Millfield rugby captain signs professional contract with Cardiff Rugby

Millfield rugby captain Steffan Emuanel has signed a professional contract with United Rugby Championship side Cardiff Rugby.

Upper Sixth student Steffan will join up with the Welsh side’s first team squad for the 2024/2025 season. The move represents a homecoming for the Welsh U18 international, who represented the club at youth level, before opting to spend the 2023/2024 season with Bath Rugby.

Steffan recently starred in Bath U18’s Premiership Rugby Academy League finals day victory over Northampton Saints, scoring two tries including a last-minute winner.

Seventeen-year-old Steffan joined Millfield in Lower Sixth, and studies BTEC Sport and A level Geography. His decision to join Millfield was informed by his older brother Ioan Emanuel, who had recommended the rugby programme after joining in 2021. The pair were key contributors to Millfield’s record-breaking 2022/2023 season, during which the first XV won a record eighth St. Joseph’s Festival title and also clinched the inaugural Schools Championships after defeating Sedbergh at the World Schools Festival in Thailand. They were featured in a documentary covering the campaign named ‘The Season’, a renowned series commissioned by RugbyPass, who are the world’s largest rugby fan platform. The series generated more than 1 million views on social media.

Steffan said “Being offered a professional contract was a surreal feeling, especially as it is my first. I have always dreamed of signing for my childhood club but never thought it would happen, so it’s a dream come true. I am very excited to get started with Cardiff next season and am looking forward to the opportunity that I have. After being away from Wales at school for the past two years, it felt right that I went home and rejoined the club.” 

Reflecting on his rugby journey at Millfield, Steffan said “Millfield’s rugby programme is exceptional as it presents first class coaching and opportunities for all age groups and abilities. Everyone is able to showcase their skills at any level. I’ve had so many incredible rugby experiences here that it would be hard to pick out any highlight, but winning the St. Joseph’s Festival, beating Sedbergh away and the trip to Thailand for the World Schools Festival stand out.” 

Cardiff Rugby head coach Matt Sherratt said: “We are delighted to bring Steff back to the Arms Park following his studies at Millfield. He is a player with a lot of potential, an all round game and a real aptitude to learn and develop into a top professional. He really impressed with Wales Under-18s last season, continuing his development with Millfield and Bath Under-18s, who just won the Under-18s Premiership title. We are fortunate to have a really productive player pathway and it is crucial to the future of this club that we hold onto as much of that talent as possible, develop them into professionals and allow them to fulfil their full potential.”

Millfield Director of Rugby, and former Bath Rugby and England player, John Mallett, said “Steffan has been an outstanding Millfield student. He is diligent in the class room and has formed excellent relationships throughout the school. His positive impact in every environment he is part of is reflected by his excellence on the rugby pitch. He has an exciting future ahead of him and we will enjoy watching him flourish beyond school. We are proud to have been part of his journey starting with his attendance at the Millfield rugby summer camps aged 10 through to completing his Sixth Form studies with us.”

The main aim of Millfield Rugby is to enhance individual players in a challenging environment with development at the forefront of training. Millfield Sport work closely with players for further conditioning, physiotherapy and performance analysis to uncover each individual’s greatest potential. This, combined with a team of 18 specialist coaches, maintains Millfield’s rugby legacy as a leading establishment in the pathway to elite rugby. Millfield were named as the number one rugby school in the world in NextGenXV’s 2022 rankings in recognition of their unrivalled programme and proud rugby history.