While the primary focus is of course on the pitch, the Cardiff Blues have also been busy preparing for life outside and after rugby with the help of the Welsh Rugby Players Association.
In the last 12 months there has been a renewed emphasis on improving opportunities for players away from the pitch to ensure that they are prepared for life after rugby.
Several players have now embraced the opportunity to develop new, vocational skills by enrolling in a number of courses and signing up to work experience placements.
Cardiff and Vale College, Merthyr College, Coleg y Cymoedd, and USW have all facilitated players and Phil Davies, Cardiff Blues WRPA, has been impressed by the intake.
Phil Davies, Cardiff Blues said “There is a lot of exciting stuff going on and in partnership with the Colleges and Universities, particularly Cardiff and Vale College, and some of the regions commercial partners, which is great to see.
“It is vitally important that players have the opportunity to develop themselves as people as well as rugby players.
“We all know the associated risks and the fact that a rugby career can be over in a second so we are doing everything we can to give players the chance to develop potential careers off the pitch.
"We have such a variety of people within the squad with several of the squad currently studying or
building up their business interests.
“It has been great to see the likes of Brad Thyer and Dillon Lewis starting Fat Dragon Coffee from scratch and Fa’ao Filise hitting the ground in retirement with Dragon Signs."
Players have signed up for a wide variety of courses including business, accountancy, sports science and construction. For example Rey Lee-Lo and Seb Davies have signed up for a construction course at Cardiff and Vale College.
Several players have also taken up the opportunity to work with some of the regions own department and commercial partners. For example, Lloyd Williams is spending his day off shadowing the commercial team at Cardiff Arms Park.
For more information about the WRPA's work in Welsh rubgy, please visit WRPA.co.uk