Five years ago, Alex Dombrandt played for Wales U20s against England U20s at Colwyn Bay.
Even though he wasn’t eligible in terms of birth, family or residence, he was able to wear the three feathers as he was a student at Cardiff Met at the time.
This weekend, he will be decked out in white rather than red, with the Harlequins No 8 set to figure for England against Wales in the Six Nations clash at Twickenham.
Read next: The latest England v Wales headlines are here
The lad from Surrey has come a long way since that night at Parc Eirias in February 2017.
But what became of the players who lined up alongside him for Wales U20s?
Rugby correspondent Simon Thomas has tracked them all down.
15. Will Talbot-Davies
Born in Solihull, but eligible for Wales through his father, he is on the books of the Dragons, for whom he has made 30 appearances over the past five years. Has been a regular for Wales Sevens.
14. Jared Rosser
Another Dragons squad member, he has scored 20 tries in 56 outings for the Men of Gwent, making good use of his blistering pace. Born in Abergavenny and schooled in Abersychan, he too has represented Wales Sevens.
13. Ioan Nicholas
The versatile Pontyberem product became the youngest player to represent the Scarlets when he lined up against Jersey in August 2015, aged just 17 years and 134 days. Now has more than 50 appearances for the region to his name.
12. Keiran Williams
Scored five tries during the 2017 U20s Six Nations to announce himself as a potential star of the future. Likened to Scott Gibbs for his powerful, squat frame and his barrelling runs, the Ospreys centre has been tipped for full Wales honours at various points over the past couple of years.
11. Ryan Conbeer
Played in three successive World U20s Championships and has been mentioned as another player who could move up to Test level one day, on the back of some eye-catching performances for the Scarlets, most recently his Champions Cup display against Bristol last month.
10. Ben Jones
Came up through the Cardiff Blues Academy and made six senior appearances for the region before moving on in 2019. Now with his home-town club of Merthyr, having also played for Pontypridd in the Premiership, as well as turning out for Wales Sevens.
9. Dane Blacker
Had spells with Cardiff Blues and Dragons, but opportunities were limited at both. Now the Ynysybwl product has really found his feet with the Scarlets. He was their top try scorer last season and is being mentioned as a Wales contender, having already represented his country at U18s, U20s and Sevens.
1. Rhys Carre
The one player from this team who is part of the current Wales squad. Made his Test debut, aged 21, in August 2019 after just a handful of games for Cardiff Blues and ended up playing five matches in that autumn’s World Cup. Now has 16 caps and is back at the Arms Park after a season with Saracens.
2. Ellis Shipp
Has made 32 appearances for the Dragons, including four so far this season, having also had game-time with Ebbw Vale, Cross Keys and Bedwas in the Welsh Premiership. Born in Abergavenny, he attended Coleg Gwent and is a mobile hooker who likes the ball in his hands.
3. Keiron Assiratti
Hailing from Wattstown, he has made 47 appearances for Cardiff Rugby in all. Those have all come at prop, but he was pencilled in to cover hooker on the bench against Zebre last week before the game was postponed, hinting at an added string being added to his bow.
4. Callum Bradbury
The player Alex Dombrandt took over from when he came on as a replacement second row against England U20s at Colwyn Bay in 2017. The 6ft 6ins Bradbury, born in Church Village, was limited to just two appearances for Cardiff Blues and joined Merthyr in 2020.
5. Sean Moore
Came up through the ranks at his local club Mountain Ash and joined Pontypridd as a teenager. Having had outings for the Cardiff Blues development side, he is now with Cardiff RFC and has made 14 appearances for them this season.
6. Morgan Sieniawski
The captain of Pontypridd RFC, having taken over at the helm from retiring club icon Dafydd Lockyer at the start of this season. He grew up supporting the Sardis Road side and was a team mascot as a youngster. Has had a spell with the Wales Sevens set-up.
7. Will Jones
Wales’ skipper that night in Colwyn Bay five years ago, this former European junior judo champion was tipped to go all the way. But, after making some 14 appearances for the Ospreys, he was released in 2010 and now plays for Darlington Mowden Park in England’s National League 1.
8. Morgan Morris.
Has been one of the Ospreys’ most consistent performers over the past couple of years and has been mentioned as a candidate for the senior Wales squad. A dynamic carrier and excellent over the ball. His father, Paul, is something of a Dunvant RFC legend.
The men on the bench alongside Dombrandt
Corrie Tarrant
A strong scrummaging hooker who has played Premiership rugby for Pontypridd, Cardiff and Merthyr. Figured in the British & Irish Cup for Cardiff Blues development side.
Steff Thomas
After more than two years out with ligament damage to both knees, the loosehead prop from Newcastle Emlyn is back and making his mark with the Scarlets, having started the last two matches.
Chris Coleman
Has been receiving rave reviews from Dragons boss Dean Ryan this season for his peformances on the tighthead. Newport-born, he has now made 22 appearances for the Gwent region.
Aled Ward
A product of Llandaff RFC, he captained Wales U18s from the back row and also went on to skipper Cardiff Met, playing in the 2018 BUCS Super Rugby final at Twickenham. Now with English Championship club Hartpury RFC.
Declan Smith
A scrum-half who made 17 appearances for the Scarlets before heading out to New Zealand, where he played for Tasman Mako in the Mitre 10 Cup.
Phil Jones
Able to cover both fly-half and full-back, he played 46 games for Swansea RFC and figured for Wales Sevens. Signed for English National League 1 club Plymouth Albion in 2020.
Cameron Lewis
Was on the books of Cardiff Blues, but moved on from the Arms Park in 2019. The centre from Tonyrefail is now with Newport, having previously played in the Premiership for both Pontypridd and Cardiff RFC.
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