Twelve young players in Wales are following in the footsteps of their famous fathers, each the son of a former Wales international. They are already making their own mark, from senior academy contracts to U18s development squads, as they seek to match or surpass the achievements of the men who came before them.
Academy standouts and U18s squad members
Will Moore, an outside centre, is the son of former Wales second-row Andy Moore and holds a senior academy contract at Bristol Bears, having represented England U18s. Nick Fisk-Jones, son of legendary Swansea, Wales and British & Irish Lions scrum-half Robert Jones, has been a standout player for Ospreys U18s and is in Bridgend's SRC squad.
Gabe Williams, an athletic second-row, is the son of former Wales backrower Owain Williams, who passed away four years ago, and the brother of Cardiff and Wales lock Teddy. He is in the Cardiff academy and has represented Wales at age grade level. Harrison Hook, son of former Wales playmaker James Hook, is set to follow as an outside-half and has been a standout for Ospreys U18s.
Family legacies and development squads
Jacob Jones, an Ospreys U18s backrower, is the son of former Wales captain Ryan Jones, who won 75 caps, four Six Nations titles, and toured with the Lions in 2005. Jacob was recently included in the Wales U18s development squad. Ffredi Easterby, in the Cardiff academy, was also in the recent Wales U18s development squad; he is the son of former Scarlets, Ireland and Lions backrower Simon Easterby and TV presenter Sarra Elgan, with grandfather Elgan Rees having played for Neath, Wales and the Lions.
Dylan James, son of Wales scrum coach Paul James, is a strong scrummaging loosehead who has represented Wales at age grade level and currently plays for the Ospreys. His younger brother Mason James is also on the road to following in their father's footsteps, and the pair could soon compete for a place in the Ospreys side.
Centres, hookers, and wings
Jac Jones, a centre, is the son of former Scarlets and Wales backrower Dafydd Jones, who won 42 caps. Jac played for Scarlets U18s last season and has been part of the Carmarthen Quins set-up. Bobbie Bennett, son of former Ospreys and Wales hooker Huw Bennett, is a hooker like his father and is part of the Ospreys academy while also in the Wales U18s set-up.
Rhys Wyatt, part of the Cardiff Rugby academy, is a wing or full-back like his father Gareth, who won two caps for Wales. Wyatt has represented Pontypridd Schools and currently plays for Cardiff U18s. Harvey Bryant, a Wales U18s and Cardiff academy wing, is the son of Jon Bryant, who enjoyed a successful career with Pontypridd and won one senior Wales cap against Romania in Wrexham in 2003.
