Wales and Lions legend Adam Jones has backed Harlequins' Welsh contingent to kick on and fight for international honours, while admitting he was "a little shocked" by the Wales selection call over centre Bryn Bradley.
While the Twickenham Stoop club have had a number of Wales internationals in recent seasons - with Leigh Halfpenny, Dillon Lewis, Wyn Jones and Jarrod Evans all spending time there - the current crop of Welsh talent in London is a little greener than before.
Bryn Bradley's rise at Harlequins
Second-row Jonny Green, flanker Seb Driscoll and centre Bryn Bradley have all played age-grade rugby for Wales, with Bradley receiving his first senior call-up in the summer. However, the centre didn't feature in any of the Nations Championship matches.
Bradley started in midfield in Quins' opening match of the season against Bath on Friday night, with that being his 19th senior appearance for the club at the highest level.
Jones has been one of the centre's biggest advocates and was surprised Wales didn't play him during the summer.
"I pushed Bryn all last year, if I'm honest," he said. "We're a club where everything is based on the DNA of the club."We did a big reset six years ago, all about the DNA of the club - even going back to Wavell Wakefield. It was a proper deep dive into it."
"But my thing to the board and coaches was we've only been good when we've had a big pack and a big 12. They won the league in 2012, with James Johnston, Olly Kohn, Joe Marler, Joe Gray, George Robson, Nick Easter and Chris Robshaw."
"Those were big boys, then you had a big 12 in Jordan Turner-Hall - which allowed Danny Care and Nick Evans to sprinkle the magic. It was the same in 2021."
"We had a big pack - Wilco Louw, Will Collier, Marler, Scott Baldwin, Matt Symons, Stephan Lewies - all big men - and then Andre Esterhuizen at 12. He's not a bad player, whether that's at six or 12!"
"That allowed Marcus Smith and Joe Marchant to attack. The club's always been built on that."Same as Wales, we were good when we had Jamie Roberts or Hadleigh Parkes for that little period of time. So Bryn was massive for me."
Jones' verdict on the young forwards
"He's a good carrier, his skills are getting better. They're probably underrated. He's competitive and he goes hard over the ball in defence," said Jones.
"I think he's an excellent player. I was a little shocked he didn't get more of a look-in in the summer if I'm honest. I'm sure his time will come."
As for forwards Green and Driscoll, the pair haven't enjoyed quite as much exposure as Bradley.
Second-row Green has made 11 appearances, while openside Driscoll has played just six times in the league. However, he did recently score a brace in the Prem Cup.
And former tighthead Jones - who has been coaching at Quins for over a decade, first as a player then as a coach - has backed all three to have a bright future in the game.
"Jonny was the first one to come through," said Jones. "When Danny Wilson was coaching, he came from nowhere and did a morning session."
"You could see he's got real intense grit. He's a big, old-fashioned right-hand lock. But, like a lot of Quins players, he's got a real good skillset."Seb's very good. He's had some injuries and niggles, but he's still a young kid."
"He's coming through slowly, but he's got guys like Will Evans and Jack Kenningham ahead of him, who are an unbelievable six/seven combination for us."
"Seb's pushing Will now, which is great. Will doesn't get picked for England, but every year, he's the top jackaler in the Prem. He's not a big man, which is maybe why they don't pick him."
"Will's also not Welsh - although you think he would be with a name like Will Evans. But, no - Seb is doing well."
"They're all good boys. They're obviously not born-and-bred Welsh, but they're all passionate to play for Wales, having played for the U20s."
"It's nice because they all stick together. Bryn lives with Jonny, which is very Welsh. Dillon and Jarrod were the same. Funnily enough, it was Wyn Jones who loved life in London the most. Away from the farm in Llandovery, he had a great time."
"They're good lads and hopefully they'll all get the recognition soon enough."
Adam Jones is running Cardiff Half Marathon for St David's Hospice Care.
