Cardiff Met second row Liam Antrobus is moving Stateside at the end of the season to play in Major League Rugby, with the hope of one day turning out for the USA national team.
After a successful three years in Wales, the 21-year-old has started what will likely be his final season in BUCS Super Rugby and the Welsh Championship and is keen to go out with a bang.
He said: “I had a good preseason, everyone gelled together nicely. We built in to it nicely, had a good set of games and it opened the season up nicely in both leagues.
“The boys are unreal, and the coaching staff are so supportive, both on field and off. It's a really good environment to be in and each year my love for the club has grown.”
The 6 ft 5inch, 17st 8lbs forward is a big advocate for BUCS Super Rugby and sees it as the perfect preparation for senior rugby.
Due to the sport's decreasing financial stability, many young players have opted to play university rugby so they can still play at a high level while also securing a plan B with their degree.
Antrobus said: “The games I've been involved in have been class, playing in front of our fans who make the effort to come to local away games and home games. It's unreal the support they bring and it makes it even more special.
“It's exciting, keeps you on your feet and it's physical. So, it's basically everything you want. With me playing in the Welsh Premiership on the weekend it's balanced quite nicely, you've got the more physical sides on the weekend but that translates quite nicely when you come up against other university teams.
“It's a great platform to grow young talent. It's a good stepping stone to adult rugby. If it keeps going the way it is, it'll become a big league in England and Wales.”
Recent Cardiff Met alumnus includes England internationals Alex Dombrandt and Tom Pearson, and Antrobus says they are a huge inspiration to all Met students.
He added: “It's talked about loads in the club, when (Alex) Dombrandt was playing for England this season we all watched as a club and it's the same for the other boys like (Tom) Pearson. It's amazing to see what's come out of Met and especially with the talent we've got in the squad right now. It's exciting to see boys kicking on, Brandon Harvey getting signed by San Diego Legion is a great example.”
US-born Antrobus is looking forward to his next adventure in the MLR, that was only formed in 2017 but has since attracted legends of the game like Ma'a Nonu and Matt Giteau to America.
With the Rugby World Cup being held in the US in 2031, Antrobus sees playing Stateside as the perfect opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the selectors.
He said: “To get an opportunity to go back over there and play is huge. It's a new, exciting league so it would be great to perform while it's still in its early days and in front of new crowds and a new country.
“The aspiration is always there to play internationally. I'm just going to focus on my game and development and whatever comes in the future will be, but it is playing on my mind. I've watched some of the games and the popularity seems to be growing. Domestic rugby over there is getting big.”
