Ben Cambriani could have been forgiven for feeling a shade sorry for himself after exiting Welsh rugby last year.
He hadn’t quite done enough to encourage the Ospreys to keep him on.
But, to his credit, the son of former Wales rugby league wing Adrian Cambriani didn’t moan.
Instead, he made his way to Ampthill in the English Championship, where he has gone from strength to strength under the coaching of former Wales fly-half Paul Turner, securing a place in the league’s 2021-22 team of the season.
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And the wing or centre has started this term as he finished the last one.
On Saturday, Ampthill came up against Ealing Trailfinders, Championship title holders and a club who are professional in pretty much every respect. Their squad contains Wales international Jonah Holmes and are captained by ex-Scarlets, Cardiff and London Irish fly-half Steve Shingler, with their installation as favourites to win the league once against appearing deserved.
They proved too strong for Ampthill, winning 32-17, but no-one eclipsed Cambriani on the day as the youngster ran in a hat-trick of tries, with the 22-year-old classed in some eyes as the man of the match.
The Rugby Paper described him as ‘irresistible’, awarding him a nine out of 10 in their player ratings, with only one other player on either side picking up an eight.
Playing out wide, Cambriani made the most of pretty much every scrap of ball that came his way, turning half chances into scores and just looking the part.
It was further confirmation that the kid who scored 10 tries in 12 games for Swansea in 2018-19 can play.
His father doubtless would have been proud.
Adrian made his debut for Swansea at the age of just 17, scoring against Welsh Academicals before touching down twice in his second game, against Aberavon, four days after his 18th birthday. But he then decamped to newly formed rugby league outfit Fulham, playing in the first game they ever played and scoring two tries in a 24-5 win over Wigan. You can read more about him and his son here.
A year later he was playing Test rugby for Wales in league.
What might have been had he stayed in union?
We will never know.
But the best of Cambriani junior’s rugby-playing future seems yet to come.
During Ben's time at Swansea, the Whites' then director of rugby Richard Lancaster stressed there's never any certainty about whether a young player will come through, but also said of the young three-quarter: "He is a strong runner who has a bit of swagger about him.
“He comes from good stock and has a lot of potential.
“He looks destined for big things.”
Out of Welsh rugby he may be.
But maybe Cambriani the younger could still make a serious name for himself.
The omens look promising.
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