The West Wing: Ryan Conbeer

The teenager from Saundersfoot started playing rugby for Tenby U9s, attending the local Ysgol Greenhill School (whose notable alumni includes former Wales international Tom Shanklin). He was scoring tries aplenty for nearby Narberth when he was selected for his first Wales U16 cap against England.
 
Further honours ensued, and Conbeer recalls with particular fondness the Wales U18 tour to South Africa – one which featured the lion’s share of the current U20 squad. “Two weeks away playing rugby with a really good group of boys was an amazing experience,” he says of the trip, which included matches against Italy and South Africa Schools.
 
Things have been moving fast for Conbeer ever since – and not just those lightning-quick feet. Last year, aged 17, he became one of the youngest players to represent the Scarlets when he started in the 44-21 Anglo-Welsh Cup victory against Bath. “It was a very tough game. It was a step up for me, because all of a sudden you’re playing against big, physical men. That made getting the win even better.”
 
This year, he progressed from the Scarlets Academy to gaining a new development contract, meaning he will be training full-time with the senior squad this summer. “I’m learning from some excellent players and coaches, so it can only be a good thing for me,” says the young man whose inspiration is, not surprisingly, another elusive Welsh wing: Shane Williams.
 
Conbeer announced himself in the U20 Six Nations this year with a remarkable try against Italy in the opening round of the Championship, finding space in the eye of a needle to score in the corner. “I don’t know how I did it,” he admits. “I got my hands on the ball and went for it. I got lots of tweets and messages after that one.” It was a good way to celebrate his 18th birthday weekend.
 
Eye-catching tries will always be what wingers are judged on – and Conbeer has certainly scored his fair share – but the youngster has been working with Wales U20 head coach Jason Strange on getting increasingly more involved in making an impact off his wing.
 
“I’m working on the unseen work that top wingers do in addition to scoring tries,” says Conbeer, who has been featuring for Llanelli as well as the Scarlets U18 side. “Every day is a learning day, but I’m lucky to be in a really positive environment and surrounded by good people to help me to continue improving.”
 
If earning his first U20 cap felt like a privilege, he says that to have started all five games this year “has been a dream. So many of us have grown up playing together, and that’s something that only adds to the unity of the squad. There’s a strong bond between the boys, which is getting stronger all the time.”
 
As for facing the French in the Stade Sapiac tonight, he says: “It’ll be tough, but if we do the things we’ve been practising in training, we’ll be alright. It’ll be our last international together as a team for a little while, so it would be brilliant to put in another good performance.”
 
France U20 v Wales U20 will be shown live tonight on BBC2 Wales from 19:50 GMT.