Buckland hoping to find regular rugby with Ponty
FORMER Wales U20s scrum-half Dafydd Buckland has lined up a return to rugby after his release from the Dragons.
The youngster had been the players’ man of the match when the Welsh juniors beat New Zealand in the World Rugby U20 Championship last year.
He left the Dragons earlier this summer after expressing frustration over his lack of rugby, but he is now set to be part of the Blues’ academy and play his club rugby for Pontypridd.
“The idea is I’ll be in the Blues’ set-up as part of their academy and play for Pontypridd,” he said.
“What I want more than anything is game-time.
“I’ve played only two games outside of Wales U20s this term – one start and one appearance off the bench for Newport RFC.
“Hopefully, I’ll get more time on the pitch in the new season.
“I live in Cardiff, so being within the Blues set-up will mean a lot. It will be a massive change of scenery and a massive experience.
“And Pontypridd are a club with a lot of tradition and great support.
“If I could have some games with them, then that would be great.
“I also want to secure a professional contract and show what I can do. All young players are the same and I’m no different. I just want to push on.
“I don’t want to fall into the category of a player who becomes a Wales U20s international and then slips off it.
“I want to make a career of it.” On a stormy day in Rosario, with play interrupted for 75 minutes while the weather gods did their worst, Buckland hit a career high with an excellent display against New Zealand U20s, the youngster mastering the conditions with no little skill and also showing tenacity in defence.
The Dragons put him in development blocks with the aim of building him up physically, but Buckland was eager to play. In May came a parting of the ways.
“I don’t have any ill-feeling towards the Dragons,” said Buckland.
“They helped me a lot and Matt O’Brien, one of the coaches there, was superb.
“I learned a lot and will always remember how much I enjoyed the age-grade experience, playing alongside my mates and just getting a huge amount out of my rugby.
“But it’s a new chapter now.” Buckland looks back fondly on his experiences with Wales U20s and, in particular, the 8-7 win over the Baby Blacks, when he came in as a replacement for the unwell Harri Morgan and played a key role in a historic success.
“It was a weird game with the weather and the break in play,” he said.
“But we showed a lot of character that day and did the job.
“It would have been great to round off my under-20s experience with another trip to the world championships this summer, but the coronavirus crisis meant it wasn’t to be.
“Still, I don’t think I’d change much about my time with them.
“I’ve played alongside some very good players.
“Jac Morgan, our captain in the Six Nations this year, is different level – unreal.
“He does everything at 110 percent and never gives up, no matter how difficult the situation is. That’s what makes him such a good player and such a good captain.
“Aneurin Owen, our centre, also played well and Sam Costelow showed what he could do. Sam has so much ability. He’s a good guy off the pitch and I think we gelled as a partnership on it.”
The 5ft 8in Buckland has filled out in recent months. “I’ve added seven kilos this year,” he said.
“I’ve been working with the fitness trainer Craig Hawkins and he’s helped me a lot.
“I’m up to 77kgs (12st 2lb), but I think how much you weigh isn’t as important as how much you can offer in terms of your skill, defence, attitude and all-round game.”