By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
At a time when the national team is looking for world-class talent across the pitch, the depth in the back row is immense, meaning many quality players often do not get the credit they deserve.
When considering the premier players in the position, names like Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, and Aaron Wainwright come to mind.
However, a player at the Ospreys is making waves for producing quality performances at the Swansea.com Stadium.
That is Harri Deaves, who has consistently put in solid displays for a few years. The flanker has immense potential and an exceedingly high ceiling.
Hopefully, a Wales call-up could be on the cards in the years ahead.
Historically, Wales has produced quality back-rowers
There have been so many quality back-rowers in Wales through the years. The position’s characteristics align with the traits of Welsh people.
Back-rowers are usually resilient, hard-working, and relentless. One of the best players to come out of Wales is Sam Warburton, who was vital to a particularly successful period in Welsh rugby.
Justin Tipuric, you could argue, is a player who could go down as one of the most underrated players in the modern game.
If you are looking at today, Morgan is a bustling game changer who makes an impact whenever he is on the field.
Even though many athletes have received the credit they deserve on the international stage, many players did fantastic work at the club level but were not as well recognised.
The likes of Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker, and Thomas Young are phenomenal players who should have had more chances to showcase their talent in a Wales jersey.
This shows that there has always been a massive amount of depth in the position, as promising players did not always have the chance to play for Wales due to the quality ahead of them.
Harri Deaves
Deaves has started to get the recognition he deserves in recent seasons. The 23-year-old’s rugby roots lie in the tremendous rugby town of Pontyclun.
He began his rugby career as a wing and fullback, showing that his athletic ability has been on display from an early age.
Deaves is a product of the Bridgend College Pathway Programme, where he made the career-defining move to flanker.
Throughout the initial stages of his career, Deaves was part of Wales’ set-up from under-18 level, and he will be looking to make an impact at the senior level sooner rather than later.
Since the Welshman debuted for the Ospreys in the 2021/22 season, he has been impressive and looks well on his way to wearing the famous red jersey.
The Ospreys standout will be looking to build on a strong campaign last year. Deaves’ ability around the park is vital, yet what makes him stand out is his work rate in a game.
His scrum cap can be seen everywhere on the field. A major strength of his game is his defensive work. Last year in the URC, Deaves made 162 tackles in 16 games, the 15th most in the competition.
It speaks to the quality of the Ospreys’ back-row depth that a player of Deaves’ calibre usually has to make an impact from the bench.
However, with Tipuric’s retirement coming next year and beyond, Deaves has a chance to prove himself as a force in the first team.
Getting on Warren Gatland’s radar
If Deaves can keep doing what he is doing for Ospreys, there will be international caps in his future. Deaves has shown that he can be a real difference-maker throughout his career.
It is easy to forget that the Welshman is only 23, which means there is still plenty of time to develop. Opportunities may arise in the summer, as there is a chance Morgan, Reffell, and Wainwright could be on a plane Down Under with the British & Irish Lions.
Deaves would be a sensational choice to go with Wales to Japan and enter the international scene.
Players like Deaves usually make the seamless transition from club to international level. It would be fascinating to see what he could do for Wales.
Deaves is an exceptional player with a bright future ahead of him.
READ MORE: Do Wales have a chance at landing young gun Cameron Hanekom?
