'Relentless' Welsh prospect based in England aims to follow in Wales star's footsteps
Wales U20s captain Harry Beddall is hopeful of following in the footsteps of his Leicester Tigers team-mate and fellow openside Tommy Reffell by making a big impact in the senior game over the next couple of seasons.
Seven years ago, Reffell captained his country at U20s level before exploding onto the scene in the English Premiership with Leicester which has so far resulted in 23 senior Wales caps. Beddall is a similar mould of player to Reffell, with his ability to win turnover ball at the breakdown his clear point of difference.
"I try to model my game around him," said Beddall. "We are similar builds and I think the biggest similarity is the way we play. We both like getting over the ball and are strong in defence.
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"He's somebody really good to look up to. Jackling and getting over the ball is a huge part of his game and a huge part of my game as well.
"You don't really think twice about it when you are in a game, you see the ball and you just go for it. I think that's the way I want to keep looking at it."
The 20-year-old started his rugby with St Peter's RFC in Cardiff before taking up a place at Hartpury where he is still studying for a degree. It was through Hartpury the former Cardiff High School pupil was identified by Tigers as a star of the future.
Beddall made his senior Leicester debut at Welford Road against Coventry in the Premiership Rugby Cup last November and is viewed as a top prospect by the Leicester hierarchy.
Beddall will lead Wales U20s in front of an expected sell-out at the Stade de la Rabine for their Six Nations opener in Vannes against France U20s. His Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin insists he is the perfect man to lead his country into battle.
"He's someone that has very high emotional intelligence," said Whiffin. "He understands the barometer of the group.
"I think he speaks very well. An area where we lacked last year was an emotional spike on game day from the playing group and he's someone who brings that, not only with his words but his actions.
"He's a high-involvement player who works hard both sides of the ball. He's always in camera shot when you are looking at games.
"I feel he embodies the behaviour we want to see in our players. We are going down the mantra of being a team that is relentless and he embodies that in the way he plays the game."
There is a big incentive for all of the Wales U20s squad this season given the greater alignment with the senior national side. The likes of Warren Gatland and Rob Howley regularly attend under-20s training sessions, while a handful of players are asked to train with the senior side.
Just last week the under-20s got put through their paces by the senior side in a full hit-out which took place behind closed doors. Beddall insists this has added an extra motivation to all players ahead of the U20s Six Nations.
"Unfortunately he (Reffell) wasn't there when we trained against them last week," said Beddall. "It was really good.
"I think for us boys exposing us to that level and seeing the standard of where we need to get to and where we want to be. There were many boys who were in the under-20s Six Nations squad last year who have been with the senior squad this year, just training with them.
"That's where the boys in this team want to push for this year. You also get to see that it's not that far away.
"I think it just really motivates boys to work hard and push that extra mile."
Wales U20s team: Scott Delnevo (Aberavon); Harry Rees-Weldon (Ebbw Vale), Elijah Evans (Cardiff), Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff), Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears); Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Logan Franklin (Dragons); Ioan Emanuel (Bath), Harry Thomas (Scarlets), Sam Scott (Bristol Bears), Kenzie Jenkins (Bristol Bears), Nick Thomas (Dragons), Deian Gwynne (Gloucester), Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers), Evan Minto (Dragons). Replacements: Saul Hurley (Aberavon), Louie Trevett (Bristol Bears), Jac Pritchard (Scarlets), Tom Cottle (RGC), Dan Gemine (Ospreys), Carwyn Edwards (Cardiff Met), Harri Ford (Dragons), Tom Bowen (Cardiff).
