When Ioan Lloyd reflects on the whole experience of having made his Wales debut at 19, a couple of words sum it up for him: “Absolutely crazy.”
The utility back from Cardiff had made just four starts for Bristol when he won his first cap against Georgia in November 2020, with a second outing to follow versus Italy a fortnight later. As he looks back, some two years on, he readily admits it was surreal in the extreme.
“I was not really living in the moment at the time. Everything was going so quickly. It was way ahead of where I was actually seeing,” he says.
“I’ve had a couple of years to reflect on that first cap now. At the time I didn’t really appreciate how ridiculous the whole experience was. I felt so lucky to be there. Thinking back now, it’s absolutely crazy.
“Running on to the pitch for my first cap, I was coming on for Liam Williams. I was like ‘What the hell is going on?’. The whole game was a blur. I can’t really remember anything about it.
“Then the pictures get sent out afterwards. I was scrolling through them and there’s one of me where George North is in the background. Again it was ‘What the hell?’ It suddenly shocks you all over again. It’s crazy.”
It was at full-back he came on in the two games, which were both played behind closed doors at Parc y Scarlets, amid the Covid lockdown. The black jersey he wore against Georgia is on display in his flat, while the red one he donned versus Italy is with his mum.
“I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity. If I ever get the chance again, hopefully I will be able to see it as it is and take it on board a bit more,” he said.
Lloyd did feature again in last summer’s squad for the Tests against Canada and Argentina, but didn’t get any further game-time. There were calls for him to be included in this year’s Six Nations group after an outstanding performance against Sale at Ashton Gate in January, but it wasn’t to be and he continues to bide his time in the wait for another international opportunity.
But, at just 21, he has plenty of time on his side, not to mention an abundance of natural ability. He also acknowledges he is still learning the game, a process facilitated by him having appeared in every position in the Bristol back-line during his 60 first-team outings. So where can we expect to see him lining up this season?
“I am training as an inside centre/fly-half at the moment which I’m really enjoying. The way we play at Bristol, centre sort of plays as a second 10. I always played 10 when I was younger, I love playing there. But, to be honest, I’m happy anywhere, as long as I’m on the pitch," he says.
“I am still learning so much of the game. Playing those different positions helps me learn. Having played on the wing, I know when I am at 10 exactly where my wingers should be standing and what they are looking for and the same for the other positions.
“Even having a little dabble at scrum-half, you get an appreciation of how hard it actually is when people are expecting quick ball after quick ball. You realise how tough it is to get from ruck to ruck quickly and get that ball away on a sixpence. It’s very hard.
“Definitely at some point I would like to nail one position down and put my own stamp on it, wherever it is, but there is still a bit of time.”
Lloyd now has a very familiar face alongside him in the Bristol squad, in the shape of his younger brother Jac, who played at fly-half for Wales U20s earlier this year. So will we find Jac carrying Ioan’s kit around for him?
“No chance. He’s gets more privileges than me! He’s settled in well. I’ve had a couple of years speed training over him, but he’s catching me every day. There are definite similarities in the way we play. Jac plays very instinctively. He sees the game very well.
“I would like to think of myself as an instinctive player too. My first instinct growing up was always to run. Over the last couple of years, it's been a case of learning to judge game situations a bit better. There is a time to run and there are situations where that offload is on and you trust your instincts.
"But sometimes it’s just better to hold it. It’s little things like that, judging situations in games and how you don’t need to force it. I am still learning with things like that. I am still making mistakes which I am learning from and trying my best to better myself in that way.”
So, looking ahead to the new season, what are the hopes and ambitions for the former Glantaf pupil, who played his junior rugby for St Peters RFC, CRICC and Cardiff Blues U16s, before moving over the bridge to Clifton College?
“Trophies with Bristol. I want to win stuff with this team. I love the boys. The whole environment and culture that we have is amazing. Being a Cardiff boy originally, I feel a little bit Bristolian after these couple of years.
“I have been welcomed so well into the team. All the coaching staff and all the players have helped me so much. I would love to see us win some stuff this year. Before I can even think about getting back into the Welsh set-up, I’ve got to do it here first.”
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