-Credit: (Image: Juan Gasparini/Huw Evans Agency)
Former Wales captain Ellis Jenkins says teenager Steffan Emanuel is a player to get excited about after he made Welsh rugby history.
At just 18 years and 159 days old, the Wales U20 international became the youngest player to represent Cardiff in European competition as he made his debut for the club away to Lyon on Saturday.
Starting alongside veteran centre Rey Lee-Lo in midfield, Emanuel couldn’t quite help his side to victory but produced an outstanding individual performance on his maiden appearance, with coach Matt Sherratt hailing his display.
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The teenager originally left Cardiff’s age-grade system to take up a place at the prestigious Millfield School, but re-joined the Blue and Blacks from Bath this summer having completed his A-levels. In doing so, Emanuel bucked the trend of young Welsh players leaving for opportunities in England and he is now considered one of the best prospects in Wales.
His fine debut performance was discussed at length on the latest episode of the SportIn Wales podcast, with Jenkins and fellow Welsh internationals Alex Cuthbert and Josh Adams hugely impressed from what they have seen so far from the young talent. Adams, who played alongside Emanuel against Lyon, said he has “bags and bags of potential,” while Jenkins admitted he had been blown away by what he had seen from the centre in a pre-season match.
“He wasn’t bad, was he?,” asked host Cuthbert. “I thought he was a player to watch at the start of the season, but obviously he hasn’t played that much, but he’s one for the future.”
“Llantwit Fardre born and bred!,” said Jenkins. “He’s a talented, talented sportsman. We went to watch Cardiff play Ealing in a pre-season game and he was on the bench and Rory Jennings went off quite early, so Steff ended up coming on and he scored a wicked individual try.
“There was turnover ball, he stepped on the outside of Ealing’s 13 I think, one-on-one with the full back and he chipped it over the top and regathered it. You think, oh God, this kid’s got something.
“At the time, as you’re watching from a distance, you don’t really know who it is, and you find out it’s 17-year-old, 18-year-old Steff Emanuel. We’ve heard a lot about him over the last couple years, coming up through the age grades, but he’s definitely one that people will be getting excited about.”
Adams also praised his young teammate, explaining that he seems wise beyond his years and has quickly got to grips with the challenges of professional rugby. The Wales wing opened the scoring against Lyon, with that try coming after a brilliantly skilful flick pass from Emanuel in the build-up.
“He’s really mature, as well, for his age,” said the Wales wing. “Shanks [Tom Shanklin] came in to present his jersey in the week before the game and his mum and dad were there. They put his age up on the board, and 18 years of age feels like a distant memory, how long ago that was.
“In rugby terms, his understanding and knowledge of the game is very good for an 18-year-old, so he’s got bags and bags of potential.
“I think you’ve seen a little glimpse of what he can do, you know when I scored?,” Adams added. “Just the understanding of how the defence was coming really quick, he’s just taken it, boom, no look and dropped it out the back quickly to Tinus [de Beer] to get it away. Those little bits sometimes take time but he seems to have grasped it really quickly.”