Welsh rugby’s future may be in safe — and sizeable — hands, as 6ft 8in teenager Luke Evans emerges as a rising star in the national setup.
For all the recent soul-searching over Wales’ senior side and its perceived lack of grunt up front, a new generation of players is quietly building a reputation for size, strength and swagger. That was made abundantly clear during a media session at the Welsh Rugby Union’s National Centre of Excellence last week, where every member of the U20s squad was made available for interview.
Two things immediately struck attending journalists: the confidence that radiated from the young players, and the imposing physical presence of a forward pack more than capable of standing toe-to-toe with rugby’s traditional behemoths — England, France, and South Africa.
At the heart of that pack stands Luke Evans, a second-row from Exeter Chiefs who tips the scales at 117kg and towers at 6ft 8in. Just 18 years old, Evans is already being spoken of in excited tones by Welsh rugby bosses, who see him as part of a formidable front five being sculpted for the future.
Alongside the likes of tighthead prop Sam Scott, loosehead Ioan Emanuel and hooker Harry Thomas, Evans represents a new breed of Welsh forward — big, powerful, and relishing the physical battle.
“There’s a lot of big lumps everywhere you go but I think in this group we’ve got some very big boys,” Evans told WalesOnline.
“You’ve got the likes of Sam Scott and Ioan Emanuel in the front-row while we’ve got some big boys at lock who can front up.
“Even the not so big ones back themselves on physicality so taking on the bigger packs isn’t going to be a worry for us this summer.
“We aren’t going to use size as an excuse.
“That’s a bit of an oversight by the public because we back ourselves to beat teams physically.
“We are alright size wise.”
Evans and his teammates will need every ounce of that physicality and belief in the coming weeks. Wales have been drawn in a demanding pool at the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship, where they’ll face two of the most physically dominant teams in the tournament — Argentina and France.
Not that Evans is daunted. In fact, it’s clear he thrives on the prospect of a full-blooded battle up front.
“I love being able to front up to someone and beat them up legally on the field of play,” he said.
His enthusiasm for the physical side of the game is infectious — and exactly what Wales need as they look to re-establish themselves on the world stage. With talents like Evans coming through, the future looks not only bright, but bruising.
