There are new players at all four regions, two new head coaches, and a desire to make up for lost time. Two rounds of Welsh derby matches this weekend in the Guinness PRO14 should whet the appetite for the 2020/21 season, as well as what should be a hectic international schedule up to Christmas.
Among those who will be hoping to get his chance to make a big impact is Cardiff Blues’ new back-row signing Sam Moore. He may have played for England at four different age groups, but now he is setting his sights on playing for the land of his father.
The 21-year-old No 8 giant looked to be on the fast-track to a senior career in Eddie Jones’ England set-up when he was called into a Six Nations training squad two years ago. But injuries struck and in January he moved in a different direction, leaving Sale Sharks and joining the Blues.
The Welsh capital is where both his father, Steve, and uncle, Andy, played for Cardiff and Wales, and is where he was born. Warren Gatland tracked his progress as he was carrying all before him at Sedbergh School, in the Sale Academy and with England at U16, U18, U19 and U20 levels.
Now it could be Gatland’s successor, Wayne Pivac, who reaps the benefit of the Blues’ foresight in enticing the 6ft 6in, 17st 5lb ball carrying No 8 to leave Sale and head ‘home’.
“It’s great to see another Welsh player joining one of the Welsh regions,” he said. “Sam is a big, athletic man with a big future in the game.”
More importantly, the Blues need a replacement for Nick Williams in the middle of their back row and Moore is hoping to get his first chance to shine when the PRO14 returns this weekend. Cardiff Blues head to Llanelli to face the Scarlets, while the Ospreys meet the Dragons.
“While I grew up in England, and came through the system there, it would be great to reach the same heights as my dad and uncle,” admitted Moore.
“My family never put any pressure on me to decide which route to go down in choosing England or Wales. I was happy to play for either and I took the avenue that opened up for me at the time.
“I played for England at age grade level, but I’d be honoured to play for Wales if that chance came around. But first of all I’ve got to try to get things right on the pitch with Cardiff Blues, perform as well as I can for them and then can see what happens from there.
“The Blues gave me an offer I really couldn’t refuse and things fell into place very quickly. Now I’ve just got to get as much out of this as I can and really push on.
“The transition of coming ‘home’ to Cardiff has been fine because I’ve got some family over here. I still remember some of the city from when I was younger and everyone has welcomed me into the Blues environment and been very helpful.
“Lockdown was a bit of a blessing in disguise for me because it enabled me to get my knee right after surgery in December. I’m certainly setting my sights on filling the gap left by Nick Williams’ retirement, but taking nothing for granted.
“I’m fit and well and now I want to get some game time to show what I’m all about. These two weekends of PRO14 rugby will be really good in trying to get the cobwebs out after the last few months of not playing.
“It’ll be about getting some structures in place for the lads. If the season starts in October, I’ll just look to get as much game time as possible to try to prove what I can do on the pitch.”
