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Since returning to his home city of Cardiff from Bristol Bears in the summer of 2024, Callum Sheedy has had a more than eventful time of it.
First, his new club fell into administration. Then they lost their head coach on the eve of this season. Off-field chaos has swirled, with financial issues and contractual uncertainty constant.
It’s all part of the soap opera that is the Welsh rugby madhouse.
But after returning to the Wales squad this week for the first time in three years after a strong start to the season with Cardiff, Sheedy is feeling positive. It's who he is. Even in the tough times, the No 10 - who turns 30 today - has been glass-half-full.
‘Before I signed in Wales and was playing at Bristol, all the English lads there were telling me not to go back to Wales - because it was chaos,’ Sheedy tells Daily Mail Sport.
‘The first six months or so at Cardiff were great and then in April, we had the news we were entering administration. I’ll be honest, that was a very tough few weeks.
Callum Sheedy, who was born in Cardiff, spent the first 10 years of his career with Bristol before returning to his home city last year
Sheedy is back in the Wales squad this week for the first time in three years after a strong start to the season with Cardiff
‘I’d had friends at Worcester, Wasps, London Irish and Jersey. All those clubs went under. I’d be lying if I said I didn't think the same thing might happen to us.
‘Now with all the news about potentially cutting a team in Wales, there’s lots going on again off the field. I just can’t wait for there to be a final decision so we can park it all and move on for the betterment of Welsh rugby.
‘Naturally, you do think about job security. I try not to, but it’s inevitable to a degree. We all need a line in the sand and to move forward as soon as possible, so we can help get the national team back to success and winning Six Nations and Grand Slams like we have done in the past. We also want regional rugby to be back at the top table.’
On Monday, Wales met for the start of their autumn campaign, their first under new head coach Steve Tandy, at a time of more upheaval in the game’s corridors of power.
Last Friday, the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed their intention to cut the number of Wales’ domestic sides from four to three. But how they will do so, and when, remains unclear.
However, the WRU's preference is to have one team in the east of the country, one in Cardiff and one in the west. In simple terms, that means those at Ospreys and Scarlets - the two westerly teams - are most feeling the heat.
Against this backdrop, Wales and Tandy somehow have to prepare for four huge matches with Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, and try to get a result or two that will at least keep them as high as their current world ranking of 12th, before the World Cup draw takes place just after this autumn's fixtures.
In the expanded 24-team tournament in Australia in 2027, being outside the top 12 means you risk being drawn against two of the world's best in your group, and facing a mountain to climb to reach the knockout rounds - as Wales have done in every World Cup since 2007.
Sheedy's Bristol team-mates warned him not to go back to the Welsh chaos but he knew it was the right time
Good news has been in short supply for Wales in recent years - but Sheedy is adamant they can get back to the top again
‘I don’t regret coming back to Wales at all. Not one bit,’ Sheedy says. ‘I loved my 10 years at Bristol. I’ve got some incredible memories. But when you’ve been somewhere that long, I think naturally you need a change.
'Cardiff is my home city. It felt right at the time and I’m pleased I did it. If it’s not your ambition to play for Wales, you’re in the wrong job. It’s still my dream to put on the red jersey. I’m in the squad now which is great.
‘But I’ve got to work hard every day to try and play. It’s a massive motivator for me. I’d love to wear the shirt again.’
All 16 of Sheedy’s previous Wales caps came under Wayne Pivac, the last of which was in 2022. But when Pivac departed and Warren Gatland returned for a second spell in charge, the fly-half never got a look in. He is now back to his best and in fine form.
‘When I got dropped after the 2022 Six Nations, I wasn’t playing well enough to be picked,’ says Sheedy, who is nothing if not honest. ‘I was inconsistent and it was probably the right decision. In the past three years, Wales hasn’t happened for whatever reason.
'I’m now a little bit older and a bit more mature on and off the pitch. Of course there is an opportunity for me. There are lots of good No 10s in Wales. It’s up to me to put my stamp on training and see if it’s good enough. I feel like I’m playing and managing games as well as I ever have.’
Sheedy is one of three frontline fly-halves in Wales’ autumn squad alongside Dan Edwards and Jarrod Evans. Joe Hawkins and Ben Thomas are primarily inside centres who can play there too.
Good news in Welsh rugby has been in short supply recently. But the form of Sheedy and Cardiff is cause for cheer. Despite losing their head coach Matt Sherratt just weeks before their first league game, Cardiff have won four of their opening five United Rugby Championship matches.
Sheedy has 16 caps, with his lone international try coming behind closed doors in Rome in the Covid-hit Six Nations of 2021
He insists his kicking is now back to his best, having pestered Leigh Halfpenny with questions
Sheedy has been a key figure and the fact Sherratt was one of his coaches at Bristol when he started out could help him when it comes to Wales selection in the coming weeks. Sherratt is now Tandy’s right-hand man and Wales attack coach.
When Cardiff entered administration, they were saved by the WRU and remain under the governing body's ownership. But it is hoped new buyers will soon arrive and a consortium headed up by Hollywood producers has already expressed an interest in doing so.
‘It’s been an interesting few weeks at Cardiff with Matt leaving. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but everything has gone really well all things considered,’ Sheedy says. ‘We’re pretty pleased. And the good thing is there is still a lot to work on. Personally, I feel in a really good place. I’m enjoying my rugby the most I have for ages.
‘When I was at Bristol, I had four seasons where I was kicking (attempts at goal) at 80 per cent or more. It was one of the best parts of my game. Last season, for whatever reason, my success rate dropped into the 60s. I couldn’t quite get to grips with it.
‘At Cardiff, we have Leigh Halfpenny in our squad now and he’s been a huge help to me. I feel very, very privileged to be able to pick his brains every day. I’m sure he’s fed up of me already as I ask him a million questions a day!
'His guidance is awesome for me and hopefully, we’re on the right path to get back to where I was.'
