By Simon Thomas
How best to utilise the undoubted talents of Mason Grady is one of the big debates in Welsh rugby.
At 6ft 5ins and 17st 9lbs, with bags of pace and power, the 22-year-old Cardiff star has all the raw ingredients.
He also offers real versatility. He can play across the threequarters, while he even joined the line-out during the BKT United Rugby Championship opener against Zebre Parma, leaping high to win the ball ahead of his team’s bonus point try.
So there might be yet another position he can occupy!
This summer, he was employed at inside centre by Wales coach Warren Gatland for the two Tests against the Wallabies on the tour of Australia.
Mason Grady was in beast mode on Saturday. Just could not be stopped by the initial contact.
Makes about 10 metres on this carry with absolutely no right to. pic.twitter.com/qfTLbS4OES
— Cardiff Rugby Life (@CardiffRugbyWeb) September 30, 2024
But Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt views him as an outside centre or wing, the latter position being the one where he has started the opening two URC games, scoring a try in Saturday’s 24-15 victory away to the Scarlets.
So, what does Grady make of it all?
“Honestly, I really don’t mind where I play,” he says.
“I am personally comfortable playing whatever position.
“It’s just a number on your back. I am still going to try and do the same thing every game.
“For me, it’s just a starting position off first phase and then you can get into the game however you want. I can do my best to pop up when I can and get my hands on the ball.
“There are different skills in each position, so I am quite enjoying learning them all.
“At 12, I probably carry a bit more and like to get a bit more gainline. You step up at first receiver a bit more and organise the forwards more. Defensively it’s a little bit different as well.
“At 13 and on the wing, I’ve got a bit more space to get around people. But I just enjoy playing rugby, to be honest. That’s the main thing.
“I’ve been doing it since I was a kid, so if I wasn’t enjoying it, there would be something wrong.
“I think every kid in Wales wants to grow up to be a rugby player, so I just remind myself that it’s a really fun job. I am with the boys every day. I love it.”
The seven-cap Grady – younger brother of former Wales threequarter Cory Allen – also feels he is growing as a player.
“I am definitely more confident in my ability to play and back myself. The more I play, the more natural it becomes.
“I don’t even have to think about that. I can look at things, scan a bit more, see where the space is.”
https://twitter.com/Cardiff_Rugby/status/1840324875077972071
Grady puts much of his progress down to playing alongside veteran Samoan Test centre Rey Lee-Lo who is still showing his class for Cardiff at 38.
“Honestly, he is such a legend and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to mentor me through my process of coming through,” he said.
“The biggest thing I have learned from him is the defensive side of the game, just making reads, staying calm, and probably his offloading game as well.
“Defence is one of my biggest work-ons and I think he’s the best defender out there at 13, to be honest.
“Every year is his last year and he’s still going. I think he is going to end up playing longer than me at this rate!”
Both of them were to the fore as Cardiff came from behind to claim a bonus point win at Parc y Scarlets on the weekend.
“Obviously, it was a bit of a shock being 15-0 down,” said Grady.
“But the message was just to stay composed and stick to the game plan.
“The big thing for us going into the match was playing the way Cardiff play. Against Zebre, we probably didn’t do that.
“I thought we played some good rugby and, in the end, we came away with the win.
“We have got individuals who can cause carnage with the ball, especially in open space.
“The more we can play the Cardiff way, the better chance we have of winning.”
https://x.com/CardiffRugbyWeb/status/1798459412807614798
That’s now maximum points from the opening two games for the team from the Welsh capital who lie level with Leinster at the top of the table.
“I think it just shows how hard the boys have worked during pre-season. They really deserve these two wins,” said Grady.
Next up, it’s the champions, with Glasgow Warriors the visitors to the Arms Park on Friday night.
“They are a very good side, but again we are just going to stick to our game plan, concentrate on us and hopefully that will be enough to get the win,” said Grady.
Mason Grady Reckons Arms Park Brotherhood Can Inspire Cardiff
