Rubin Colwill is stepping up at Cardiff City — not just with his performances, but as a symbol of a new era for the club.
Once the quiet kid in the playground, the 23-year-old is now leading from the front, having captained the Bluebirds for the first time in their 2–1 comeback win over Peterborough United on the opening day of the League One season.
It was a day that marked more than just a result. It signified a shift in identity for a team that has endured too much churn in recent years.
No signings, so far and no ageing stars. Just a clear vision from new manager Brian Barry-Murphy — a commitment to youth, continuity, and belief in the players already on the books.
And at the heart of it is Colwill.
“The last time I was captain of a team was maybe when I was about 12 at school,” said Colwill after the match.
“I've never really been much of a captain type, growing up. But I think I've probably matured and developed into somebody who can now be a captain.
“I'm also probably one of the more experienced players in the squad now, so it has come naturally with time and experience.”
With regular skipper Calum Chambers suspended, Colwill wore the armband — a gesture that felt bigger than just necessity.
This is a homegrown talent who’s weathered the turbulence of multiple managerial changes and, rather than seek opportunities elsewhere, has chosen to dig in and lead from within.
In truth, he let his feet do much of the talking. With Cardiff trailing 1–0 following a controversial penalty dispatched by Bradley Ihionvien, Colwill produced a sensational free-kick to level the score before helping Ollie Tanner tee up teenage full-back Ronan Kpakio for the winner.
Even opposition boss Darren Ferguson was left impressed: Colwill, he said, was “the best player on the pitch.”
New boss Barry-Murphy has already made Colwill vice-captain, part of a leadership core that reflects the manager’s desire to build a culture rather than buy one.
And that philosophy isn’t just about giving youngsters minutes — it’s about trusting them to take ownership.
“I like to be a part of something and to be an integral part of what we're trying to achieve at my boyhood club is very important to me,” said Colwill.
“I think we can do something really special this year.
“Everyone who has been here for two or three years, who have experienced the ups and downs and lots of lows we've had, we all now want to turn it around.”
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Cardiff’s approach under Barry-Murphy is already drawing comparisons to promotion-hunting clubs of the past, who fell into League One.
But Colwill is quick to distinguish the Cardiff method from the one Birmingham City pursued last season.
“I think what we're doing is probably very different to what Birmingham City did last season,”
Colwill explained.
“I think they probably spent a lot of money, brought a lot of players in. I think we've almost gone the other way. We’ve trusted in what we've got and that it’s good enough.
“And it is good enough. I'm fully confident in every player in our changing room, that we're capable of winning this league and getting promoted and improving ourselves.
“There's more than enough quality and ability for us to do that.”
It’s a powerful statement from a player once seen as a promising teenager but now maturing into a leader.
Three years ago, he was taken to the last World Cup by former Wales boss Rob Page, but Colwill has seen his progress stall in the instability of the past few seasons.
Now, in League One, with expectations lowered externally, he’s being asked to rise.
There are other encouraging signs in Barry-Murphy’s fledgling reign. Younger brother Joel Colwill, 20, was influential in midfield with his pressing and tempo-setting passes.
Meanwhile, Kpakio — only 18 — announced himself with a lung-bursting run and a pinpoint finish that cannoned in off the bar.
Together, they’re the core of a side playing with freedom and structure — a blend that’s already proving fruitful.
Peterborough, who posed occasional problems and looked dangerous late on, were ultimately undone by Cardiff’s superior energy and invention.
They may yet persuade out-of-contract midfielder Archie Collins to stay, with manager Darren Ferguson stating: “We have made an excellent offer — the very best package we could possibly put together — and now it’s up to him to decide.”
But the story of this match belonged to Cardiff and their new way forward. No frills. No big names. Just belief in their own.
READ MORE: Cardiff City's Rubin Colwill Ready To Graft As Crunch Time Approaches For Wales Young Gun
