Star of the future flipped Wales international 'like a pancake' as Gatland call backed

Former Wales international Bradley Davies has identified Harri Deaves as a future Wales star.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Sportin Wales podcast, presenter and former Wales star Alex Cuthbert was joined by current international Josh Adams and former international Davies.

On the subject of breakthrough players, 66-cap Davies cited Ospreys flanker Deaves as someone who could make the step up in years to come.

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"If I was going to have any kind of scrap, I would have Harri Deaves in my back pocket," explained Davies. "Just a pocket rocket. Just brings some energy. For him, he didn't really get the chances to play for the region as much as he would have liked.

"They've spoken about him, though, so I think he is in their wider squad," added Cuthbert.

"You've got Tips (Justin Tipuric) and Jacky Mogs (Jac Morgan at Ospreys, as well)," added Adams.

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"He lives in Pontyclun, it's a big enemy of mine growing up in Llantrisant. 'They've got this kid down there, he's great', and you look at him and you think, maybe, is he too small?

"In the first training session he was like Brock Lesnar (WWE wrestler and UFC fighter), he was flipping me like a pancake. I remember trying to... and he just flipped me over my back! And I was like, 'oh my God, this guy must be super strong'.

"He's from Pontyclun mate, what do you expect!" exclaimed Cuthbert.

"He's just got this game about him, he's just got to kill," continued Davies.

"I've got to say," added Cuthbert. "There's no-one with that same mentality that he has. In training, you see him with his little yellow scrum hat and he is the only bloke in training that you try and hit as hard as you can. Even in a team run, you've got to hit him so hard."

"Is he injured at the moment?" asked Adams.

"He broke his hand," said Davies. "He's looking like Wreck-It-Ralph! But someone like him, he will come good. He has to. He's just one of these guys, like I said, you just bring him on, even if it's just for 20 minutes, just go out and cause carnage.

"I think he's a player Gats (Warren Gatland) would like. He's a bit like Jacky. The problem is, the last season I was there, Jac was a bit more gym-strong. As in, Jac's numbers in the gym are phenomenal, his power cleans, his bench, he's big - so he's all there."

The WRU list Deaves at 5ft 11in and weighing in at 100kg (15st 8lbs), but he has recently packed on more muscle, says Davies.

"With Deaves, he probably didn't buy into it at the start of his career, but now he's different," he added. "There's a big neck on him, he's strong, he's got a wrestler shape. His game has gone through the roof. He'll come good, mate."

"Last year, he got a lot of opportunities, Jac was injured," said Cuthbert. "I think then he had a taste of: 'Right, I'm actually good enough here', sometimes it's literally about having a run of games and having the belief of: 'I am actually good enough'."

Watch the full episode of Sportin Wales by clicking here.

Deaves was picked up by Ospreys while at Bridgend College, before the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from earning his start against England for Wales U19s. He spent two years recovering from injury before he featured for Wales U20s in the 2021 Six Nations. At 14 years old, Deaves played rugby league for South Wales Rabbitohs with current Wales international Sam Costelow.