Wales hooker Ryan Elias will join an illustrious list of Scarlets when he runs out for his 200th game for the region against Cardiff Rugby in the opening round of the BKT United Rugby Championship in Llanelli on Saturday (26 September -7.45pm). Elias will become the fifth player to reach the double century for the […]
Wales hooker Ryan Elias will join an illustrious list of Scarlets when he runs out for his 200th game for the region against Cardiff Rugby in the opening round of the BKT United Rugby Championship in Llanelli on Saturday (26 September -7.45pm).
Elias will become the fifth player to reach the double century for the region as he follows in the footsteps of prop Phil John (296), current scrum half Gareth Davies (284), fellow hooker Ken Owens (274), back row man Aaron Shingler (226) and centre Jonathan Davies (209).
“I’m unbelievably proud to get to this landmark. As clichéd as it is, I wouldn’t have dreamt of having one game, let alone 200, for the club,” admitted Elias.
“There’s a bit of luck involved because I’ve had my fair share of injuries, but to be able to sustain performances and keep the jersey, or be in the mix, for so long, is unbelievably special.
“I remember being a young boy and seeing some of my older mates hitting the milestone — Aaron Shingler, Gareth Davies, Ken Owens and Foxy [Jonathan Davies]. I just remember thinking how unbelievable that was.
“I’m a boy from Carmarthen who grew up watching the Scarlets, so it’s a special achievement for me and the family. So to be doing it on the weekend, it’s definitely not lost on me.
“To be at 200 at 31, and feeling the way I feel, hopefully there are a few more left in there as well. I feel like I’m only now coming into my peak, so it’s exciting for me.”
Elias had to bide his time in the early stages of his career as he found two Welsh internationals hookers, Owens and Emyr Phillips, vying for the No 2 jersey at Parc y Scarlets. But he developed into the starting hooker and has also captained the club.
“I look back to my earlier days and I’d be in the gym with Gareth Davies, Cubby, Foxy and the boys, and I’d be frustrated because I was the young boy sat behind Ken,” he added.
“I was having 10 or 15 minutes off the bench and I’d be frustrated all the time because I wanted to kick on. I always remember the three of them, but particularly Cubby, telling me that I should be thankful because, with longevity in the game, I’d be having these years back at the end.
“Whether he was right, I don’t know. I guess that’s yet to be seen, but I feel good.”