Dylan James is one of the best front-row prospects in the Welsh game
Paul James with his son Dylan
Super Rygbi Cymru will provide a glimpse into Welsh rugby’s future this season with some of the most promising talents in the game on show.
One player who the Ospreys have high hopes for is Wales U18s loosehead Dylan James, whose father Paul won 66 caps for Wales between 2003 and 2015.
James senior was one of the most destructive scrummaging looseheads in the game having come through the ranks at Neath RFC before the game turned regional, while he was a stalwart for the Ospreys and played two seasons at Bath.
You can read all about his career in an exclusive interview he did with WalesOnline in 2023.
Those who work within the game believe he is a chip off the old block and he has the perfect mentor in his father who coached him at Ospreys U18s.
“He was my coach with Ospreys U18s,” he tells WalesOnline.
“If anything he’s picking on me more than anyone else!
“I learnt a lot of lessons watching him while I was growing up but I want to go down my own path.
“I get advice all the time off him with regards things I need to work on.
“When I return home from training he’s already clipped up stuff to show me what I could have done better and what I need to improve on.
“He does give praise when it is due but it is good to have someone like that to point out my weaknesses and show me where I can improve.
“He’s basically taught me everything I know.” Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
James is part of the senior Ospreys academy but will get the majority of his game-time at Aberavon in the SRC and is also studying mechanical engineering at Swansea University.
The 19-year-old is hoping he can use this upcoming season as a launchpad to bigger and better things.
“I’ve just recently come back from a shoulder injury so I’ve been out for the past six months or so,” he said.
“Due to my injury I missed my opportunity last season but it is definitely a big goal of mine to get in the Wales U20s squad this season.
“Hopefully I can get in the U20s Six Nations squad and then go to the Junior World Cup.
“I’m contracted with the Ospreys as a senior academy player but I’ll be getting the majority of my game-time with Aberavon.
“I’ve been training with the Ospreys during pre-season.
“Hopefully I can get some good game-time with Aberavon and push into the senior Ospreys squad.”
There were few better scrummagers in the Welsh game during the height of the first Warren Gatland era than James’ father Paul.
No surprises then for guessing what the younger James is priding his game on. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
“I’d like to say I’m confident in my ball carrying but I think I can lock down a scrum quite well as well,” said James when asked what his main strengths are.
“There’s a lot of work going into that with the Ospreys academy.
“Those are probably my two main attributes.
“I love scrummaging. I’m working hard at every part of my game but I’d say my defence is work on.
“I’ve learnt a lot training and scrummaging against some of the senior players at the Ospreys this summer.
“There’s some strong boys there. Tom Botha is one of the hardest opponents I’ve scrummaged against and I learn a lot from that.
“One of my good mates Kian Hire is also tough to scrummage against.
“He’s probably going to be playing for Swansea this season but he’s making his way up into the senior team as well.”
James has his feet firmly on the ground but to follow in his father’s footsteps would be a dream come true. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
“Yes, that’s the dream,” said James when asked if his long-term goal was to play for Wales at senior level. “I’m just trying to improve myself every session, listen to all the coaches and my old man as well.
“I’m just trying to improve myself.”