In the fiercely competitive arena of professional sports, where outcomes dictate futures and contracts can be terminated in an instant, finding uplifting stories is increasingly rare.
This week, however, the world witnessed the inspiring rise of Wales’ Harri Deaves on the international stage.
On Thursday, the day he was named to make his Test debut against the formidable New Zealand in Cardiff, Deaves spent his evening coaching the youth section at Pontyclun RFC, his local club. His journey is nothing short of extraordinary.
Against all odds, the 24-year-old flanker has reached the pinnacle of rugby while staying true to his beginnings.
Every Monday, he joins Pontyclun’s darts team, and he’s known for sharing his expertise with young players, laundering the senior team’s jerseys, and preparing meals after matches.
Before breaking through with the Ospreys and uncertain about his future in rugby, Deaves worked as a roofer. From these modest beginnings, he has emerged as the 1,217th player to represent the Welsh men’s national team.
Harri Deaves has progressed to rugby’s highest level against all the odds and will make his Wales debut against New Zealand today
But the 24-year-old hasn’t forgotten his roots and still washes the kit and cooks post-match meals at his home club Pontyclun
Deaves was meant to be on the top table at a recent club dinner – but ended up cooking the curries himself instead!
‘He coaches the youth mainly. You can’t keep him away,’ Ned Probyn, vice president of Pontyclun RFC, said of Deaves. ‘He’d got the day off from the Welsh squad on Thursday and was down there with them.
‘I can’t express in words how valuable he is to the club. He’s on the rugby committee. We’ve got a junior women’s team now as well and if they’re short of a coach, he’ll jump in and coach them. He’s an incredible person.
‘I’ve gone in the club some nights and the boys will say, “Oh, Harri’s here somewhere”. I’ve then gone into the laundry room and he’s there washing the kit from the previous Saturday and hanging it up to dry. The year before last, we had a club dinner and the caterers let us down. So, four or five of us decided to do a curry.
‘Harri was supposed to be on the top table with the guest speakers. He ended up cooking the curries in the kitchen with us and serving them!
‘He represents the club in darts on a Monday night. Last year he was the captain but we took that off him so he could concentrate more on his rugby! Dewi Lake comes down every now and again for a throw with him.’
Conveniently, Wales’ Vale Resort training base is just around the corner from Pontyclun – a team Deaves first joined at Under-9 level.
‘We were all on edge waiting for him,’ Probyn said of Deaves’ Thursday visit to Pontyclun, after it was announced he was going to make a Wales bow. ‘All his family and a load of the kids were there and then he just turned up as if there was nothing going on. We all gave him a big cheer and he took it all in his stride. He just said, “Righto, that’s it. I’m going to have a game of darts now”.’
At Principality Stadium today, Deaves’ journey will reach the pinnacle. He wasn’t even in Wales’ original autumn squad, but was called up by head coach Steve Tandy when captain Jac Morgan dislocated his shoulder against Argentina. Now, he is straight into Tandy’s side.
Deaves is a former roofer and used to work part-time around his main career with the Ospreys
Deaves on his 50th Ospreys appearance with Pontyclun vice-president Ned Probyn
Deaves’ fellow uncapped Ospreys forward Morgan Morse, meanwhile, is on the bench after Aaron Wainwright was forced to withdraw due to a hip injury, with Taine Plumtree starting at No 8 instead.
Deaves’ ascent is an inspiration to all at Pontyclun. Wales, whose on and off-field troubles are now well known, should not really provide much of a test for the All Blacks, even if they have made 12 changes from the side well-beaten by England.
‘Harri was still doing bits and bobs with the roofing when I was at the Ospreys,’ former Wales and Lions wing Alex Cuthbert told Daily Mail Sport. ‘He would turn up to training in his van and do roofing work after. He used to get up at 5am when he was in the academy.
‘He’s the humblest guy you will ever meet, an absolute legend. It’s an unbelievable story that from where he’s come from, his first cap will be against the All Blacks.’
Deaves has learned from former Wales flanker Justin Tipuric at the Ospreys. Like Tipuric, he is distinctive on the field due to his scrum cap. But instead of Tipuric’s blue, he sports yellow headwear. Watch out for him rampaging around the field.
At under 6ft and weighing only 15 stone, Deaves is small by the standards of today’s Test rugby behemoths. But he packs a punch and according to Tandy ‘isn’t going to die wondering’.
Deaves will become Pontyclun’s fourth men’s Wales international. For Welsh supporters looking for inspiration, the other three are Cliff Jones, Willie Llewellyn and Tommy Rees. Their record against the All Blacks? Played three, won three.
Deaves is unlikely to make it four from four. Wales are 35/1 outsiders to beat New Zealand and have lost their last 33 matches to the All Blacks dating back to 1953. The reality is the proudest moment of Deaves’ career to date will almost certainly end in a one-sided defeat.
Deaves (second from right) wants to head back to Pontyclun after today’s game against the All Blacks – ‘This boy is something different,’ says Probyn (third from right)
The flanker was called up after captain Jac Morgan dislocated his shoulder against Argentina
Regardless, for him and Pontyclun it will be a day to remember. And it is likely to be one which will finish with a game of darts.
‘I wouldn’t like to put a figure on how many tickets have been sold to people in Pontyclun over the last few days,’ Probyn added. ‘I’ve arranged for 16 light yellow bucket hats to be made with a No 7 and a Pontyclun badge. I’m just hoping they’re going to come in time!
‘He’s told me he wants to be back in the club on Saturday night after the game. This boy is something different. He just cannot wait to be back among his friends. Saturday is going to be an incredible day.’
HOW THE TEAMS WILL LINE UP
Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn, Hawkins, Rogers; Edwards, Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Assiratti, Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Deaves, Plumtree.
Replacements: Coghlan, G Thomas, Griffin, F Thomas, Morse, Hardy, Evans, Tompkins.
New Zealand: Love; Jordan, Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Clarke; McKenzie, Ratima; Williams, Taukei’aho, Tosi, Barrett (capt), Holland, Parker, Kirifi, Sititi
Replacements: Bell, Newell, Bower, Lord, Lio-Willie, Christie, Fainga’anuku, Reece
Kick-off: Saturday, 3.10pm. Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland). TV: TNT Sports.
