Cardiff and Wales fullback Cameron Winnett has won the 2023-2024 Young Player of the Year Award. The Welsh Rugby Writers’ Association (WRWA) has rewarded the 21-year-old after a successful season both domestically and internationally in senior rugby. He has become a regular starter for Cardiff Rugby’s senior team, as well as achieving seven senior caps for Wales.
Winnett started playing representative rugby from a young age at Wattstown, progressing to Treorchy, and then his district, Rhondda, after which he joined the Cardiff Academy. He made his senior debut with Cardiff in 2021, and shortly after started the Champions Cup match against the Harlequins where he scored a try. Since this pivotal match in his career, he has grown in confidence and seized the opportunities presented to him.
Winnett made his senior Wales debut in the Six Nations this year in the match against Scotland. His emphatic performance gained him a place in the starting lineup for the other four matches in the tournament. He rose to the occasion of wearing the number 15 shirt that has been previously worn by Leigh-Halfpenny and Liam Williams for the past decade.
Over the summer, the national team’s coach, Warren Gatland, started him against the Springboks and the first Test match out of two against Australia.
Reflecting on the season, Winnett says: “It was a crazy season, to be honest, and I didn’t expect to be where I am now. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and it’s been a good year.”
He has started the first three games of the new season for Cardiff and has scored two tries.
Expressing his excitement for the upcoming season, he states: “I’m still building on last season and hopefully I can take that experience into this one. I’m looking forward to it.”
Looking to the future, he outlines his goals: “I want to play as much as I can again and to take my opportunities. My main goal is winning games for Cardiff and then hopefully [getting] into the Wales squad again this autumn. It’s where I want to be.”
His work ethic on the field is often praised by his teammates and coaches.
Senior player for Cardiff, Josh Turnbull, says: “He’s a quiet lad, but on the field he understands his role”.
Turnbull further adds: “For someone who is quite quiet on the field, he’s quite demanding on it. His chat on the field is very good for a youngster. I’ve got to give him that.”
Cardiff Head Coach Matt Sherratt has also been impressed by Winnett’s attitude. Sherratt comments: “He comes in, does his work, and keeps himself to himself but when you watch him train, he’s very consistent in all his actions.”
Winnett’s consistency has been rewarded and Sherratt applauds him, saying: “I’m delighted he’s won the award. He deserves it.”