WALES international winger Regan Grace has signed with Cardiff Rugby, providing a timely boost to the squad as they contend with injuries to several key players. Grace joins the capital city region with immediate effect and is contracted until the end of the season. He began training with the squad on Monday morning.
Cardiff are currently grappling with a depleted roster of wide men, with Mason Grady, Iwan Stephens, Harri Millard, and Theo Cabango all sidelined due to injuries. Grace’s arrival adds depth to their backline options and comes ahead of their European Challenge Cup fixture against Perpignan this weekend, for which he is available for selection.
The 28-year-old winger has already made an impression in Welsh colours, having scored his first try for Wales in an uncapped match against Queensland Reds during the summer.
Grace began his professional career in rugby league, where he became a prolific try-scorer for St Helens in the Betfred Super League, tallying 88 tries in 142 appearances. In 2022, he transitioned to rugby union, signing with French Top 14 side Racing 92. However, a severe Achilles injury prevented him from making any appearances for the club, and he subsequently moved to Bath in the English Premiership to complete his rehabilitation.
While Grace wasn’t involved in Bath’s recent defeat to Northampton Saints, news of his move to Cardiff broke shortly after the match.
Speaking about his move, Grace expressed his enthusiasm for joining the historic Welsh club. “I’ve always been excited about Cardiff – it’s a big, historical club and a lot of legends have played here,” he said. “Coming back to play on home soil has also always been something I have wanted to do, so to do that in the capital city is a great opportunity.”
He acknowledged the club’s rich dual-code history and the competitive nature of the back-three positions, adding: “There’s a lot of competition in the back-three, from someone like Josh Adams, who is already a legend of the game, a British Lion who is so consistent for Wales, to guys like Theo Cabango and Gabe Hamer-Webb.
“It’s a good, competitive environment and I’m looking forward to learning as much as possible from all those guys. I just want to play, to be able to put together back-to-back matches, be consistent and keep learning. You learn from playing, and I’m looking forward to putting my hand up for selection.”
Grace’s signing could also bolster his chances of catching the attention of Wales head coach Warren Gatland ahead of the Six Nations. With his strong track record in rugby league and a growing presence in rugby union, he could be a valuable asset for Wales in the tournament.
Cardiff fans will be eager to see how Grace adapts to his new surroundings and whether he can make an immediate impact on the pitch.
