Young Gun: Harry Wells – England U20s lock
Wells has played a bit-part role for England with Gloucester‘s Elliott Stooke and Leeds’ Dom Barrow first choice locks against France and South Africa as well as the historic victory over New Zealand.
He did, however, feature in England’s record-breaking 109-0 victory over the USA alongside Tigers teammate Tom Price and a glance back to the Six Nations shows he has form against Wales.
England travelled to Colwyn Bay to face Grand Slam-chasing Wales and won 28-15 with Wells scoring two tries.
As is the case for England, Wells is also getting used to biding his time at the Tigers with Lion Geoff Parling among those above him in the pecking order.
But Wells, who showed promise as a hammer thrower before plumping for a career in rugby, is becoming a past master at putting his spare time to good use.
“It’s a fantastic feeling to be part of the England set-up that has beaten New Zealand and reached the final,” said Wells. “There is a kind of a disappointment when you’re not selected but then it’s a squad game, we’re all in this together and everyone plays their part.
“Just being away for a month, based at a tournament, has been a fantastic experience for me and will be a great help for my game, and it’s been good that Tom has been here as well.
“We’re always discussing our games with each other and trying to help each other improve certain aspects and get better together.
“There’s a real buzz in the group but there’s also an awareness that the job is still not done, there’s one more massive game to come. Yes we did beat Wales in the Six Nations but that was very different to this. It was nice for me to score those tries but now it’s all about getting behind the team.”
When Wells returns to Welford Road he will be hoping to be arriving as a member of the first England side to lift the JWC but it will be a case of straight back to work.
A natural ball player in the loose who can handily turn his hand to the back row, Wells has been diligently working with Tigers coach Richard Blaze, a lineout guru who was tipped as Martin Johnson’s successor until injury brought a premature end to his career.
Blaze has already had an effect on Parling while Louis Deacon, Graham Kitchener and Ed Slater are also among his disciples.
And Wells admits that improving his set-piece with Blaze will be key to increasing his number of appearances for the Tigers, having made an impressive debut in the LV= Cup against Wasps last season.
He added: “Looking back on last year, it went really well for me, I was really happy with how my debut went and pleased to get the chance when there are so many good second rows around the club.
“Having guys like that to call on for advice and to work on things is a fantastic help for my career.
“And I’ve been working a lot with Richard Blaze in terms of analysing things at the lineout, at the restart and all things that I can do to try to improve.”
