By Gareth James
Regan Grace has revealed he was inspired by Cardiff’s dual code legends of the past when he opted to move from Bath to the Arms Park.
The former rugby league wing – who has switched on loan for the rest of the season from Bath – is aiming to kickstart his career after a frustrating period out injured.
Having regained his fitness, and with others at Cardiff now sidelined, head coach Matt Sherratt has opted to bring in the exciting wing who toured Australia with Wales last summer.
In a reference to those who played rugby union for Cardiff as well as rugby league – such as Jonathan Davies, Dai Young, Adrian Hadley, Iestyn Harris and Anthony Sullivan – Grace said: “I’ve always been excited about Cardiff – it’s a big, historical club and a lot of legends have played here.
“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.
“I’m very much aware of all the dual-code legends who have played for, or come through, Cardiff, so to follow in those footsteps is pretty cool.
“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.
Welsh wing @ReganGrace5 has joined Cardiff Rugby from Bath #BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/Ov7S6gCtSE
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) January 6, 2025
Grace, 28, grew up in Port Talbot but made a name for himself in rugby league, amassing 142 appearances and 88 tries for St Helens.
He played a pivotal role in their dominance, helping the team secure three consecutive Super League Grand Final victories.
In 2022, the flying wing made the switch to rugby union but faced a significant setback when he ruptured his Achilles before his move to Racing 92 in France.
After recovering and officially joining Bath last year, he impressed in summer friendlies against Leinster and Gloucester.
Those strong performances earned him a place in Wales’ summer tour squad, where he scored a try on his debut against Queensland Reds.
i !
Cardiff Rugby are delighted to confirm the signing of @ReganGrace5 .
https://t.co/uTWvFWxCKP pic.twitter.com/XD4sYSfGrE
— Cardiff Rugby (@Cardiff_Rugby) January 6, 2025
Back at Bath, Grace made his debut in the Premiership Cup against Bedford Blues in November and featured in the Champions Cup against Benetton last month.
But he struggled to break into the team for their Gallagher Premiership matches and has now looked for further game time at Cardiff.
His arrival bolsters Cardiff’s back-three options, an area currently hit hard by injuries to Mason Grady, Theo Cabango, Iwan Stephens, and Harri Millard.
Known for his speed and flair, he is eager to make an impact on home soil.
“I just want to play, to be able to put together back-to-back matches, be consistent and keep learning,” he added.
“You learn from playing, and I’m looking forward to putting my hand up for selection.”
Grace’s addition comes at a crucial time for Cardiff as they prepare to face Perpignan in the European Challenge Cup this Saturday.
Sherratt said: “We’re really pleased to bring Regan to the club.
“He is a great addition, in a position where we needed reinforcement.
“He is obviously an incredibly exciting player, but he is also a really good person and professional. Everyone we have spoken to could not have spoken highly enough of Regan.
“He impressed during the summer with Wales, and we are excited to see what he can achieve as he continues his transition to union within our environment.”
