Cardiff’s players have been praised after winning the Welsh Shield a day after director of rugby Dai Young was suspended, a development that left his son Thomas “visibly upset”.
Several complaints have been made over Young’s conduct by employees including players, BBC Wales Sport has learned.
Cardiff have confirmed Young has not been at the club since Thursday because of “unforeseen circumstances”.
Cardiff shook off the controversy with a 38-21 win over Ospreys on Saturday.
However captain Josh Turnbull said the news, which was given to the players on the eve of their final game of the season, hit Young’s son Thomas hard.
“Thomas was visibly upset yesterday in training and it’s going to be emotional for him,” said Turnbull.
“At the end of the day that’s his father and there’s always going to be that emotional connection.
“You just have to get around people like him, put an arm around him, be there for him and make sure he’s focused on his job.
“It took us all by surprise [but] for me as captain, it was quite easy to say ‘let’s stick to task and carry on doing what we need to do’.
“There were 10 boys in that 23 who were leaving or retiring at the end of the season. This performance was about them today and everyone else who is involved in the club who’s moving on.”
Young scored two tries and created a third to inspire Cardiff to victory over rivals Ospreys and lift the Welsh Shield at Principality Stadium.
The result saw Cardiff qualify for the Heineken Champions Cup next season, though whether Young will be at the helm remains to be seen.
Assistant coach Richard Hodges took charge for what was also his last game after nine years at the Arms Park, as he will join Italian side Zebre next season.
“I had a phone call late on Thursday night and it was a shock. I haven’t spoken to Dai since,” he said.
“The news broke so late in the week that 99% of the preparation had already been done [but] the boys deserve an awful lot of credit for that performance .
“Anybody that wants to point the finger about a split in the camp or the boys not performing towards the end of the season is talking rubbish.
“They showed what a tight-knit group they are. There was only one side in that first half, they were superb.
“Players have had an awful lot of turmoil in their personal and private life, so the outlet has been rugby.
“For them to cross the white line in a training session or a game is where they can get their release and that was probably Thomas’ today.”
Hodges reassured Thomas Young – who is on the fringes of Warren Gatland’s international team – on Friday morning that he wanted him part of the team for the game despite the issue surrounding his father.
Hodges said: “It was a tough one for Thomas but you could see how much it meant to him.
“It’s his dad who is involved so we had a coffee with him and made it 100% that we want him to play and he said he wasn’t going to turn this down.
“He’s knocking on the door for a Welsh shirt as well and he’s performed superbly well.”
