Wales U20s captain Alex Mann intends holding talks with Cardiff Rugby about his chances of securing game-time next season amid the abundance of back-row riches at the Arms Park.
Mann was arguably the standout player in Byron Hayward’s side in the U20 Six Nations prior to being sent off against England in round three. The Merthyr-born back rower was named man of the match against Scotland and shone in adversity against Ireland, making a prodigious 20 tackles and also carrying strongly, his leadership skills to the fore.
He’s a player Hayward has called exceptional and likened to Sam Warburton and Ellis Jenkins, but the question for Mann is how he maintains his development.
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Cardiff Rugby will have a pool of outstanding frontline back-row players next season, made up of Tauluple Faletau, Thomas Young, Josh Navidi, Ellis Jenkins, James Ratti, James Botham, Shane Lewis-Hughes and Will Boyde, with Josh Turnbull able to play there as well as at lock.
Mann may have to bide his time, but he wants to keep improving and is keen to know where he’s going to play.
Asked what he’s going to do amid the glut of back-row talent at Cardiff, he replied: “It’s healthy competition for me, but I want game-time and I want to keep progressing. I’ve had a chance to train with the senior squad in this Six Nations and that’s where I want to be.
“I’ll go back and have talks because I want to keep progressing and getting better. If that involves more game-time, then that’s what I need. So that’s what we are going to look for.”
His friend and ex-Wales U20s team-mate Harri Deaves featured for Bridgend in the Indigo Group Premiership last weekend and was man of the match. He's also impressed for the Ospreys at regional level, with the Swansea-based region starting with him in a Heineken Champions Cup match against Sale and Deaves figuring from the first whistle against Leinster in the United Rugby Championship.
Mann’s also had a taste of European rugby when he featured off the bench for Cardiff amid a swathe of unavailabilities against Harlequins in December.
He said he and his fellow back rower Deaves had discussed the issue of game-time: “Me and Deavesy are really good mates and we always speak about it. You just need that chance, that opportunity, and I’m really pleased for him that he’s had it and taken it with both hands.
“That’s what you want because I’m working hard off the field when we haven’t had games, just for those opportunities. Now I’ve had chances, hopefully I’ve taken them and I’ll try to take another one on Sunday when Wales U20s face Italy.
“I need to be playing. That’s where I’m going to learn and get better. All I want to do is get better.”
The 20-year-old was asked how he found the Welsh Premiership. “It’s been good. Physicality-wise and just playing senior rugby, I’ve enjoyed it,” he said.
“But I want to be playing with the Cardiff senior team.
“I’m going to give 100 percent to Cardiff RFC, but I want to be playing professional rugby and see what I can do there.”
Patience may need to be his watchword. “I think it’s a bit of both — being patient, but I don’t know how long you can be patient for. I love Cardiff Rugby and that’s where I want to play. You have to wait for your opportunity, and when the opportunity comes you take it and don’t look back. I’m just waiting for that opportunity, so I can give it everything I’ve got.”
Other youngsters have gone out on loan to Championship sides in England, so it will be interesting to see what Cardiff do about Mann. The certainty is he needs to be on the pitch regularly.
Coach Hayward agreed with the possibility of a loan arrangement for Mann, adding: “That’s something I guess Cardiff Rugby and Alex need to discuss, because to be consistent and push, he needs to be playing.”
Hayward has previously raised the question of an extra competition being introduced in Wales, to act as a stepping stone between the Premiership and regional rugby.
“Maybe we need some kind of competition that bridges the gap between the semi-pro Premiership — which is nowhere near the standard of professional rugby — and the regions,” he said earlier in this campaign.
“Something in the middle there, similar to what they have in England with the A league, which is a good high standard.
“Something like that would definitely help bridge the gap, so players who come through with lots of potential can progress with their development.”
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