QUESTIONS

SCARLETS SECOND ROW

How’s pre-season going? I’ve been back since June 15, earlier than most players because I’m on a bulking programme, so it’s been a while but it’s all going well. How do you put on weight? It’s a bit like in bodybuilding where you put on a bit too much weight at first and then shed it with intense fitness sessions. It’s key to learn how to manage your body and stay in peak shape. What were the reasons behind it? I was 110kg (17st 3lbs) when I joined last year but I’m now 116kg and looking to get to 118kg (18st 5lbs). Being a year older body-wise (he’s 23) has helped me too. I should be able to deal better with the physicality of the Pro12. Anything in your game you’re particluarly woking on? Rugby is getting quicker and quicker so it’s important to improve my work rate around the park. It means a lot more running and that’s when it can be hard to keep the weight on. The set piece is still so crucial, too, so it’s always a focus of mine. Happy with you first season at the Scarlets? I started a fair few games at the beginning of the season and ended with ten starts in 16 games in all competitions. I would have liked a few more but, given it was in a new league and a new environment, I was happy enough. What’s next for you? There’s a lot of competition in the engine room and the club have signed two new second rowers but I’ll just keep my head down and try to become a regular. Is that why you left Leicester? I didn’t play as much as I’d have liked there so moving was the only way for me to get some experience. Why the Scarlets? I spoke to my agent and Wayne Pivac got in touch. We had a chat about the club and which direction they wanted to go. It made sense to move to Llanelli in the end. Are you Welsh qualified? Yes because my grandad is Welsh but I’m not thinking about that. I need to play well for the Scarlets first. Club first, country second as they say. How long were you at the Tigers? Six years coming through the academy before spending three seasons in the first team. It was a big culture shock to move to West Wales at first but it was the best decision for me. You won the 2013 Junior World Cup with England, beating Wales in the final – how does that go down in Llanelli? I still get some stick for it now at the Scarlets because there are a couple of boys who played for Wales in the final. How do you look back at the Scarlets’ season? We started really well winning our first six games and being top of the league. But we shot ourselves in the foot a few times after that and it was disappointing to miss out on the play-offs. Is that the big target for this season? Yes! We’re working hard in pre-season to make sure we start the season well again and put us in good stead for the rest of the year. Do you take pride in being the only Welsh region in the Champions Cup? Yes that was a good achievement, but we know we have to really push on after not being able to win a game in the pools last season. Tough pool again with Saracens, Toulon and Sale? They all look pretty tough to be fair. It’ll be a great test to see where I’m at as a player and where we stand as a team. Sarries have done the double last season and Toulon have some big names. Sale are always improving so they’ll be tough, too. If not rugby, what would you be doing? I would have probably gone into sports coaching. I enjoy PE so something along those lines would have been nice. Favourite cheat meal? Steak and chips, although a Domino’s deal on a Tuesday goes down well once in a while. Three special dinner guests? Barack Obama, Kanye West and Karl Pilkington Best and worst banter at the Scarlets? Aussie prop Dylan Evans is the best probably and I’ll give the worst to Pete Edwards. Best and worst dressed? Will Taylor is probably the best but Steffan Evans is the worst.