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14 names on the Cardiff leavers list, including Halaholo and Timani
By Liam Heagney
Cardiff have confirmed the 14-strong end-of-season leavers, a list that includes Willis Halaholo, Lopeti Timani and a host of others such as Rhys Carre, Tomos Williams Ellis Jenkins and Josh Turnbull. A statement read: “Cardiff Rugby can confirm 14 players will depart the club following the culmination of the 2023/24 season at Judgement Day.”
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Arwel Robson: The boyhood Cardiff supporter fulfilled a lifelong dream when he signed a one-year deal at the Arms Park last summer. He now departs to join Chambery in the Nationale.
Matt Aubrey: He also joined the club last summer and has made two first-team appearances, with injuries restricting his opportunities.
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Max Clark: The centre joined on loan from the Dragons at the start of the season and has made four first-team appearances.
Gonzalo Bertranou: The Argentina international moved to the capital on loan from the Dragons following the injury to Tomos Williams. He suffered multiple facial fractures against the Lions earlier this month.
Ciaran Parker: The tighthead prop has made the difficult decision to retire from professional sport to take up an opportunity in the financial industry.
Lopeti Timani: The Australia and Tonga international joined Cardiff in the summer of 2022, making the switch from French giants Toulon.
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Aled Summerhill: He is the first of five pathway products to bid farewell to the club following 10 years at the Arms Park.
Shane Lewis-Hughes: The versatile forward progressed right through the club’s pathway. He will join the Dragons in the summer.
Owen Lane: The fans’ favourite will make the move to France this summer, joining Valance Romans.
Tomos Williams: The Wales scrum-half leaves the club following 10 years to join Gloucester in the English Premiership. He has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury while on Six Nations duty earlier this year.
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Willis Halaholo: He was set to depart the club last summer but agreed on a short-term deal, which was extended for the season. That allowed him to reach and surpass 100 appearances. He is set to return to New Zealand next month.
Rhys Carre: The giant loosehead will rejoin Saracens this summer after adding a further four seasons to his time with the club.
Ellis Jenkins: A long-serving captain of the club, he has decided to hang up his boots following 11 years at the top of the game. The openside flanker battled to keep his career alive following a serious knee injury, suffered while captaining Wales to victory over South Africa.
Josh Turnbull: He retired from the game with immediate effect in March, having captained the club in recent seasons. He will now move into coaching with a role within the club’s pathway and academy system while assisting Cardiff RFC.
Head coach Matt Sherratt said: “It is always a difficult time of year when any player departs, whether they have been here for a year or 10 years, and we thank them for all of their efforts.
“All 14 of these players have given their absolute all for the club during their time here and can look back on their time at Cardiff Arms Park with enormous pride.
“Six of the boys are products of a fantastic pathway and have been involved with the club since they were 15/16-years-old, they have dedicated so much of their life to Cardiff. The likes of Willis and JT have also established themselves as adopted Cardiffians and will go down as among our greatest signings.”
