Tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti has gone from making a single appearance from the bench in last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship to starting every game of the 2017 U20 Six Nations.

If he’d had his way, though, he would be starting at ten this evening against Ireland, not Cardiff Blues teammate Ben Jones. “I wanted to be an outside-half growing up, but I suppose my genes got in the way of that dream,” he laughs.

You could say that the 19-year-old epitomises the toughness of Valleys rugby. Wattstown born and bred, Assiratti turned out for the Ducks from the age of five for eight years, until the U13 team disbanded. “I was with Treorchy until U15 level,” he says, “before I got called into Rhondda U15 and spent a season with them.”

What’s his assessment of cutting his teeth in the Valleys game? “They play hard rugby up there,” he answers. “It definitely served me well.” Pontypridd centre Cameron Lewis, who also starts for Wales U20 this evening, grew up with Assiratti in Wattstown. “Keiron was the big guy everyone looked up to, and we just passed the ball to him,” recalls Lewis. “He’s always had good skills too, even back then.”

Age group coaches at Cardiff Blues had taken note of the dominant, no-nonsense tighthead and wasted little time in bringing him into the capital city set-up. “There was a lot of travelling between Wattstown and Cardiff,” he explains. “My grandfather was the one who drove me. I owe him a lot. He’s followed my progression since I was a youngster, so he’s been a big factor in my career.”

After enjoying a productive season at the coalface with Pontypridd, Assiratti joined the Blue and Blacks for 2016/17. As a young tighthead, it can be an unmerciful environment. “The Premiership is physical. Older players like to get into the youngsters because they see you as a weakness, but I like that challenge.”

Being exposed to different styles of rugby at Premiership and U20 level has helped his all-round game. “You’ll get teams slugging it out in the Premership in some really physical battles,” says Assiratti. “U20 is a lot faster and up-tempo. Playing both has definitely been of great benefit to me.”

That’s not to suggest that the encounters in U20 rugby can’t be just as bruising, he’s quick to add. England at Parc Eirias last month was an entertaining but ferocious affair. “That’s been the toughest game so far,” he says. “They were a big, heavy outfit up front. But we held our own against them, and [fellow front rowers] Rhys Carre and Ellis Shipp did well.”

Tipping the scales at over 18 stone, and mobile with it, Assiratti is a force to be reckoned with. His position is undeniably tough, but he says he’s had some good mentors down the years – including a certain ex-international. “Chris Horsman takes charge of our scrums with Wales U20, so he’s really, really helped me,” he acknowledges. “He’s shown me a lot of little things that have improved my game.”

During this year’s U20 Six Nations campaign, Assiratti has been part of Fines Committee: dishing out punishment should any of the players fall foul of the codes of conduct. “I’m on it with Arwel Robson, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Shane Lewis-Hughes and Will Jones,” he says. “It’s money fines mostly. For example, if you lose your GPS it’s a £10 fine, so you don’t want to be losing your GPS!”

He says he’s happy to be getting another chance to run out at Parc Eirias this evening. “I enjoyed the atmosphere last time we played there. They’re a really good crowd who got behind us, so hopefully we’ll give them a good result tonight against the Irish.”

The Assirattis were part of the Italian immigration to the promised land of Wales in the late 19th and early 20th century. Like many others, they opened up a cafe – theirs in Porthcawl. Several generations later, Keiron Assiratti has high hopes of his own: “The aim is to play a lot next year for Cardiff Blues, but I’m taking every game as it comes. I want to play to the best of my ability for Wales U20 over the next fortnight, starting this evening against Ireland.”

Wales U20 v Ireland U20 kicks off at Parc Eirias at 18:30 (live on S4C). Ticket info here.

Video

Tunnel Cam: Wales v Ireland 2017

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