A training clip of 21-year-old Ospreys prop Kian Hire driving through Bristol Bears' Max Lahiff has excited fans, with Wales' new scrum coach Paul James present. The clip, posted on the Ospreys' Instagram following a joint training session, shows Hire, who has yet to start a senior match for the club, sending Lahiff backwards.
Depth at Tighthead
The Ospreys have historically boasted strong front-row depth, but that depth faded after Tomas Francis left in 2023 and Nicky Smith departed the following year. Gareth Thomas and Tom Botha remained, but the stocks needed replenishing.
In fairness to Mark Jones' side, producing hefty forwards has never been too much of an issue for the Ospreys. Steffan Thomas and Ben Warren have come on leaps and bounds in recent years, while Rhys Henry and Cam Jones both spent time with Wales in the summer.
Hire's Switch to Tighthead
Hire, who was playing back-row a few years ago, was convinced to move to tighthead by Paul James, then an Ospreys academy coach. The switch was chronicled in the BBC's Ruck Stars documentary.
"I was in the back-row, but the coaches see something in me as a tighthead," Hire said at the time. Back in 2022, James told Hire that was where they felt he could make an impact. Hugh Gustafson added that he was a player with a "bit of an edge".
High Hopes for the Future
Earlier this year, Hire, who has made nine appearances off the bench for the Ospreys, signed a new deal with the club. Head coach Jones said they have "extremely high hopes" for the young prop, having also worked with another former Wales front-row in Duncan Jones.
"I've already seen him come on leaps and bounds since I joined the Ospreys and if he can continue in that vein going forward, he will become an important player on both the club and international scene," he added.
Speaking about his new deal, Hire said: "This club means a lot to me so I'm really happy to continue my career here. The Ospreys have produced so many international front rowers and to wear the same jersey as some of those great names has always been an honour."
"I've improved a lot since I made my debut thanks to the coaches and the other tightheads around me. The next step for me is to keep pushing on and challenging for a more regular place in the team."
