![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_Paul_James_2.jpg\")
Paul James with his son Dylan<\/p>\nDylan James is one of the best front-row prospects in the Welsh gamePaul James with his son Dylan<\/p>\n
Super Rygbi Cymru<\/a> will provide a glimpse into Welsh rugby’s future this season with some of the most promising talents in the game on show.<\/p>\n One player who the Ospreys<\/a> have high hopes for is Wales U18s loosehead Dylan James, whose father Paul won 66 caps for Wales between 2003 and 2015.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You can read all about his career in an exclusive interview he did with WalesOnline in 2023.<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “He was my coach with Ospreys U18s,” he tells WalesOnline.<\/p>\n “If anything he’s picking on me more than anyone else!<\/p>\n “I learnt a lot of lessons watching him while I was growing up but I want to go down my own path.<\/p>\n “I get advice all the time off him with regards things I need to work on.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “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.<\/a><\/p>\n 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<\/a> University.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old is hoping he can use this upcoming season as a launchpad to bigger and better things.<\/p>\n “I’ve just recently come back from a shoulder injury so I’ve been out for the past six months or so,” he said.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n “Hopefully I can get in the U20s Six Nations<\/a> squad and then go to the Junior World Cup.<\/p>\n “I’m contracted with the Ospreys as a senior academy player but I’ll be getting the majority of my game-time with Aberavon.<\/p>\n “I’ve been training with the Ospreys during pre-season.<\/p>\n “Hopefully I can get some good game-time with Aberavon and push into the senior Ospreys squad.”<\/p>\n There were few better scrummagers in the Welsh game during the height of the first Warren Gatland<\/a> era than James’ father Paul.<\/p>\n