Cambridge Rugby Club winger Kwaku Asiedu takes ‘tough’ decision to move on due to work commitments

Commitments off the field made it untenable for Kwaku Asiedu to continue playing for Cambridge – yet it was still a difficult decision for the winger to make.

A new role at work has left Asiedu unable to commit with the training demands required to turn out for a RFU Championship club on a regular basis.

And as such, the former Coventry player has opted to drop down to the Regional 1 South East with Letchworth Garden City.

“My role at work has extended and there are some nights where I’m not finishing until 8pm,” said Asiedu.

“Last year in the Championship it was a big step up with more training and I just couldn’t commit to it again this season. Work is going to be there for the next 30 or 40 years, but in rugby I probably only have a couple of good seasons left in me.

“I’ve known Richie (Williams, Cambridge director of rugby) for more than 10 years and he’s always a coach that has backed me.

“He’s someone that has always given me a lot of confidence and still played me even when I haven’t always played well.

“It was a tough conversation to have with him, but he’s sent some nice messages and he understood my decision.”

Asiedu’s departure has marked the end of a successful stint at Grantchester Road.

Having initially impressed during a loan spell in 2018/19, the 30-year-old returned to the club on a permanent basis in 2021.

He quickly established himself the reputation of being a serial try scorer – and no player dotted down more times than Asiedu during Cambridge’s historic promotion in 2022/23.

“That season was outstanding,” he said. “It showed everything that Cambridge is about.

“We were never first until that last day of the season but that just goes to show the spirit and that we never give up.

“I’ve still got my jersey from that season and it’s something I’ll always treasure.”

A first ever campaign in the Championship proved to be somewhat of a baptism of fire for Cambridge, who finished finished bottom with two victories.

However, there was no relegation and Asiedu is confident that the club will be a different force next season.

He added: “I’d played some Championship rugby before and knew it was going to be tough. I expected the players to be bigger, faster and stronger – and they were.

“If you look at a lot of the games, it was little details that were the difference and stopped us winning more games. But when I look at the players Richie has got in this summer, I think they’ll do very well next year. We needed a bit more experience and Richie has got plenty of that in.

“I’m looking forward to getting along and watching a few games when I’m not playing.”