Mason Grady Explained

Mason Grady
Birth Date:29 March 2002
Birth Place:Cardiff, Wales
Height:1.960NaN0
Weight:1120NaN0
School:Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg
Relatives:Cory Allen (brother)
Position:Centre, Wing
Currentclub:Cardiff
Years1:2020–
Clubs1:Cardiff
Apps1:35
Points1:50
Repyears1:2020–2022
Repteam1:Wales U20
Repcaps1:8
Reppoints1:5
Repyears2:2023–
Repteam2:Wales
Repcaps2:11
Reppoints2:5
Clubupdate:16 March 2024
Repupdate:16 March 2024

Mason Grady (born 29 March 2002) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team.[1]

Club career

Cardiff

Grady signed his first professional contract for Cardiff in September 2020.[2] Grady played in the Welsh Premier Division for both Cardiff RFC and Pontypridd RFC. On his Cardiff debut, he became the second youngest player to represent the club, at 17 years and seven months. He was part of the Cardiff RFC team which won the 2021–22 Indigo Group Premiership.

He made his Cardiff Blues debut in Round 8 of the 2020–21 Pro14 against Glasgow Warriors.[3] Near the end of the season, Grady suffered a serious knee injury, which ultimately ruled him out for a year.[4] Grady began to feature more prominently for Cardiff in the 2022–23 season, following his recovery from the injury. He scored in back to back European fixtures, against Brive and Newcastle, as Cardiff made the knockouts of the 2022–23 Challenge Cup.[5]

International career

Wales U18 and U20

Grady has represented Wales U18 and Wales U20.[6] He was selected for Wales U20 while still eligible for the U18 side, playing in the 2020 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, until the tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to injury, Grady did not participate in the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. Upon returning to fitness, Grady was selected for the 2022 U20 Summer Series. He scored a try against South Africa U20 in the final.[7]

Wales

On 3 November 2022, Grady was called up by Wales to train with the squad ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.[8]

On 17 January 2023, Grady was called up by Wales again, for the 2023 Six Nations squad.[9] He made his debut on 25 February 2023, starting at outside centre against England.[10]

Grady was selected for the Wales training squad ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and came off the bench in the first warm-up match, a win over England.[11] [12]

Grady scored his first try for Wales during the 2024 Six Nations Championship in the final match against Italy.[13]

Personal life

Grady comes from an athletic family. Julie, his mother, played basketball for the Rhondda Rebels, and represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games. His father was a soldier with a number of Operational deployments across the globe. His brother Ashton has also represented Wales in basketball; his older brother, Cory Allen, is a retired Welsh international, and also played as a centre. Grady himself played basketball, representing Wales U16.[14]

Grady attended Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mason Grady. Ultimate Rugby. 30 November 2020.
  2. News: Cardiff Blues 2020–21 squad confirmed. Cardiff Blues. 18 September 2020. 18 September 2020.
  3. News: Pro14: Cardiff Blues 10-19 Glasgow Warriors. BBC Sport. 29 November 2020. 30 November 2020.
  4. Web site: Rugby . Planet . 2021-09-02 . James Botham injury blow hits Cardiff . 2023-02-25 . PlanetRugby . en.
  5. Web site: 2022-12-22 . Grady ready to challenge for starting spot . 2023-02-08 . Cardiff Rugby.
  6. Web site: High flying Grady keeping his feet on the ground. 16 June 2020. 13 October 2022.
  7. News: Wales U20s succumb to South Africa in final . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-02-25.
  8. Web site: Wales call up highly-rated Cardiff youngster Mason Grady to train with squad. Wales Online. 3 November 2022. 3 November 2022.
  9. Web site: 2023-01-17 . Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union . 2023-01-17 . Welsh Rugby Union Wales & Regions . en-GB.
  10. News: 2023-02-23 . Six Nations: Wales 10-20 England - Lawrence settles tight contest . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-02-25.
  11. Web site: 2023-05-01 . Wales training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 - Welsh Rugby Union . 2023-08-06 . Welsh Rugby Union Wales & Regions . en-GB.
  12. News: Wales defeat disappointing England in Cardiff . en-GB . BBC Sport . 2023-08-06.
  13. News: Italy consign Wales to first Wooden Spoon in 21 years . 2024-03-16 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  14. Web site: James . Ben . 2023-01-11 . Mason Grady looks like the next George North and he's here already . 2023-02-08 . WalesOnline . en.