Tonight's rugby news as 'electric' star backed for Wales and cult hero lands Cardiff job

These are your rugby headlines on Wednesday, May 15.

Welsh rugby cult hero named head coach

Dan Fish has been named as the head coach of Cardiff RFC.

The former full-back became a cult hero during his 11 years with the Blue and Blacks and has worked within the club's academy and RFC set-up since retiring in 2021.

He will take over from Steve Law, who announced in March that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. Fish will work under Director of Rugby Gruff Rees and will be supported by newly appointed academy coach Josh Turnbull, who has taken up a role as line out and contact area coach after retiring from playing.

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The rest of the coaching set-up sees Craig Everett continue as defence coach while former Cardiff Met and age-grade coach Nick Fish has been appointed scrum coach. The changes come ahead of Cardiff's first season in the new Elite Domestic Competition (EDC), having secured the final place in the league last month.

"I am really grateful for the opportunity to become head coach and looking forward to the season ahead," said the new Cardiff boss. "It is an exciting time for the club with a good group of academy players and senior semi-professional players, who pass on a huge amount of experience to the younger lads.

“We have a good coaching group and we are all looking forward to finding and developing the next Cam Winnett, Alex Mann and Mackenzie Martin. The new league structure will allow plenty of opportunities for players to develop and compete to a higher level and that’s something I am really looking forward to.

“We wish the retiring players and those moving on all the very best and thank them for everything they have given in a blue and black jersey," Fish added. "Last but not least, a special thank you to Spot, who I have had the pleasure of playing under and working alongside. It has been enjoyable and testing, and I look forward to seeing him at the Arms Park soon.”

Meanwhile, Rees added “It has been brilliant for us to drive the direction and support of Cardiff RFC over the past three seasons and we can reflect on many successes, notably the development opportunities provided and players thriving through the programme with excellent specialist support.

“We were very grateful to Steve Law for his time and commitment to the role over the past few years but have moved to create greater alignment through the entire club. But we are also excited to support Dan’s continuing coaching development and this role links clearly with his academy priorities while giving him a platform to show his high performance credentials.

"I have no doubt it is a role that he will thrive in and make a clear difference to the playing group as we push into the EDC.”

Cabango backed for Wales honours

Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt has backed Theo Cabango to make the step up to international level at some stage and has likened his profile of current Wales winger Rio Dyer.

Cabango has impressed since returning from injury, catching the eye with a brace of tries in the controversial defeat to Ulster last month.

Sherratt believes he has areas of his game that he could improve but has faith in his potential and feels he has similar traits to Dyer.

Asked if Cabango could he do a job for Wales, Sherratt replied: "I think so. I think he's in the same mould of a Rio Dyer. Someone who if he gets the ball, he can score from nothing.

"He's still got bits and pieces to work on, as every player does, in terms of his positioning and consistency with certain aspects of the game. But he's got things you can't coach. He's electric, he's got great feet and he's actually very powerful as well. You get him up against front-row forwards using his feet and he's a real handful. He's developing nicely.

"He's fairly similar to Cam (Winnett), Theo. He's pretty much horizontal. He's pretty laidback. He was obviously disappointed doing his shoulder again because he'd done it in the past. But within a couple of days, he gets back on with it and there's no fuss. He's got a good nature about him. He's fought back well. He's someone who, every time he touches the ball, you can't take your eyes off him because he can score from 50 metres."

Wales head coach Warren Gatland could look to experiment this summer, with a Test against South Africa at Twickenham followed by a three-game tour of Australia.

Dragons eye new training base

Dragons co-owner David Buttress says the region could leave the training base they have used for a decade in order to develop a new 'world-class' facility.

The club have been based at the Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence in Ystrad Mynach since 2014, but the facility is small and needs upgrading, with the owners exploring options in and around Newport.

“We are looking at options but we are not that far advanced with it,” Buttress told the South Wales Argus. “There are a few options in and around Newport as well as the Ystrad Mynach site where we currently train.

“There are a few ideas and, in reality, we’ve got to go out and have various conversations over the next three to six months but we want to create a world-class training facility for the players. We know that will help develop success on the pitch and we know that we should invest in that – [Wales head coach] Warren Gatland was right in what he said about the importance of investing in off-field areas.

“There is no problem with extending the lease for Ystrad Mynach but for me it’s more a case of what ‘great’ would look like," he added. “You look at some of the training facilities that professional rugby teams have, the likes of Bristol and Leinster, and that helps them become successful.

“We know that we can’t stay as we are, our facility needs updating and investment or we need somewhere new. We are open-minded and will look at the options.”