Emanuel follows Bowen in signing new Cardiff deal

Centre Steffan Emanuel has followed fellow Wales Under-20s international Tom Bowen in signing a new contract with Cardiff.

On Wednesday it was announced that wing Bowen had agreed fresh terms with the Blue and Blacks and Emanuel, also 19, has signed a new deal described by the club as "long-term".

Wales Under-20s co-captain Emanuel has made six senior appearances for Cardiff and has made an impression on coach Corniel van Zyl.

"The challenge for Steff now is to continue improving his game and developing because I believe he has the potential to become a world-class player," said Van Zyl.

Emanuel, who came through at Llantwit Fardre RFC, earned a scholarship at Millfield School and was on the books of Bath until signing for Cardiff in 2024.

The centre made his senior debut against Lyon in the Challenge Cup last season and has featured in five fixtures in the current campaign, scoring his first try in January's United Rugby Championship (URC) defeat by Ulster.

"Hopefully I can earn more opportunities in both the URC and Europe in the coming years," said Emanuel, who started at inside centre in all five Under-20 Six Nations fixtures.

"I just want to play as much as possible and I feel like this is the right place for me to do that and continue my development."

Emanuel will push for more game time in Cardiff's bid for the play-offs along with Bowen.

The wing has made 10 appearances for the Blue and Blacks this season and scored seven tries, including a United Rugby Championship (URC) hat-trick against Munster in Limerick.

It had also been reported Bowen's game-breaking exploits had caught the eye of French Top 14 side La Rochelle but the rapid wing has agreed fresh terms at the Arms Park.

"As an environment, I imagine Cardiff is very hard to beat," said Bowen, whose deal has been described by the club as "long-term".

"I have high-quality players all around me, people I can keep learning from and compete with, which will only continue my development."

Bowen, son of former Scarlets fly-half Gareth, was with Bristol Bears while studying at Clifton College and signed for Cardiff in 2024, making his senior debut against Cheetahs in December of that year.

The 5ft 7in (1.73m) wing was mentioned as a potential bolter for Steve Tandy's first Wales squad in the autumn, but has been left to develop in club rugby and with the under-20s.

Bowen started all five games of his final Under-20 Six Nations, scoring a double in Ireland, and is poised to feature at the World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia this summer.

"His point of difference is obviously his finishing - he has the ability to finish opportunities that not many other players could," added Van Zyl.