The region was temporarily placed into administration and taken over by the WRU earlier this month
Cardiff Rugby have issued a statement to supporters explaining why they cannot currently reveal which players are leaving the club this season.
Earlier this month, the WRU took control of the capital city region after it was temporarily placed into administration by their directors, with owners Helford Capital failing to provide the level of funding they were contractually obligated to do. While the WRU takeover has stablilised things in the short term, however, these are still uncertain times for the Arms Park side.
Traditionally at this time of year, clubs publish a list of players that will be departing at the end of the season, largely to give fans the opportunity to give them a fitting send-off before the campaign draws to a close.
However, ahead of their URC clash with Munster on Friday evening, Cardiff released a short statement on social media explaining why the club is currently unable to provide details around departing players, citing “recent events” as well as there being “still so much to play for” during the remainder of the current campaign.
“While we appreciate supporters want to give their thanks to those departing, recent events at the club, combined with the fact that there is still so much to play for, mean we are unable to publish a list of leavers at this time,” the statement read.
“Get behind the boys tonight and we will update you when we can. Diolch!”
Matt Sherratt’s side are right in the mix for a URC play-off spot, with their clash against Munster tonight a crucial fixture for their hopes of finishing in the top eight. 25% OFF DEAL: Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
The Blue & Blacks currently sit in sixth place in the table, with their Irish opponents just one place below and trailing them by a single point.
Exactly when we will know the full list of those departing Arms Park remains to be seen, but two exits have already been confirmed with prop Rhys Litterick heading to Edinburgh and back row Thomas Young joining the Dragons this summer.
Seb Davies and Tinus de Beer are also set to join Young at Rodney Parade, while Wales international Mackenzie Martin, who has spent much of this season playing for Cardiff RFC in Super Rygbi Cymru, is also of interest to Filo Tiatia’s side.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys have targeted the signing of highly-rated hooker Efan Daniel, who is out of contract at the Arms Park and has also been attracting interest from the English Premiership and another Welsh club.
Wales internationals Taine Basham and Ioan Lloyd are both confirmed to be joining Cardiff next season, from the Dragons and Scarlets respectively.
So far, the Scarlets are the only Welsh region to have confirmed their departing players, with the Ospreys and Dragons also yet to make an announcement. The Llanelli side announced on Friday that seven players – including Lloyd – would be leaving this summer, with Steff Evans departing after 11 seasons at the club.
Last season’s player’s player Alex Craig is joining Glasgow Warriors, while flanker-turned-hooker Shaun Evans is also leaving after making 65 appearances for the Scarlets across eight seasons.
Fly-half Charlie Titcombe, scrum-half Efan Jones and lock Ed Scragg are the three other players departing after joining the Scarlets in 2023.
