Joe Cowell with teammate, Roma Zheng
Master’s student Joe Cowell has become the latest Cardiff Met student to make the move from Cyncoed to the Arms Park.
Following in the famous footsteps of the likes of Sir Gareth Edwards in moving to play in the famous Blue and Black of Cardiff Rugby, the former Wales Under-20s prop has spent the past four years playing BUCS Super Rugby while studying for a degree in Sport Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage and a master’s in Youth Athletic Development.
His 51 appearances for Cardiff Met highlight both the quality of the high-performance sport experience at Cardiff Met, and the alternative to the club academy route into professional rugby the University offers.
Joe Cowell
While Cardiff Met rugby’s past includes the likes of Edwards, JJ Williams and Alan Martin going on to play top class rugby, Cowell’s signing with Cardiff Rugby is yet more evidence of Cardiff Met’s recent rich history of students earning professional contracts, following teammate Roma Zheng’s signing with the Harlequins last year, where he joined fellow Archers Luke Northmore and Alex Dombrandt.
Speaking to Joe about signing a senior academy deal with Cardiff Rugby and his time at Cardiff Met, he said: “After being with Cardiff Met for four years, I’m really pleased to sign for Cardiff Rugby ready for next season. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities and exposure I’ve been given here at Cardiff Met.
“The Cardiff Met Rugby programme and professionalism is something that has put me in a great place ready to take the next steps in my career.”
Cowell already has one Cardiff Rugby performance under his belt after he was called into action by Cardiff against Toulouse in 2021, when some of the first team squad were stuck in quarantine.
One man who has been instrumental in supporting Joe's development is Dr Daniel Milton, Head of Men’s Performance Rugby and Senior Lecturer in Coaching Science. Following the signing of Joe with Cardiff Rugby, Daniel said: "Joe has been an outstanding student-athlete who represents everything we want to see in an Archer. Team first, hard work and humility are at the core of his contribution to Cardiff Met Rugby.
“I know that Joe will thrive at Cardiff Rugby and all of us here look forward to watching his next steps in professional rugby."
