Welsh international Cory Allen signs two year deal with Ospreys Rugby
Ospreys Rugby have announced the signing of Welsh international Cory Allen. The Cardiff-born centre, who celebrated his 24th birthday earlier this month, has signed a two-year deal with the region and will link up with his new team-mates at Llandarcy Academy of Sport for the first time this summer.
Allen joins the Ospreys from Cardiff Blues, where he came through the ranks to make his debut as an 18-year old in an LV= Cup tie against Newcastle in 2011.
Capped by Wales at U18 level, he was in the Wales U20 side that made history the following summer by defeating New Zealand at the Junior World Championship in South Africa (9-6), as the team progressed to the semi-final.
A year later he made a huge impression on the sevens circuit with the Wales squad, winning the HSBC Sevens World Series Fans’ Favourite Try of the Year with his solo effort in the final of the Hong Kong Sevens against Fiji.
It was the 2013-14 season that saw him fully establish himself at the Arms Park, his form being recognised by a first ever call into the senior national squad, making his debut when he started at the Millennium Stadium against Argentina in the autumn series before going to South Africa on tour the following summer.
To date he has four full caps, his last coming at the 2015 Rugby World Cup when he scored a hat trick, his first tries in senior international rugby, in a 54-9 win over Uruguay. He has played 56 times for the Blues, scoring 12 tries.
With Keiron Fonotia arriving at the Liberty Stadium earlier this season and James Hook already confirmed as an addition to the squad for next year, along with exciting young Welsh talent coming through the ranks including Joe Thomas and Owen Watkin (both 20) and Kieran Williams (19), Tandy believes that the increased competition for places is clear to see.
The signing of Cory Allen is the second new face confirmed for 2017/18 following the re-signing of James Hook.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys’ newest Wales international, Sam Davies, Justin Tipuric, Dan Baker and Dan Lydiate (NDC) have all recommitted to the region, putting pen to paper on new contracts.