Adams eyes season opener after frustrating year

Josh Adams is determined to repay Cardiff and hit the ground running during the 2024-25 season.

The star wing was frustrated by a succession of injuries last year and made the decision to sit out Wales’ summer tour after missing the end of the club season.

However, Adams is nearing a return to fitness as the Blue & Blacks pre-season progresses and has pencilled in the first game against Zebre in the BKT United Rugby Championship on September 20. 

He said: “I want to be fair to Cardiff because they're excellent to me and I want to make sure that I'm right and in the right frame of mind and my body's healthy to start the season for them. 

“So it was a little bit of a discussion between us, myself and Cardiff, but the Wales staff were excellent and they were on board and they said, look, if it's a time to have a break and get yourself right after what was a long year with the World Cup.

“I'm so glad I made that decision. I feel so much better for it. And yeah, I'm just glad I'm doing all right in a minute. I’d be disappointed if I wasn’t fit and ready to play Zebre at home.

“I've been quite lucky throughout my rugby career where I haven't had to deal with, not serious injuries, but like back to back to back injuries. If I've had an injury, I've always been able to come back fit and build myself back up and get a run of games together. 

“So the frustrating part for me was coming back, thinking, all right, I got one or two games under my belt and then something else creeps up.”

Cardiff have made a dozen signings in preparation for the new campaign and Adams has been impressed by the calibre of player brought in and the way the squad has been put together.

Matt Sherratt has purposefully brought in young Welsh-qualified talent or senior professionals from good environments, who have a track record of leadership and compliment the club’s playing style.

Adams continued: “Jockey has done a pretty good job, actually, of putting together the squad we've got this year. Obviously budget restraints are difficult, but the players we've recruited have been smart signings, really smart to be honest.

“They’ve done extremely well. We've added players who are going to add to the Cardiff way, if you like, the Cardiff system, not signing a superstar that plays in a forward orientated, kicking side. We've signed players who can play that style of rugby, the attacking positive rugby that we like to try and play. 

“So I'm excited. We haven't seen too many of these boys with ball in hand early doors pre-season and I've been in the physio room most of the time the first couple of weeks.

“But played against Rory Jennings. He was England Under 20s my age, and he was always in the mix with them, so I know how good a player he is. He had a cracking season at Irish before they went under, and he's done well at Newcastle. 

Some of the forward signings, I think Ed Byrne is going to be really good for us. He's come from probably what is the most competitive winning environment in Europe along with Toulouse.

“When maybe times will get tough and we've lost a game or two, I think Ed will be great in knowing how to bounce back from these, give guidance to some of the other lads and he'll know what that winning culture looks like. So having his experience adding to our group will be invaluable.”