Bath Rugby have released winger Regan Grace from his contract with the club to allow the former rugby league star to join United Rugby Championship side Cardiff Rugby with immediate effect.

Grace leaves Bath having made just two competitive appearances for the club, with two more appearances in friendlies, after signing in April 2024 after completing his rehab from a long-term Achilles injury at Farleigh House. The Welsh winger made his senior debut in the club’s Premiership Cup victory against Bedford Blues in November before going on to play his first European game for Bath against Benetton last month but has failed to break into the starting team.

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Port Talbot-born Grace – who received a call-up for Wales’ tour of Australia last summer but did not earn a Test cap after injuring his hamstring in a try scoring appearance against Wales – will add cover to Cardiff’s squad, which has been depleted by injuries to Mason Grady, Theo Cabango, Iwan Stephens and Harri Millard.

Grace, 28, leaves the Premiership club despite Bath having lost first choice winger Will Muir to a hamstring injury in Sunday's 35-34 defeat away at Northampton Saints. Former England winger Ruaridh McConnochie was the travelling reserve at Franklin's Gardens, with head of rugby Johann van Grann naming just one back amongst his replacements. The South African coach confirmed the versatile Tom de Glanville, who is primarily a full-back but also adept at playing on the wing is fit and available but was rested against the defending champions.

Speaking about Grace’s departure, Van Graan said: “I am extremely proud of Regan and our journey together. It started with a coffee off the pitch, all the way to making his debut for us, and then playing for Wales. I am proud of the journey he has been on. It started with rehab, very hard work and finished with a great testament to Regan and the club getting him back on to the pitch, making his senior and European debut for Bath. Regan’s best is yet to come, and we wish him well at Cardiff.”

Reflecting on his time in the South West, Grace said: “I would like to say thank you to Bath Rugby and the fans for giving me the opportunity to get back onto the field. I’ve loved being a part of this special team in a great city. I wish the club every success going forward.

“I’ve always been excited about Cardiff – it’s a big, historical club and a lot of legends have played here,” Grace said on the Cardiff website. “Coming back to play on home soil has also always been something I have wanted to do, so to do that in the capital city is a great opportunity.

“I’m very much aware of all the dual-code legends who have played for, or come through, Cardiff, so to follow in those footsteps is pretty cool. There’s a lot of competition in the back-three, from someone like Josh Adams, who is already a legend of the game, a British Lion who is so consistent for Wales, to guys like Theo Cabango and Gabe Hamer-Webb.

“So it’s a good, competitive environment and I’m looking forward to learning as much as possible from all those guys.

“I just want to play, to be able to put together back-to-back matches, be consistent and keep learning. You learn from playing and I’m looking forward to putting my hand up for selection.”

Before switching to rugby union, Grace made 142 appearances for St Helens, scoring 88 tries, and was part of the side which won three successive Super League Grand Finals before switching codes in July 2022.

Former Ospreys academy player Grace will be available for his Cardiff debut in the European Challenge Cup tie against Perpignan on Saturday.