Wales Under-20s take on Italy Under-20s at Rodney Parade this Sunday afternoon - and what better time than now to take a look at our Dragons Academy members within the squad.
Six Dragons players were named by Head Coach Richard Whiffin within the squad, winger Rhys Cole, second row/back row Cerrig Smith, hooker James Talamai, scrum-half Carter Pritchard, prop George Tuckley and backrower Evan Minto.
First, we take a look at Aberbargoed-born Rhys Cole who has already made a couple of appearances in Dragons colours, scoring a brilliant brace in the preseason friendly against Hartpury.
“I started my rugby journey at six-years-old at Blackwood RFC,” recalled Rhys.
“The first time I got interest in rugby was seeing one of my close mates have a game and I thought - ‘I really want to want to have a go at this’ - the week after I went down to the club with him and it went from there.”
Those connections with Blackwood remain strong for Rhys, who played with the club up until the second year of youth before Dragons Under-18s.
The friends he made aged six continue to be the same now, with them keeping him grounded to his Gwent roots.
“Everyone there is so close together you grow up as a family basically, and you’re with them all your life,” said Cole.
“You grow that bond with each other and that never let’s go. I went to Ireland for the weekend and all the Blackwood boys came along as well, coaches came and parents.
“It was an amazing weekend with them. With rugby I don't get much time to see them but when I do you still have that connection with each other, nothing changes.”
Impressive performances for Dragons U18s earnt Cole, and several others such as Smith and Pritchard, a place in the Wales U18s squad for a trio of games in Vichy.
There, Wales completed an unbeaten festival, beating Ireland, Georgia and Italy out in France, providing a brilliant taste of international rugby.
That led into the summer for Cole, who, at the end of the summer, was given another opportunity as Dragons took on Hartpury in preseason, scoring twice.
“Filo (Tiatia) came up to me in the middle of training telling me I was going to be involved in the Hartpury game and it was crazy,” said Cole.
“You’ve just got to take every opportunity on board and if you want to progress you have to fight for everything.
“The following week I was playing at Rodney Parade against Scarlets, which was the first time I’d played there.
“I remember when I was a junior with Blackwood RFC a social group of us used to go down there and watch games at Rodney Parade.
“My dream was always to play on there for the Dragons.”
From there, Cole represented Wales U19s at Ystrad Mynach against England in December before joining up with U20s ahead of the Six Nations.
“Everything's just so unexpected,” admitted Cole. “With Under 19s, that was an amazing experience, to play on my home ground at Ystrad Mynach as a Dragons player and to score a try as well was amazing.
“Now being in the Under-20s environment, I haven't been playing but I’m getting good feedback from the coaches and it’s about keeping my head down, keep pushing and keep fighting for that position.
“The competition for places always brings the best version of yourself, you always want that starting jersey and it brings out the person that you never thought you could be.”
On Cole, Academy Coach Adam Thomas who worked with the speedster at Under-18s and now within the Dragons set-up said: “Rhys has had some exposure to the senior environment with both Pontypool and within the Dragons environment, excelling in training with them.”
“That exposure to the U20s environment will help him looking to the remainder of the SRC campaign and into next season.
“As Academy coaches we always talk about that physical development for those boys coming through and making that jump up into senior rugby but that is probably what Rhys has in his armoury early doors.
“He’s definitely physical enough, powerful and quick enough, so the more he can get his hands on the ball in that senior environment the more he’ll grow.”
Tickets are available NOW for Wales Under-20s clash against Italy Under-20s at Rodney Parade this weekend. CLICK HERE to buy online.
