Back in 2018, it was reported that Wales were keeping tabs on four England-based centres, all of whom had played some form of rugby with a red rose on their chest: Nick Tompkins, Johnny Williams, Joe Marchant and Max Clark were the quartet in question.
Fast forward four years and three have won senior international honours. Tompkins and Williams did eventually turn out to be worth keeping an eye on, with each making their Welsh debut under Wayne Pivac. As for Marchant, he continued to wear the white of England, winning 12 caps since being handed his senior bow by Eddie Jones against Wales back in 2019.
As for the latter of the four, Clark has yet to make an appearance on the Test scene. However, he could so easily have been the first. Back in 2017, Clark turned down the chance to tour Tonga and Samoa with Wales and in doing so retained his option of turning out for England.
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Born in Bridgend but having played for England's age-grade sides, it made sense to keep his choices open at the age of 21. However, a little way down the line and, with no senior international honours to his name, it seems like Clark is forging his own path.
That means swapping Bath for the Dragons next season, suggesting he has thrown his lot in with Wales when it comes to Test selection. The question now is whether he's good enough.
It's no secret that Wales are short on midfield options and Wayne Pivac is keen to bolster his squad depth with Wales-qualified players plying their trade away from the four professional sides. Could Clark potentially become an option at some point?
For some insight, we asked the opinions of John Evely, who covers Bath Rugby for Somerset Live. In a tough campaign at the Rec, he says Clark has managed to make his mark. "Bath have had a dismal season but Clark has been something of a bright spot, playing much more than he would have perhaps expected with 14 appearances in the Gallagher Premiership so far," the Bath expert told us.
"Clark has played at 12 and 13 this season, but is behind Scottish international Cam Redpath and 53-cap England star Jonathan Joseph in the depth chart at Bath, while the emergence of Max Ojomoh - who was called in to train with England ahead of the summer internationals - has further hampered his chances and no doubt has played a part in his departure. Clark is certainly good enough to be a starter each week, he is a powerful runner with nice hands and ability of offload to make him a dual threat."
So, for fans at Rodney Parade, there's every chance he could be a good acquisition. Those are all skills which would endear him to supporters in Gwent.
Depth has long been an issue there and the addition of Clark alongside the likes of Aneurin Owen, Jack Dixon and Adam Warren is only a good thing. A cynic, however, might question why he is now crossing the border, having once turned down Wales' advances.
"Let’s be honest," Evely adds, "Clark hasn’t been Bath’s first-choice inside centre during his time at the club and he looks a million miles from Eddie Jones’ plans with England despite the head coach still looking for the missing piece of the puzzle in his backline. I think Clark realises he needs to nail down a starting spot in a club team first before chasing his own international ambitions.
"Pivac has not been a regular at the Rec this season although we know he and his coaching staff watch a significant number of the club’s games due to Taulupe Faletau being in the side. I am not aware of Pivac being directly in contact with Clark about joining a region but I think for any fringe player their chances of international selection for Wales are enhanced when they move back over the border."
So back to that question - is he good enough for Test honours? Five years ago, he was, at least, worth a look. Have things changed significantly since then?
"I am not convinced Clark has the X-factor to be an international rugby player," admits Evely. "Everything about his game is very solid, making him a top club player, but whether he can step up to the next level is unclear.
"With Wales seemingly uncertain of their best pairings in the centre with a number of stalwarts either injured or ageing, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was given a shot in the summer on the tour to South Africa. But with the countdown to the World Cup now very much in mind, Wayne Pivac will certainly not want to waste too many games trying wildcard players and combinations which I think you would have to classify Clark as. However, I know some of his team-mates have backed him to be playing in red soon."
