CHECK OUT CHRIS CZEKAJ

“My goal at the start of the season was to play regularly for the Cardiff team in the Welsh Premier Division, make the Wales U21 team and go to the IRB U21 World Cup.

“But this takes it to the next level. Things have just gone so much better than that an I hope I can handle it and do my best.

“I really enjoyed playing for Cardiff in the Welsh Premier Division, but I found the step up to the Blues a lot more physical. People like Mike Rayer have been so important in helping my development, and on the tour it’s really been a benefit to have Rhys Williams and so many Blues players around.”

So where did the 6′ 3″, near 16 stone wing spring from? His five tries in the U21Six Nations campaign certainly caught the eye, as did his 13 tries in 18 games for Cardiff.

Now he is set to become the 59th teenager to play for Wales. Not that donning the red jersey will be anything new to him. In total, he has 26 caps from Wales U16 to U21 levels and scored on his debut in a Welsh shirt against Italy U17 in Calvisano on 23 April 2002.

A product of the highly successful Llandaff Rugby Club junior section, he first started playing when he was seven. He played for Cardiff Schools and East Wales at U11 and progressed from there.

Here is a breakdown of his Welsh appearances and a list of Wales’ teenage caps.

CHRIS CZEKAJ’S WELSH APPEARANCES

At Corpus Christi C.S for Wales U16
Scored a try on his debut vs Italy U-17 at Calvisano
Scored a try vs England at Llanelli
Played vs England at Widnes
Scored a try vs Italy U17at Swansea

At St. Davids College for Wales Schools U18
Played vs Scotland U-19 at Neath
Played vs France on 15/2/03 at Marmande
Played in Non-capped game vs Wales Youth at Neath
Played vs England on 12/4/03 at Ebbw Vale
Played vs Ireland at Narbeth

For Wales U19
Scored two tries vs Italy at Ebbw Vale
Played vs. Ireland at Cork
Played vs. France at Bridgend
Scored a try vs England at Morley

U19 World Cup in South Africa
Scored a try vs Italy at Durban
Played vs France at Pietermaritzburg
Scored two tries vs Scotland at Pietermaritzburg
Came on as a replacement vs Australia at Durban

U21 World Cup
Made debut vs Russia at Gala
Played vs South Africa at Glasgow
Played vs England at Glasgow
Scored vs France at Edinborough
Played vs England at Glasgow

Scored a try in non-capped game vs NZ Youth at Aberavon

U21 Six Nations
Scored two tries vs England at Newport
Scored a try vs Italy at Chieri
Played vs France at Aurillac
Played vs Scotland at Aberdeen
Scored two tries vs Ireland at Neath

At Cardiff
Played 18 times for Cardiff in Welsh Premier Division 2004/2005 scoring 13 tries (65 points).
Played twice for Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League

TEENAGE CAPS FOR WALES

10 players have been aged 18 when first capped
Norman V Biggs – Born: 03/11/1870   Cap: 22/12/1888    Age: 18/50 days
Evan Williams – Born: 18/06/1906   Cap: 17/01/1925    Age: 18/214 days
Thomas W Pearson – Born: 10/05/1872    Cap: 03/01/1891    Age: 18/239 days
David W Bowen – Born: 04/05/1864    Cap: 16/12/1882     Age: 18/8 mnths
B Lewis Jones – Born: 11/04/1931    Cap: 31/01/1950    Age: 18/10 mnths
Wm Henry Thomas – Born: 22/03/1866    Cap: 10/01/1855    Age: 18/11mnths
Keith Jarrett – Born: 18/05/1948    Cap: 15/04/1967    Age: 18/11 mnths
Haydn Tanner – Born: 09/01/1917    Cap: 21/12/1935    Age: 18/11 mnths
Algernon F Hill – Born: 13/01/1866    Cap: 10/01/1885     Age: 18/362 days
G Llewellyn Lloyd – Born: 1877    Cap: 14/03/1896     Age: 18 yrs(dob unknown)

49 players have been aged 19 when first capped

(Pre WWar2)
Fred Andrews
William J Bancroft
Thomas Barlow
John Bartlett
Arthur Bassett
David Daniel
Eiryn Davies
WTH (Willie) Davies
Owen Evans
Robert Gould
Arthur Hickman
John Jenkins
Edgar Jones
G Rees-Jones
Tom Baker Jones
Cliff Jones
Henry Jordan
David H Lewis
Windsor H Lewis
D Percy Lloyd
W Guy Morgan
Jack Morley
Ronnie Morris
William Norton
Dai Parker
Harry Peacock
Bill Roberts
Lewis Thomas
Hugh Vincent
Phil Waller
Frank Williams

(Post WWar2)
Robert Ackerman
Trevor Brewer
CHRIS CZEKAJ
Glyn Davies
Leigh B Davies
Terry J Davies
John Devereux
Gareth Edwards
Scott Gibbs
Gavin Henson
Neil Jenkins
Windsor Major
Terry Price
David Thomas
Malcolm Thomas
Richard Webster
JPR Williams
David Young