Lions earlier this month. 

Ciaran Parker

The tight-head prop has made the difficult decision to retire from professional sport to take up an opportunity in the financial industry. Parker joined Cardiff from London Irish, after the Exiles went into administration, and has made six first-team appearances.

Lopeti Timani

The Australia and Tonga international joined Cardiff in the summer of 2022, making the switch from French giants, RC Toulon. With the ability to play in the back-row and second-row, Timani has made 26 appearances and is in contention to face the Ospreys on Saturday. 

Aled Summerhill

Summerhill is the first of five pathway products to bid farewell to the club following a 10-year spell at the Arms Park. During that time the wing has made 93 appearances, scoring 32 tries. 

Shane Lewis-Hughes

Versatile forward Shane Lewis-Hughes also departs the Arms Park, having progressed right through the club’s pathway. The Coleg y Cymoedd has spent eight years in the capital, making 70 appearances and earning international honours. He will join the Dragons in the summer. 

Owen Lane

Fans’ favourite Owen Lane will make the move to France this summer, joining Valance Romans. The Wales international quickly established himself as a key figure and helped the club to the 2018 European Challenge Cup title. 

Since making his debut during that season, the wing blazed his way to 92 appearances and 43 tries - taking him to third in the all-time try charts for the regional era. 

Tomos Williams

Wales scrum-half Williams, leaves the club following a 10-year spell to join Gloucester in the English Premiership. 

Williams has made 140 appearances and scored 27 tries during his decade in Blue and Black and established himself as one of the games most dangerous scrum-halves. Another product of the club’s pathway, the Treorchy man scored a crucial try as Cardiff won the Challenge Cup and has been in electric form this season. 

However, he has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury while on Six Nations duty earlier this year. 

Willis Halaholo

Cardiff has become a home away from home for Willis Halaholo, and his family, from the moment they arrived in 2016. The hot-stepping centre has made 111 appearances, scored 19 tries, established himself as a cult hero at the Arms Park and won Wales honours in the eight years since. 

He was set to depart the club last summer but agreed a short-term deal, which was extended for the season. That allowed him to reach and surpass 100 appearances for his beloved Blue and Blacks. Halaholo is set to return to New Zealand next month. 

Rhys Carre

The giant loose-head will rejoin Saracens this summer after adding a further four seasons to his time with the club. 

Carré is another to have progressed right through the club’s pathway and academy before spending a year with Saracens. He has now amassed 94 appearances and crashed over the whitewash for 17 tries. He is currently the club’s leading try-scorer in the current season, crossing eight times to highlight his impressive ball carrying ability. 

Ellis Jenkins

A long-serving captain of the club, Jenkins has decided to hang up his boots, following 11 years at the top of the game. 

The open side flanker battled to keep his career alive following a serious knee injury, suffered while captaining Wales to victory over South Africa. 

Jenkins made a total of 148 appearances in Blue and Black and it would have been many more if not for injuries but his resilience, leadership and dedication has been equally impressive. 

Josh Turnbull

Turnbull retired from the game with immediate effect in March, having captained the club in recent seasons. 

The versatile forward had been Mr Consistent since arriving in 2014, but his 200 appearances at the club, on top of more than 100 at the Scarlets, finally caught up with the 36-year-old. 

He will now move into coaching with a role within the club’s pathway and academy system, while assisting Cardiff RFC.