' Cardiff City nearly got rid of future star '

Euro 2020: Rubin Colwill dodged Cardiff City cut to earn Wales selection


Sunday 6th June 2021


Rubin Colwill has made just six senior appearances for Cardiff City

There were a few eyebrows raised when uncapped youngster Rubin Colwill made Wales' 26-man squad for Euro 2020.

But the meteoric rise of the 19-year-old attacking midfielder is even more incredible when he could have been cut by club side Cardiff City last year.

Colwill was a talented young player that ex Cardiff City Academy manager Craig Bellamy had brought through during his time at Cardiff City.


Rubin Colwill now has two full Caps for the Senior Wales side.



Cardiff Under-23 manager Steve Morrison admits Colwill could have departed.


STEVE MORRISON:

"A year ago we're... discussing who's going to be retained and released for the upcoming season and Rubin was a discussion," Morrison said.

"There was a conversation about Sion Spence, a bit of comparison between the two - who are we going to keep?

"We decided to keep Rubin and let Sion go and find his way elsewhere."

Fellow attacking midfielder Spence was the one who left Cardiff City Stadium, although the 20-year-old was soon snapped up by Premier League side Crystal Palace's Under-23 side and his future also looks bright after seven goals in 17 appearances in the development Premier League 2 Division 2 last season.

But it is Colwill - who has made just six senior appearances for the Bluebirds so far - that the spotlight is currently on, as Wales prepare to begin their Euros campaign against Switzerland in Baku on 12 June, with group games against Turkey and Italy to follow.

The youngster has come up through Wales' age-grade sides but impressed so much in training sessions with the senior team that he got the nod over more senior players such as Tom Lawrence, Rabbi Matondo and Brennan Johnson.



Whether he proves to be an inspired selection by Robert Page for this campaign, or the experience sets Colwill on the path to become a Wales lynchpin for years to come, time will tell.

"This is the reason we do it, because you allow people like Rubin who has got everything you need to be a professional football player at the highest level in his armoury, he just needs to fine-tune it and work like he's done all season," added Morrison, speaking on Friday night's Radio Wales Sport.

"We've gone from that conversation in the first lockdown to watching him come on against France, an all-star team, and he's lining up with people like Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.

"What a story and I spoke to him yesterday (Thursday) and he just needs to make sure he doesn't forget what's got him there and how he needs to keep on learning and keep on progressing, because this is just the start for him now."

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Perhaps we missed out on Sion spence hmmm

Perhaps we missed out on Sion spence hmmm

Agreed you wonder why we couldn't keep both Sion Spence and Rubin Colwill

Perhaps we missed out on Sion spence hmmm

Agreed you wonder why we couldn't keep both Sion Spence and Rubin Colwill

Gents it was cut backs which have been happening at City every year for the last 7 years.

Perhaps we missed out on Sion spence hmmm

Agreed you wonder why we couldn't keep both Sion Spence and Rubin Colwill

Gents it was cut backs which have been happening at City every year for the last 7 years.

Sion Spence was let go so there was a permanent place in the U23s for the ever injured & ever unfit Tomlin.

Perhaps we missed out on Sion spence hmmm

Agreed you wonder why we couldn't keep both Sion Spence and Rubin Colwill

was surprised when he left
but i was told it was Sions decision to leave..

As excited as I am about him as a prospect I think we're blowing things well of proportion - for now at least. He's obviously done very well to get where he is at his age but "meteoric rise", not quite.