Wales U20 wing Harry Rees-Weldon could have been playing for Ebbw Vale in the Super Rygbi Cymru semi-final this weekend, but instead he will be facing one of the trickiest wingers in South African rugby.
Rees-Weldon will go head-to-head with Olympic Sevens bronze medalist Seabelo Senatla when the Dragons face the Stormers in the penultimate round of matches in the BKT United Rugby Championship regular season in Cape Town Cape Town on Saturday (10 May).
Having broken into the regional side of late, Rees-Weldon is among a number of current and recent U20 caps who are finding their feet at the next level. Huw Anderson is at full back, Ryan Woodman is in the back row and Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths is on the bench.
The Stormers are fighting to remain in the play-off places and have picked a very strong side. Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia has been able to return club captain Ben Carter to the second row as one of three changes to the side from the game against Ospreys.
Anderson and Harry Wilson both return to the side in the back line, while legendary back rower Dan Lydiate will make his 150th URC league appearance ahead of his retirement from the professional game next week.
“We’re happy to be in South Africa and we are under no illusion to the challenge against a very good Stormers side,” said Tiatia.
“They are pretty good at getting gain line, second in those league stats, so they like to play. We’re trying to build two weeks of bringing some clear identity of how we want to finish and how we want to play.
“This group is also not going to be the same moving to next season, so it is important that the players finish strong, and we control what we can control, which is our preparation to help with performance.
“The players have galvanised after a couple of disappointing results. To come over here and play in Cape Town against a good Stormers side is a good challenge.”