Young Bluebirds compete in Victory Shield

City's young prospects recently gained further international experience, competing in the prestigious Victory Shield. 

In Wales' U16s squad were Leo Papyrnik, Jacob Norris, Logan Cartwright, Keano Conaty and Rob Tankiewicz. 

The side recorded a win on penalties over Northern Ireland following a 3-3 draw in normal time, before a 3-2 defeat to the Republic of Ireland. 

Their campaign ended on a positive note, defeating Scotland 1-0. Featuring in the competition provided further experience, which will be invaluable to their development.

Commenting on the experience, Lead Youth Development Coach Ben Adams said: "The history of the competition is clear for everyone to see with the number of players who have previously played in the Victory Shield and have since progressed. It was fantastic for the boys to play so many minutes across the camp. They went into the international camp building on their development at club level and their individual development plans. To showcase their ability at international level is great for us to see. Since returning to the Club, we've reviewed their experience, allowed them to set goals they can achieve both with us and back on international camp. When they come back, they're able to draw on the experiences they've had and apply it to the Academy environment with the competitions that await us this season."

Reflecting on the campaign, Leo Papyrnik added: "Playing for my country means a lot. It's a big tournament and it was a good experience for all of us there. I found the whole tournament really positive, they were hard fixtures, but as a group, we overcame them well and it shows how together we are as a squad. We learned a lot about the high standards that it takes to play at an international level."

Rob Tankiewicz said: "The experience is brilliant. It is such a prestigious tournament, there are a lot of top players that you play both with and against, so it's good to experience that. We faced some really good sides. We had a great comeback in the first game to get a draw. As a group, we created a lot of opportunities throughout the competition, which was a real positive. Going into every camp is always a pleasure."

Logan Cartwright added: "It was my first international camp away, so it was a great achievement for me. Playing in the competition felt immense to be able to experience such a high standard. The games we played in, we gave everything and it's nice to come back with some results. We have the value as a squad of being like a family, so it's a great environment. Coming back to Cardiff City, we still uphold those values."