The Wales U20 international had only been training with the senior squad for a few weeks before making his debut against reigning league champions Leinster at the tail-end of November. Bradley, an Economics student at the University of Bath, followed that appearance from the bench with his first start in the famous number seven jersey a week later when Blues took on Glasgow Warriors at Rodney Parade .
So how did a 20-year-old from the Big Smoke end up in the Cardiff Blues system?
Bradley said: “I grew up in South West London and I was with London Irish through the age grades up until the end of U18s.
“Throughout that I was involved in the Welsh Exiles doing all those events. That culminated with me being selected for Wales U19s a few years ago and we played England at home and lost.”
The Exiles programme, run by Gareth Davies, has unearthed some exciting young talent in recent years (one of Wales’ newest caps, Johnny Williams, attended an Exiles clinic when he was a teenager). Davies recently said of the talent-identifying roadshows: “It’s important that we engage with these players and their families. We hold regional camps in England twice a year so realistically nobody has to travel more than a few hours. We have hundreds of players attending our events.”
It was with the U19s that Bradley first met a man who play a significant role in landing him where he is now. “Gethin Jenkins was forwards coach for that [U19s match]. I got picked for Wales Under 20 the following year and Gethin was there too.
“He was the link which brought me to the Blues. We got on well and he saw in me what I was like as a player and what I could produce. I’m really thankful he brought me to the Blues.
“With a name like mine we were always Welsh fans in our house even though we were in England. I always felt very Welsh and we were always back in Wales with family.
“Mum is from Newport. Every Christmas we used to come down and watch Blues vs Dragons on New Year’s Day. To think now I’m playing for the Blues is pretty incredible to be honest.”
Bradley, who spent time with London Welsh during lockdown, has impressed the coaching staff since linking up with the squad after Shane Lewis-Hughes and then James Botham’s call-up to Wales during the Autumn Nations Cup.
With Olly Robinson, Josh Navidi and Ellis Jenkins on the sidelines, Bradley is the last specialist seven standing. Importantly, head coach John Mulvihill has liked what he’s seen so far.
Bradley continued: “It’s been amazing. I’ve only been training with the first team for three or four weeks. I’ve had to learn fast, but the boys have been really helpful to me in terms of gelling and learning. I’ve really enjoyed being exposed to a higher level of rugby so far.”
In recent times Sam Warburton, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins and, most recently, James Botham have all progressed through the ranks, starring for Cardiff Blues before pulling on the Welsh number seven shirt.
Bradley added: “I’m 20 now so growing up it was Richie McCaw and Sam Warburton – they were the two main sevens at the top of the world stage. More recently I’ve looked at the guys in England coming through like Jack Willis who are more my age and generation.
“I look at them and also watch a lot of rugby league and NRL. I take a lot of the aggression, intent and tackle technique from there. It’s a combination of technical and tactical aspects of the best sevens and the grunt and aggression of the NRL players.
“We’ve got the sevens here at the Blues now and Sam Warburton has come before. It’s definitely an inspiration seeing the path trodden and the footsteps before you.
“We’ve got an embarrassment of riches in the back-row. We’ve got Jim and Shane, Olly and Ellis. The older boys have been watching film with me and helping me with tactical stuff. Jim and Shane on the pitch help me know what I’m doing on the pitch.
“Jim went to a school in England just like me so it’s a similar sort of path he’s taken. But it’s only been three or four weeks since I’ve been up with the seniors and only a couple of months in the academy. I’m pleased with how I’ve gone, but I’ve got to keep on pushing, developing, and learning. I’ll see how far I can go in the next few months with Europe and the Christmas derbies coming up.”
