New Cardiff prop Scott Sio says he was struck by the club's ambition on arrival, and the former Australia international now hopes to help the Blue and Blacks build on their first URC play-off appearance.
The 34-year-old loosehead, who has switched international allegiances to Samoa, played a key role in Exeter's run to the Gallagher Premiership final last season. He has joined Cardiff ahead of the club's 150th anniversary season, with the Welsh side aiming to repeat last season's top-eight finish.
Growth mindset at Cardiff
“Coming here, I understand my role in the team and the experience that Corniel wants me to bring to the team,” Sio said. “But I think the greatest thing for me is seeing that they're not happy with how the last season went.”
“They want to be better, they want to strive for better things. They understand that it's a great stepping stone to probably where they want to be as a team. And I think that growth mindset is important. Obviously with the returning international boys in the last couple weeks, you've seen the level of training go up.”
Sio spent four seasons at Exeter before deciding to move to the Welsh capital. “I was looking at new opportunities, just to test myself as a player,” he said. “Obviously one of the biggest things that they want to pride themselves on is that set piece. Hopefully I can be a good cog in the wheel there and provide some good experience.”
Rich history and passionate fans
The prop is already aware of the club's history and the Polynesian players who have featured for Cardiff, including Jonah Lomu, Xavier Rush, Nick Williams, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo and Lopeti Timani. “It shows that there's an opportunity for a young Samoan boy from Australia to come here, flourish and grow and add to the history,” he said.
“I've played here a few times for Australia against Wales and I know rugby weekends are huge and Welsh fans are super passionate,” Sio added. “I really like how they just lock down the city, no one's allowed to drive through, everyone can walk wherever they want, take as many beers and whatever around before the game.”
World Cup dream with Samoa
Sio has one eye on Cardiff's meeting with the Ospreys at the end of October, where he will face former Test colleagues. But his international focus has shifted to Samoa, with the 2027 World Cup in Australia a major motivation.
“And irony of all ironies, it's in Australia, isn't it? That's quite funny in itself and I think there's a hypothetical world where if Australia comes second in their pool and we come second in ours, we'll meet each other in the round of 16,” he said. “So there'll be a lot of fireworks there!”
“I play for Samoa, and the World Cup is the biggest stage; that would be a great opportunity to do that,” Sio added. “Meeting my wife, she was probably the one that got me over the line there, playing for Samoa. My dad played for Samoa, my sisters played for Samoa as well too. So we're a proud Samoan family and it'd be nice to represent them back at home.”
November matches against Zimbabwe, Portugal and Spain will be a “big period for Samoa,” according to Sio, who said he tends to focus on the sport rather than the politics. “You want to be competitive at the end of the day,” he said. “We don't want to just go there to take part. We want to compete against the best teams there.”
