Josh Hathaway played for England and Wales in the six sub-20 nations. But while preparing for his first senior championship, there is no doubt where his loyalty resides.
“It was always going to be Wales,” the 21 -year -old ends, which is part of a revived Gloucester team at the Gallagher Premership this season, tells Mail Sport.
'By growing in a small town like Aberystwyth, to be honest, I didn't really understand that there was another country! Actually, I lived in the middle of nowhere.
'The shopping centers were one hour by train. I was playing with the sub-20 team of England for a while and that helped me a lot in my career.
“I will always be very grateful for England and Alan Dickens, who was my chief coach, that's why.
'I will never say that I would not have done it. It has been part of my trip, but I am equally grateful to Warren Gatland and Rob Howley for calling me with Wales. I can't thank you enough. ”
Josh Hathaway tells Mail Sport about his enthusiasm for six nations with Wales and what Gloucester can achieve this season.
Last May, after enjoying his great season with Gloucester, Hathaway's full international future was not clear. But the chief coach of Wales, Gatland, acted quickly and made him debut in the test against Australia in July. A second call in November against South Africa, a consecutive world champion. Hathaway is learning at work.
But his talent is obvious. He is impressing with Gloucester, which is fifth in the Premiership this season before Saturday's clash against Leicester, fourth classified, in Kingsholm.
Hathaway was about to get lost in Wales after moving from scarlets to Gloucester because he was studying at Hartpury College.
He will seek to continue his progression by winning a third participation with Wales in the six nations.
Gatland's team opens its championship with a daunting trip to Paris to face France on Friday night. If it gets involved, it will be another step in the ascending curve of Hathaway.
“There are great differences between club rugby and international in things you don't really see until you are in it: the speed of the game, the intensity of training, the physical appearance,” says Hathaway. “I've been playing with some players who were my icons while growing and the coaches have been really good. They have challenged me a lot.
'I have always had to strive more to learn more. Having the opportunity to go to Australia last summer and play international rugby was the best.
'It doesn't matter what work you are, it's always difficult at first when you start learning and progressing. But what happens with rugby is that you are always learning.
The 21 -year -old played his first international matches with the selection of Wales last year.
'There are always competition and things to improve. My debut in Australia was surreal.
“I don't remember anything about the game. I can remember before, sing the anthem, and then, but I don't remember anything about 80 minutes. It's just a blurred stain.
'He feels like a dream. I had to slap a couple of times to tell me “this is really happening”, but Wales' boys have accepted me a lot. It is what I have always dreamed. '
When he made his debut in Wales in Sydney, Hathaway went to sing with Liam Williams, his childhood hero.
It was the confirmation of his arrival at the highest level.
“It was crazy,” says Hathaway. 'We took a photo together when we were next to each other singing the anthem in Australia. It was emotional.
'We also had a photo more than 10 years ago when Liam was doing his great season with Scarlets and I was a 10 -year -old boy! For me then he was 'Sanjay', one of my Welsh rugby heroes. Now I think I'm making him feel old!
“Positions are still being distributed in the Premiership, although he has now had the opportunity to return to Saracens. It was one of my idols while I grew up. When I see it in the field by my side or give me a advice, it is really great for me. People can look at me and think that I am now in the Wales team, but it is still incredible for me to be with him in the same team. “
He said it was crazy to play with his childhood hero, Liam Williams (in both images they appear together).
Williams returns to the Welts team after the series of autumn nations due to injury
Hathaway is part of a strong Welsh contingent in Gloucester.
His colleagues from Cherry and Whites, Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, could have been out of Gatland's team, but Volumes Williams and Freddie Thomas have been selected alongside Hathaway. Last season, Gloucester won the Premiership Rugby Cup and reached the European Challenge Cup final, but had problems in the League.
This time, they revive nationwide after their rugby director, George Skivington, broke his play book and introduce a more offensive game style.
Gloucester has won five of its 10 league games. But their fluid approach has allowed them to get a bonus point of four attempts in seven of those matches.
“Now we run much more with the ball with Gloucester and that highlights the personalities of the boys on and off the court. We are all enjoying it very much,” says Hathaway.
“We have had some good victories, as well as some games in which we feel that we have had a little bad luck, but we are quite well in the premiership table and we are eager to strive for the rest of the season. I will never be comfortable. You can always be better.
'There will always be someone who will come to look for you. I feel that I have acquired a lot of experience in Gloucester and Wales, which has been a great help to me. He is giving me more confidence.
'I feel that now I can adapt my style of play to different situations. I just want to play as much as possible. The most important thing for me at my age at this time is to acquire as much experience and learning as I can every week.
The Warren Gatland Dragons team seeks to change the course after a torrid campaign in 2024
'The Leicester is just above us in the table and is a really hard, physical and competitive team. With luck, it will give me the opportunity to show my physique too. Some people might think that I am too young, but I want to show the people I am prepared. I need to show that now.
'We will look for 100 percent in the top four, maybe even above. We are supporting ourselves. We have depth in our team and an incredible talent. No one expected the victory we obtained over. The confidence we have in all Gloucester as a club is huge.
'The same goes for Gloucester-Hartpury, the women's team. We have confidence that we can do something special this season. “
In Gloucester, Hathaway is one of those that his teammates call “the rear”, a joke term for Welsh internationals in Kingsholm.
Wales endured 2024 more than difficult. Gatland's youth team has lost its last 12 tests and is desperate to return to the path of the win after its coach survived a review of their position at the end of last year.
Williams is likely to begin as lateral in Paris with Josh Adams in a wing. The other wing post is open, and Hathaway rivals Blair Murray and Tom Rogers for him.
Like Murray and Rogers, Hathaway can also play sideways, which makes it a good option to participate in the day, possibly as a 23 -number.
That is the role he will play for Gloucester against Leicester on Saturday while the two teams compete for the Slater Cup. The trophy is named Ed Slater, the padlock that played for both clubs and is now fighting the terrible cruelty that is the disease of the motor neuron.
Hathaway has the possibility of getting involved with Wales simply because of its versatility.
“We were shattered because Gareth and Max won't participate in the six nations, but Warren makes decisions and we will support it,” says Hathaway.
'Here we have a small Welsh link that is always good. With Wales, we believe that with the team we have and the depth we have we can try to the fullest, either for the title or to win the matches that we believe we can win. We believe we can progress this year as a Welsh team. We want to be one of the fans who want to see and support.
“My greatest memory of the six nations is the victory of Wales by 30-3 over England in 2013. I was at my uncle's wedding and, as a family, we all saw it at the subsequent reception.
'Every year, the six nations is what every boy or girl who loves the rugby looks eagerly and is the tournament in which everyone wants to play. It is the same for me. I can't wait. '