Editing Cardiff RFC (section)

===Professionalism===
With professionalism dawned a new era at Cardiff RFC. It allowed them to sign legendary outside-half Jonathan Davies back from rugby league, and another major change was that there would be a [[Heineken Cup|European Cup]], sponsored by Heineken, containing teams from France, Ireland, Wales, Italy and Romania (England and Scotland did not join for another year). Cardiff progressed to the knock-out stages in November by drawing with Bordeaux-Begles and beating Ulster. December saw the end of the Alex Evans era, as he departed to return home to Australia. Terry Holmes took charge of the club, and in his first full match the Blue and Blacks beat Leinster away to progress to the first Heineken Cup final. The game was played at Cardiff Arms Park in front of a crowd of 21,800, where despite 18 points from the boot of Adrian Davies, Cardiff were beaten 21–18 by Toulouse after extra time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/drama-confirms-credibility-1322933.html|title=Drama confirms credibility|date=8 January 1996|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415103126/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/drama-confirms-credibility-1322933.html|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Cardiff, despite not losing a league game under Holmes, were runners-up on the domestic front as well, finishing level with Neath on points but coming second on try count.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cardiff-left-licking-their-wounds-1347486.html|title=Cardiff left licking their wounds|date=15 May 1996|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415092626/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cardiff-left-licking-their-wounds-1347486.html|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> After the end of the 95–96 season Peter Thomas invested money into the club allowing them to sign Rob Howley, Dai Young back from rugby league, Leigh Davies, Gwyn Jones and Justin Thomas for the cost of around £2million. Internationals Mark Ring, Steven Blackmore and the half-backs that had started the Heineken Cup final, Andy Moore and Adrian Davies all departed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/swansea-steeled-for-road-ahead-1312346.html|title=Swansea steeled for road ahead|date=31 August 1996|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103918/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/swansea-steeled-for-road-ahead-1312346.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Despite all the new signings, Cardiff lost their first three games of the season, and the 1996/97 season was in many respects worse than the year before – Cardiff were knocked out in the Heineken Cup semi-finals by eventual champions Brive, and in the Welsh Premier Division they fell to third, behind champions Pontypridd and Llanelli. However, after Alex Evans returned to head up the coaching team, that season did lead to some silverware, as Cardiff beat Llanelli 36–26 in the semi-final and Swansea 33–26 in the final of the SWALEC Cup. [[Grzegorz Kacała|Grzegorz Kacala]] and Tony Rees, both forwards part of the Brive team that knocked Cardiff out of the Heineken Cup and went on to win it, were signed for 1997/98 along with Wales internationals Steve Williams and Spencer John (Gareth Thomas also arrived in December from Bridgend).

Despite Cardiff's difficulties, compounded by those of the national team, Howley and Young were both chosen to go on 1997 Lions tour to South Africa. Howley had to return home early due to injury and neither of the two Cardiff players started a Test match.

In the 1997/98 season, Cardiff were Wales's sole representative in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, and were beaten away in rematch of the previous year's quarter-final, by Bath, who would go on to win the tournament. However, their domestic cup campaign ended before the quarter-final stage, losing 24–9 to Ebbw Vale, and they finished runners up to Swansea in the League. Following this season, Alex Evans left Cardiff for Australia for the second time and Terry Holmes was put back in charge.

====Rebel season====
{{Main|1998–99 rebel season}}
Cardiff and Swansea had proposed the formation of a British league, containing the top division English clubs, the two Scottish regional sides (Edinburgh and Glasgow) and four Welsh clubs (seeing as Cardiff had got further than any other Welsh club in every Heineken Cup so far, Swansea were the league champions and they represented the two largest urban areas in Wales, it was assumed two of these clubs would be Cardiff and Swansea).

Both the RFU and the English clubs had agreed to this, but the WRU refused due to an ongoing legal battle with the English clubs over the negotiation of commercial rights (which would lead to the English clubs not participating in the 1998–99 Heineken Cup). Instead, the WRU demanded all top-flight clubs sign 10-year loyalty agreements, where they were guaranteed top-flight status and committed themselves to staying within the Welsh league structure.

Cardiff and Swansea refused to sign these agreements and were expelled from the Welsh Premier Division. The Allied Dunbar Premiership (the English league) teams announced that two teams would have a rest weekend every week allowing them to play friendlies against Cardiff and Swansea. Cardiff's first home match of the season was against Saracens, who'd finished second in the Allied Dunbar Premiership the season before. Cardiff won 40–19 in front of a crowd of 10,021, larger than the entire combined attendance of the Welsh Premier Division that weekend.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiffs-followers-vote-with-their-feet-1198162.html|title=Rugby Union: Cardiff's followers vote with their feet|date=14 September 1998|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415053937/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiffs-followers-vote-with-their-feet-1198162.html|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The club went on to win all their home games, but fell to defeat ten times on their travels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffrfcfans.co.uk/fixtures.php?seasonID=1|title=CRFC Fans - 1998-1999|website=Cardiffrfcfans.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425152405/http://www.cardiffrfcfans.co.uk/fixtures.php?seasonID=1|archive-date=25 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Although Cardiff and Swansea were both expelled from the Welsh League, they were allowed to continue to compete in the SWALEC Cup against Welsh opposition. Both teams reached the semi-finals, Swansea were to play Cross Keys and Cardiff Llanelli. In the week prior to the game, Cardiff chairman Peter Thomas spoke to the players following a training session, where he emphasised the importance of winning the game, describing it as "the biggest game in the club's history". Cardiff lost 39–10 in a match chief executive Gareth Davies described "The worst performance by a Cardiff side I have ever seen." Six days later, it was announced Terry Holmes would stand down as coach at the end of the season, and Pontypridd and Wales assistant coach Lyn Howells would take charge on a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiff-count-cost-of-rebellion-1089528.html|title=Rugby Union: Cardiff count cost of rebellion|date=25 April 1999|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415104022/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-cardiff-count-cost-of-rebellion-1089528.html|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Swansea went on to beat Llanelli 37–10 in the cup final, but the rebels were still forced to sign loyalty agreements and return to Welsh domestic setup, now including Edinburgh and Glasgow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/364095.stm|title=BBC News - Rugby Union - Rebel Welsh clubs back in fold|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref>

====Lynn Howells====
After the unsuccessful rebel season, Cardiff signed British Lion outside-half Neil Jenkins, as well as Wales internationals second-row Craig Quinnell and flanker Martyn Williams. The start of the 1999–2000 season for Cardiff was hampered by them missing 13 first choice players due to the World Cup, and in late September they fell to a humiliating 60–18 defeat away to Llanelli at Stradey Park. However, despite this poor start and failing to win in the first rounds of the Heineken Cup, they progressed to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Llanelli, and clinched the Welsh/Scottish League title with three games remaining, The season is also notable for a club record victory of 116–0 over Duvnant in the Welsh/Scottish League,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffrfc.com/News/Article/17522|title=Cardiff 116 Dunvant 0 - Cardiff RFC|website=Cardiffrfc.com|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415092352/http://www.cardiffrfc.com/News/Article/17522|archive-date=15 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and the club going unbeaten at home for almost the whole season, before losing 41–40 to Swansea in their very last game of the season (with the title already sewn up). This was Cardiff's first defeat at the Arms Park for over two years, since 13 December 1997, again against Swansea.

During the close season Cardiff lost Leigh Davies to Llanelli but signed South African centre Pieter Muller to replace him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/889574.stm|title=BBC SPORT - WALES - Newport for the title|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018}}</ref> They won their first five Welsh/Scottish League matches, seemingly making certain they would retain their title,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/welsh-scottish_rugby/926957.stm|title=BBC SPORT - WELSH-SCOTTISH RUGBY - Welsh-Scottish League table|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021229095921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/welsh-scottish_rugby/926957.stm|archive-date=29 December 2002|df=dmy-all}}</ref> especially as Swansea lost three of their first five games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/Page/Content/760|title=2000-01 Season - Swansea RFC|website=Swansearfc.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214743/http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/Page/Content/760|archive-date=3 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The highlight of the season was in late October, when the Blue and Blacks stunned English Premiership leaders Saracens by defeating them home and away in the Heineken Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/jenkins-crushes-saracens-myth-636828.html|title=Jenkins crushes Saracens' myth|date=29 October 2000|website=independent.co.uk|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214523/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/jenkins-crushes-saracens-myth-636828.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The club's great form began to stutter as the millennium drew to a close, but it was in January the wheels really came off. After a magnificent 42–16 victory over Ulster, two yellow cards led Cardiff to defeat in Toulouse, meaning they would have to travel to Gloucester in the quarter-finals. A turgid forward battle resulted in a 21–15 defeat for the Blue and Blacks. Two weeks later they then lost to Bridgend, their first home defeat of the season, meaning Swansea pulled ahead in the title race. Another defeat at Ebbw Vale in March condemned them to a trophyless season. 
Following the unsuccessful season Lynn Howells's contract was not renewed and Rudy Joubert was appointed director of rugby. Gareth Thomas also left the club along with nine other players, but Rob Appleyard, Matt Allen and Craig Hudson all joined.

For the 2001 Lions tour, four Cardiff players were picked, Rob Howley, Neil Jenkins, Dai Young and Martyn Williams. Young became the first player to tour for the Lions in three different decades. Howley started the first two Tests, with Williams on the bench in all three, and Jenkins coming on to replace Jonny Wilkinson in the second. Howley was dropped for the third, deciding Test.

====Rudy Joubert====
2001–02 was the first year of the Celtic League, containing teams from Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The pool stage would begin in mid-August and continue on for a month. Cardiff were drawn into the smaller, seven-team pool (with four teams going through to the quarter-finals).and started their campaign in unconvincing fashion, winning three games but still being knocked out of the competition on points difference.
In the Heineken Cup, rugby league convert Iestyn Harris, signed for £1million scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 46–7 against Glasgow.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/oct/28/rugbyunion.heinekencup200102|title=Heineken Cup: Cardiff 46 - 7 Glasgow|first=Eddie|last=Butler|date=28 October 2001|website=The Guardian|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125252/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2001/oct/28/rugbyunion.heinekencup200102|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Overall the club's European form was mediocre however, as despite winning all their home games they failed to register an away win and were eliminated at the pool stage for the first time in their history
On the domestic front, Cardiff again went unbeaten at home until the final game of the season, but again were unable to back it up on the road and finished fourth – their first season out of the top three in a decade.

====Dai Young====
The off season was all change for Cardiff. Rudy Joubert returned home to South Africa and Dai Young became player-coach of the club. Internationals Rob Howley, Neil Jenkins, Craig Quinnell and Jonathan Humphreys all left the club as well. The Welsh/Scottish League was abolished, returning to just nine Welsh teams in the top-flight, and Celtic League games no longer counted towards the domestic league.

In the first two months of the season, Cardiff managed to improve on their Celtic League record from the previous year, winning four out of seven games and progressing to the knockout stage. The quarter final was away to Edinburgh on 30 November and, despite a dreadful first half performance that saw them 19–6 down at the break, a much improved second half performance saw them record a 26–22 win, and go through to the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/3038841/Harris-instigates-Cardiffs-unlikely-recovery.html|title=Harris instigates Cardiff's unlikely recovery|first=Robert Cole at|last=Meadowbank|date=1 December 2002|access-date=9 May 2018|website=Telegraph.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413102011/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/3038841/Harris-instigates-Cardiffs-unlikely-recovery.html|archive-date=13 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Their decent start to the season collapsed after that however, with Cardiff failing to score at home for the first-time in 30 years in a 31–0 defeat in the Heineken Cup against Northampton in December.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/dec/16/rugbyunion.heinekencup2002031|title=Heineken Cup: Cardiff 0 - 31 Northmapton|first=Paul|last=Rees|date=16 December 2002|website=The Guardian|access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411201742/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/dec/16/rugbyunion.heinekencup2002031|archive-date=11 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> January was a disastrous month for the club too, with a 32–10 thrashing away to Neath in the Celtic League semi-finals,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/2393814/Jarvis-delivers-for-dominant-Neath.html|title=Jarvis delivers for dominant Neath|first=Graham Clutton at The|last=Gnoll|date=9 May 2018|access-date=9 May 2018|website=Telegraph.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413143255/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/2393814/Jarvis-delivers-for-dominant-Neath.html|archive-date=13 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> despite the home team making 12 handling errors in Cardiff's 22. Two weeks later the club's first ever Heineken Cup whitewash was completed with a record 75–25 defeat away to Biarritz.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2394606/Round-up-Biarritz-in-try-spree-as-Cardiff-crumble.html|title=Round-up: Biarritz in try spree as Cardiff crumble|date=9 May 2018|access-date=9 May 2018|website=Telegraph.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413074843/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2394606/Round-up-Biarritz-in-try-spree-as-Cardiff-crumble.html|archive-date=13 April 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Domestically, the Blue and Blacks' final season as a top-tier rugby team was less disappointing. They reached the semi-finals of the Cup, although they capitulated in a similar fashion to their Celtic League semi-final, this time 44–10 away to Llanelli. In the League they finished third, 3 points behind Neath and 11 behind Bridgend.

====Today====
Today, Cardiff Rugby Club Ltd runs two distinct teams.
 
[[Cardiff Rugby]] now back at [[Cardiff Arms Park]] after three years playing at [[Cardiff City Stadium]]. The professional side, Cardiff Rugby take part in the [[United Rugby Championship]] and [[Rugby Challenge Cup]]. The semi professional Cardiff RFC side take part in the [[Super Rygbi Cymru]] and [[SRC Cup]].

In 2019, Steve Law's team won the [[WRU Challenge Cup]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-match-reports/cardiff-25-19-merthyr-blue-16194386|title=Cardiff 25-19 Merthyr: Blue and Blacks seal first silverware in decade|date=28 April 2019|website=WalesOnline|access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref> beating [[Merthyr]] 25–19 in the final. The following season they led the league table and remained on course for a league and cup double when the COVID-19 pandemic brought an abrupt end to the season and WRU denied awarding honours.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/51980014|title=Welsh rugby cancelled for rest of season|work=BBC Sport |access-date=10 June 2022}}</ref>

Ahead of the 2021/22 season, Cardiff Rugby academy manager Gruff Rees became Cardiff RFC Director of Rugby, alongside what was described as a new "alignment" with the Cardiff Rugby player pathway.<ref>[http://cardiffrfc.com/cardiff-rugy-academy-manager-gruff-rees-is-excited-by-the-blend-of-youth-and-experience-included-in-the-cardiff-rfc-squad] {{dead link|date=June 2022}}</ref> The team were knocked out of the cup by Newport but finished top of the Welsh Premier Division to become champions. In 2023 the club once again won the WRU Premiership Cup, defeating arch rivals Newport 13-10 and finishing top of the Welsh Premiership table, being denied the title by losing in a playoff final to Llandovery.