Rising star Ryan Woodman hopes to become the latest product from the Dragons Academy to step up to the highest stage – even if his best position remains up for debate.
Woodman was one of a six-strong Dragons contingent in the Wales Under-20s side that finishes their Six Nations campaign against Italy in Colwyn Bay tomorrow (kick-off 2pm).
The lock starts along with wing Oli Andrew, scrum-half Morgan Lloyd, tighthead Adam Williams and number eight Ben Moa while hooker Connor Chapman is on the bench.
Woodman, 18, is hoping to become the latest Caldicot RFC player to become a regional second rower – following in the footsteps of the likes of Joe Davies and Ben Carter.
But the 6ft 4ins prospect – who starts in the second row this weekend and calls the lineout for Wales Under-20s - doesn't expect to specialise just yet as he looks to map out his career.
"It's not really set in stone," said Woodman. "I'm young and have time to settle into a position if I need to but you have players now at international level who start at 6 and move forward if a second row goes off.
"I don't see why I can't be a big 6 who changes to second row if needs be, or the other way round.
"At the start (of this campaign) I didn't really expect to be playing, maybe on the bench," he admitted.
"It's been really, really enjoyable. My first game was against Scotland and winning that game was the best experience that I have had in rugby.
"Against France the result wasn't what we wanted but I felt that I had a decent game. It's been good for my development and I think I will come out of this a better player."
Woodman is already turned heads at Ystrad Mynach with his development at such a young age and has enjoyed a first taste of senior rugby with Dragons after training with the senior squad.
"I did pre-season when I had just turned 17 and that was a good experience," said Woodman, who worked closely with Harri Keddie.
"It was tough and a first taste of that environment with long six or seven-hour days of fitness and big physicality."
Wales U20: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Josh Hathaway (Scarlets), Bryn Bradley (Harlequins), Eddie James (Scarlets), Oli Andrew (Dragons); Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), Morgan Lloyd (Dragons); Cameron Jones (Ospreys), Morgan Veness (Ealing), Adam Williams (Dragons), Benji Williams (Ospreys), Ryan Woodman (Dragons), Alex Mann (Cardiff, captain), Tom Cowan (Bath), Ben Moa (Dragons).
Replacements: Connor Chapman (Dragons), Joe Cowell (Cardiff Met), Nathan Evans (Cardiff), Lewis Jones (Ospreys), Ethan Fackrell (Cardiff), Luke Davies (Scarlets), Josh Phillips (Scarlets), Iestyn Hopkins (Ospreys)
