Cardiff Blues trio sign first senior deals

Forwards Keiron Assiratti, James Botham and Shane Lewis-Hughes have pledged their future to Cardiff Blues and will continue their development at the Arms Park.

Highly-rated tight-head prop, Assiratti, has already racked up 25 first team appearances, having made his debut during the 2016-17 season.

He has made six appearances to date in the current campaign, while also turning out for Cardiff Blues A and Pontypridd.

Assiratti has represented Wales through all the age-grades where he has forged a reputation as not only a devastating scrummager but a mobile and skilful ball-carrier.

He is one of several promising front-row forwards coming through the ranks at Cardiff Blues with Dillon Lewis, Corey Domachowski and Rhys Carré all under the age of 23.

Botham made his Guinness PRO14 debut earlier this season, against Connacht, and has been tipped for a bright future.

The Wales under-20 international comes from rich sporting pedigree as the son of former Cardiff RFC and England wing Liam, and grandson of cricket legend Sir Ian.

Botham, who was born in Cardiff while his father played for the Blue and Blacks, is the latest in a long line of exciting flankers to graduate from the Cardiff Blues academy, having attended the famous Sedbergh School in the North West and represented Wales at Under-18s, 20s and Sevens.

Meanwhile, Lewis-Hughes has been rewarded for his impressive form with a long-term senior contract at Cardiff Blues.

The versatile forward, who specialises at blindside flanker, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Cardiff Arms Park having been handed his Heineken Champions Cup debut at the start of the year against Glasgow Warriors.

He has featured in every game since, taking his overall tally of senior appearances to 14, and enhanced his already formidable reputation.

Twenty-five of the current first team squad are academy graduates with a new generation establishing themselves in the Blues’ first team squad.