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Mason Grady

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Mason Grady
Grady representing Wales U20 during the 2022 Six Nations Under 20s Championship
Date of birth (2002-03-29) 29 March 2002 (age 22)
Place of birthCardiff, Wales
Height1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight112 kg (247 lb; 17 st 9 lb)
SchoolYsgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg
Notable relative(s)Cory Allen (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Wing
Current team Cardiff
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020– Cardiff 51 (70)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020–2022 Wales U20 8 (5)
2023– Wales 15 (5)

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

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Cardiff

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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.[3] 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.[4] Near the end of the season, Grady suffered a serious knee injury, which ultimately ruled him out for a year.[5] 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.[6]

Grady signed a contract extension with Cardiff at the end of the 2023–23 season.[7]

International career

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Wales U18 and U20

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Grady has represented Wales U18 and Wales U20.[3] 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.[8]

Wales

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On 3 November 2022, Grady was called up by Wales to train with the squad ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.[9]

On 17 January 2023, Grady was called up by Wales again, for the 2023 Six Nations squad.[10] He made his debut on 25 February 2023, starting at outside centre against England.[11]

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.[12][13]

Grady scored his first try for Wales during the 2024 Six Nations Championship in the final match against Italy.[14]

For the 2024 Wales rugby union tour of Australia, Grady was moved to the unfamiliar position of inside centre, starting there in the friendly against South Africa and the two tour tests against Australia.[15]

Grady moved to the wing for the first fixture of the 2024 end-of-year rugby union internationals, but was injured early on in the opening match, and subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the series.[16]

Personal life

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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.[9] Grady himself played basketball, representing Wales U16.[17]

Grady attended Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Mason Grady". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Cardiff Blues 2020–21 squad confirmed". Cardiff Blues. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c "High flying Grady keeping his feet on the ground". 16 June 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Pro14: Cardiff Blues 10-19 Glasgow Warriors". BBC Sport. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  5. ^ Rugby, Planet (2 September 2021). "James Botham injury blow hits Cardiff". PlanetRugby. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Grady ready to challenge for starting spot". Cardiff Rugby. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Mason Grady: Wales back signs new Cardiff contract". BBC Sport. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Wales U20s succumb to South Africa in final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Wales call up highly-rated Cardiff youngster Mason Grady to train with squad". Wales Online. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Six Nations: Wales 10-20 England - Lawrence settles tight contest". BBC Sport. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Wales training squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Wales defeat disappointing England in Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Italy consign Wales to first Wooden Spoon in 21 years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Mason Grady: Wales centre "in credit" after Australia tour experiment". BBC Sport. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Mason Grady: Versatile back is out of Wales' autumn campaign". BBC Sport. 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  17. ^ James, Ben (11 January 2023). "Mason Grady looks like the next George North and he's here already". WalesOnline. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
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