When did you start playing rugby?

I started at Hendy when I was about six. I played rugby and football until I moved into youth rugby, then the games were on Saturday so I had to choose.

Who was your boyhood hero?

My grandfather is Irish and Tommy Bowe has always been my idol.

Have you played other positions?

I was an openside until I was about 12 then the coaches saw I had a bit of  pace and switched me to full-back or wing. I am mostly wing now but play a  bit of centre for my club, Llanelli.

Who has had a big influence on you?

Byron Hayward, with Wales U20 last year and now with the Scarlets, and Dai Flanagan at the Scarlets too.

When did you first link up with the Scarlets?

I played for their U16s and U18s and then got an academy contract when I was 18, when I came out of playing for Wales U18s. I made my first-team debut in the last LV= Cup game in November. It was a really good experience and it was a Wales derby, against Cardiff Blues, with a crowd of over 6,000.

Are you learning a lot from Wales U20?

It was really good last year. It helped me as a player. On a Tuesday we train against the senior Wales squad so defending against the likes of George North and Alex Cuthbert is a great experience and means I don’t worry about defending boys my age.

What are your aims now?

I hope to have a really good Six Nations with Wales U20 and, fingers crossed, I want to get selected for the U20s World Championship in Italy and do well there. Hopefully that will propel me into first-team contention for the Scarlets next season.

RW Verdict: This sports performance and management student runs 40 metres in 4.88 seconds ­ just a couple of tenths slower than Alex Cuthbert and George North ­ so he has the critical raw materials to be a top player.