THERE’S NO DOUBTING STEFF’S VALUE TO SCARLETS
THE memory wanders back six or so years to a European game in France with the small travelling press pack featuring a youngster who was part of a Welsh radio commentary team.
His maturity was something else, along with his confidence.
He would have been around 21 back then.
That was Steff Hughes.
He was recovering from a major knee injury that had almost cost him his career but had captained Wales Under-20s and been identified very much as officer class.
They’ll be saluting him shortly as he heads for his 100th game for the Scarlets, needing to make just two more appearances to complete his century.
His leadership skills were especially to the fore last season when he stepped forward to direct operations under Brad Mooar in the potentially challenging times during the World Cup and Six Nations, when his region supplied many players to the Wales set-up.
The Scarlets were minus their firstchoice centre combination of Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies. It was akin to the Hole in the Wall Gang having to do without Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
But they coped, with Hughes stepping up to the plate to such effect that the West Walians’ then coach Mooar agreed with the suggestion that he could do a job in the Wales set-up if needed.
The New Zealander called him a ‘man of steel’ and said he hadn’t seen a fault in him. It was quite some endorsement, with Mooar further calling Hughes ‘son-in-law material’, a line that didn’t go unnoticed by those members of the Scarlets squad not averse to the odd spot of banter.
Wales haven’t come calling, though.
They have handed debut caps to countless centres since Hughes made his Scarlets debut in 2013, with Tyler Morgan, Owen Watkin, Owen Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams and Willis Halaholo stepping on to the Test scene.
But Hughes hasn’t been summoned.
Rare is it, too, that’s he’s even mentioned outside the Scarlets as a possible option for Wayne Pivac.
But in West Wales they know his value to the team.
Llanelli RFC coach Paul Fisher worked with him a lot as he sought to return to his best after his injury. He was impressed with the way he conducted himself.
“He’s a model professional and a fantastic role model, with an old head on young shoulders,” says Fisher.
“Over the years he’s had some terrible injuries, but he’s the type of guy who does everything to the letter: an injury that might keep someone else out for 16 weeks, perhaps Steff could be back in 12 because of the way he looks after himself.
“I coached him when he was a 15-year-old. He was bright, strong academically, with good leadership qualities.
“He’s been involved in coaching our regional age-grade teams at under-16s and under-18s over the last few years and he has a talent for that, with the way he puts information across.
“He’s a role model for the region.” Former Scarlets coach Glenn Delaney has called him the glue at the Scarlets.
Certainly he isn’t afraid to speak up in meetings or to referees. And he offers variety in midfield. He spent time at fly-half under Fisher with Llanelli in 2018-19 and
has a smart kicking game that offers opportunities for wide men. When the Scarlets played Ulster earlier this season, Hughes executed a pinpoint cross-kick that fell perfectly for Ryan Conbeer to score.
“His game understanding, his knowledge of the game, his work ethic and his ability to think outside the box – all those things he scores really well on,” says Fisher.
“He’s innovative and goes above and beyond to make sure he’s prepared in everything he does.” Why don’t Wales show an interest? “It’s a hard one to comment on.
Steff’s doing everything he can do,” says Fisher.
“I guess selection is always out of a player’s hands.”
In this month’s Rugby World, there’s no shortage of plaudits from others at the Scarlets.
As well as referring to him as the ‘glue’ in the environment, Delaney called him a genuine club man.
And skipper Ken Owens says in the same piece: “He will speak up and then he’ll normally send me a message after to say: ‘Sorry if I cut across you or overstepped the mark.’
“That’s how respectful he is.
“But he never has to apologise for things like that. It’s just the type of guy he is.”
Maybe at 5ft 10in and just a spud or two over 13st, Hughes is not deemed big enough for international rugby – it’s hard to say.
Certainly in a world of midfield behemoths, he cuts a slightly different figure.
But he relies on his skills to get by. He’s a nice passer, has a kicking game, a sharp brain and makes his tackles.
As Fisher says, all he can do is keep operating at his best.
He signed a new deal with the Scarlets only last week.
In the press release announcing the news, Scarlets general manager Jon Daniels said: “Steff embodies what we are about as a club.
“He has shown his character and resilience by coming back from a bad injury and for the last couple of years he has proved to be one of the most consistent performers week in, week out in Welsh rugby.”
Whether Wales call or not, he’s far from under-valued in his home region.
That matters.