Will Talbot-Davies is determined to continue to shine during his rugby education at Dragons – as he bids to combine law studies with his sporting career.
Rising star Talbot-Davies has already graduated from the Academy ranks at Rodney Parade to become part of the senior set-up.
The 21-year-old – who grabbed a try double against Timisoara Saracens last month – will get his latest lesson in senior rugby tonight (Friday) whe he lines up against Edinburgh Rugby.
And the Solihull-born ace has revealed how he has joined the likes of Hallam Amos in combining a professional sporting career with University life.
“I’m currently in my second year of a Law degree at Cardiff,” he said.
“It’s full-time at the moment so I am trying to juggle the two. Monday mornings I miss here because I am at University.
“My days are spent training and then in the evening I go home and work. I am lucky that the lectures are recorded to keep up with that.
“It is nice and refreshing to go back and forget about rugby for a few hours. I’m not saying it is easy, there are times I struggle, but I feel I am ticking along and hopefully this time next year I will be looking towards the end.
“I’m doing my degree but Hallam (Amos) is on another level with his medicine – fair pay to him. I do speak to him about how he manages.
“It’s good to learn off people like Hallam in general, not just studying wise. There is a good mix of experience flooding through the squad now and it is good to tap any ideas you can get off them.”
Talbot-Davies has also been learning on the international stage this season with spells away with Wales Sevens on the HSBC World Sevens Series.
And he believes that experience has been of huge benefit to his game.
“The Sevens has been brilliant, even for off the field stuff and having different experiences, travel the world and learn more about recovery and your body,” he said.
“You are playing against some of the best players in the world. Some of the talent out there is phenomenal.
“You work on beating defenders and work on your pace, things that are transferable into the 15s game. It’s helped massively and I feel like I have really improved since coming back.
“It’s a pretty brutal sport, especially in between games and getting yourself ready and preparing,” he added.
“It’s more of a mental game, that is what the core boys keep telling you, your mind switches before your body does. It’s about getting your mental game switched on. The highs definitely outweigh the lows.”
Talbot-Davies will line up out wide at BT Murrayfield and insists he is happy to play anywhere if it means he is involved in the senior set-up.
“As long as I am on the pitch I am happy,” he smiled. “I always thought of myself as a 15, but then I went away with the sevens and got that extra yard of pace.
“I have transferred towards the wing more this season, more due to opportunity and to get some game time.
“As long as I am playing I am happy. Maybe long-term more at 15, but I don’t really think about it.
“I am getting used to the wing. It is different and I have still got a lot left to learn, but I am just enjoying being involved.
“It is still early days for me at this level; I haven’t played loads of rugby yet,” he added.
“I’ve had a good few games now. I wouldn’t say I was comfortable, it is still and step up, but I enjoy the challenge.
“I’m at the point now where I am not overawed by it now, I am relishing the opportunities and can put a marker down.”
It’s good to learn off people like Hallam in general, not just studying wise. There is a good mix of experience flooding through the squad now and it is good to tap any ideas you can get off them...
