Cardiff have announced the signing of fly-half Callum Sheedy from Gallagher Premiership outfit Bristol Bears ahead of next season.
The 16-cap Wales international is the first signing under new owners Helford Capital, who took over the United Rugby Championship club last week.
The 28-year-old will return to the city of his birth after a decade with the Bears, but said after signing that his focus remains solely on Bristol for the rest of the season as they seek to make the top four in the league with six matches remaining.
Sheedy said that he always knew that he would return to Cardiff one day though, and is excited by the crop of young players in the Welsh capital.
“I’m massively looking forward to it,” the Welshman said to Cardiff after his signing was announced.
“I am Cardiff born and bred and grew up here until I was 16. This is my home and I’m really looking forward to getting out there and pulling on that Cardiff jersey.
“Obviously I’m very grateful to Bristol. I feel like an adopted Bristolian and the club has been a massive part of my life and it will always have a huge part of my heart.
“But naturally when you’e been somewhere for 10 years change is healthy. Coming back to where I’m from, my home town, is something that really excited me when I knew it was possible. In my head I always felt like I would play for Cardiff, I just didn’t know when.
“Just thinking about it now, I get that feeling in my stomach, that excitement and those nerves. It’s going to be an incredible opportunity for me.
“I love the way Jockey [head coach Matt Sherratt] sees the game and I like to think we see it on a similar level. He taught me so much when I was young (at Bristol). So I’m really looking forward to working under him again,
“Being part of a long-term project here is also something that really excites me. You only have to look at the Wales squad to see the amount of young Cardiff boys coming through – it’s awesome for the city and it’s awesome for the club.
“I’ve watched some of the games this year and the talent out there is awesome and I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in. Watching the Bath and Harlequins games, the atmosphere was electric, I was getting goosebumps just watching on TV.
“I’m looking forward to coming back but my immediate focus remains with Bristol. There’s six more games, which we will really attack and hopefully have a big push towards that top four.”
Sheedy’s coach-to-be Sherratt said: “Callum is someone I know well from my time at Bristol – he is a top quality player and importantly a top quality person. He will add on the pitch and also be a great role model to assist with our young players’ growth.
“He has flourished at Bristol, leading them back to the Premiership back in 2014-15, and then becoming an integral part of their environment and rugby program.
“His success within a good program at Bristol and the fact he is a Cardiff boy are two huge reasons I believe he’s a great fit for us. With Tinus De Beer, who has been excellent for us this season, we now have two great options at fly half.
“We have a long-term vision for the club and it is great that Callum will be part of that moving forward. We have prioritised keeping our young talent but we are also keen to add quality experience from outside and Callum is an example of that, albeit with previous links to the club.”
