Bill Carne meets up with Dax Leggett, a promising young second row with Haverfordwest RFC’s under 16 team, who is also on the ‘Pathways’ scheme with the Scarlets’ Academy . . .

Dax Leggett is beginning to catch the eye in local rugby as a very good young player, not only with the talented under 16 team at Haverfordwest RFC but also with the Scarlets' academy squad that is doing very nicely against the other regional teams.

His ultimate ambition would be to become a professional rugby player and he knows that this means a great deal of hard work but he has taken the first tentative steps since he joined the 'Pathways' scheme with the Scarlets Academy, where he works hard at his rugby training under the watchful eye of Johnnie Llewellin whilst maintaining his academic studies at Tasker Milward School.

Dax also has to travel to Llanelli for training on Monday evenings with the Scarlets’ under 16 squad, working indoors at the Delme Thomas Indoor Centre or at the pitch above Parc y Scarlets under the guidance of coaches Rob Walters, Deiniol Evans and Phil John, plus another ex-Pembrokeshire player in Eifion Roberts, who looks after their conditioning and general fitness alongside physiotherapists and nutritionists on some occasions during their meetings as part of the training.

He also plays for his school team coached by Mr Andy Barlow and turns out for the Haverfordwest RFC team on Sundays that still has Jeff Clout in charge, along with Arthur Day and Mackie Dawes, with Jake Evans, Kyle Williams and Patrick Pearce as key players.

Jeff, who is known for his realistic appraisal of his young charges, was very pleased by the progress that Dax has made.

“Considering the fact that Dax was later joining rugby than most of our squad he has made great strides and deserves his place in our team and in the ‘Pathways’ scheme. He is a pleasure to have with us because he sets a great example in training by always trying his best and being ready to listen to good advice. His ball handling skills are ever-improving and although I tease him about being a would-be outside half in a second row’s body, he is a very good player. He also has great support from his family.”

Jeff, Dax and Co really enjoy each others’ company and there is always a great deal of leg-pulling going on – not least on one occasion when Dax arrived at their match in Whitland to discover he had left his boots at home. The only option was to borrow Jeff’s boots, which were far too small. Dax had the makings of a few blisters afterwards but he hasn’t forgotten his boots again!

Dax joined Haverfordwest at under 12 level after previously playing tag rugby with Mr Benbow at Llangwm Junior School. He was pals with Jonathan Clout, whose dad Jeff coached the Haverfordwest under 12s, and he was soon recruited into the second row, where he has played ever since. Dax is already 6’3” and still growing – and as well as his training at Parc y Scarlets he also does weight training at the new SAW gym organised by Simon Roach at STP School.

Dax, Jonathan as captain, and the rest of the Young Blues have certainly done really well in the intervening time because they have won the Pembrokeshire Cup for their age group on all three occasions in the County Finals Day, culminating last season with an exciting 25-15 success at under 15 level against host club Pembroke Dock Harlequins at Bierspool where Callum Morris used his pace to good effect on the wing.

They went on to represent the county in the regional finals at Parc y Scarlets, where they lost to eventual winners Carmarthen Quins.

He must have caught the eye of the Scarlets’ coaching team because he was invited to take part in the initial training for selection to the current squad, which has been dramatically narrowed down from over 70 to its current 30 players. They have played several of the other regional sides and also took part in a Festival of under 16s Rugby at Cardiff Arms Park. The games were of 15 a side but only over 15 minutes - and Dax and his team mates only lost one match throughout.

There is inevitable a great deal of travel for Dax but he has every support from mum Toni, whom he describes as ‘a great chauffeur’ and dad Tony, who won trophies galore as a very good footballer with Hakin United and also played table tennis at county level. Sister Poppy also plays football for Portsmouth University and outside of his rugby, Dax plays cricket in the summer for Hook Seconds as a useful batsman and good fielder - but it is rugby that remains his No 1 priority.

Ask him about his best moment so far and it is easy for him to supply the answer.

“It was when I scored my first try for the Scarlets. Connaught had come over from Ireland for the weekend and I scored from about 10 metres out – It was great!”

Ask then about ambitions and Dax knows exactly what he wants; it is to be a professional rugby player – but still recognises the fact that he needs to maintain his academic studies. He is a focused young feller who deserves to do well and having seen Dax Leggett play recently we are certain that if commitment and skill are key pointers then he is already on the pathway to success!