He’s had to play the waiting game behind one of Wales’ greatest ever scrum-halves, so little wonder Archie Hughes is relishing every opportunity that comes his way, writes Rob Lloyd.
The 22-year-old will pull on the No. 9 jersey for the third successive game against Ulster on Saturday afternoon, having delivered try-scoring performances against Section Paloise and Northampton Saints in the final two rounds of the Investec Champions Cup.
Growing up with Wales and Lions star Davies as his hero, the product of Tenby RFC has had to bide his time as the Scarlets’ oldest squad member continues to defy Father Time with some outstanding displays.
So when opportunity has knocked in recent weeks, Archie has been ready to speed through that open door.
“It’s been awesome,” he says, speaking to the media this week.
“Obviously, it’s been quite hard not getting too many chances, but I have been working hard in training, I have had the opportunities and have really enjoyed it.
“I’m learning a lot, I know there is a lot to work on, but I’d rather be in those situations than sitting on the bench. Getting those consistent starts is good for me. As much as you learn in training there is nothing like being out there in the starting team.”
He continues: “I have been asked a few times who I modelled my game on and growing up, Gareth was the scrum-half I looked up to. Scarlets was my home club, watching the games as a kid, I used to watch his game, so being able to go up against him is a real privilege.
“There are so many scrum-halves I could name that I have admired over the years, but he is definitely one that I based my game off.
“It has been a bit surreal, training with him and going up against him, especially when I first started but it’s been awesome going up against someone you idolised as a kid. It is even better to compete against him.
“As much as he is a great player who is still in great form, for me I want to take that jersey off him, to keep driving for that is big for me.”
Archie displayed some of those renowned ‘Cawdor’ try-poaching instincts at Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday, arriving on the inside shoulder of Ellis Mee to finish off a brilliant first-half score.
“I could almost see it happening,” he recalls. “With the likes of Ellis, Blair, Tom Rogers you know they are capable of something special, you just gamble and hopefully get on the end of it.
“I think the Champions Cup has been good for us. There’s been ups and downs, we’ve had some good performances, played some good rugby, but haven’t been on the right side of results. Saints are a great side, play good rugby, so to go toe to toe and make them take three points at the end, I think is is a mark of respect.
“Playing against the best sides in Europe has only made us better as a team. We have set standards and it is important we maintain them now.”
The press conference had actually begun with a question about his box-kicking, prompted by new director of rugby Nigel Davies, who had chatted to the media moments earlier.
“He has been on to me about it a lot,” smiles Archie.
“I have been working hard on it and it’s been going ok I think.
“It’s a big part of the game now. For me, I like to consider myself quite tenacious, I like to get stuck in and bring lots of energy on and off the ball and provide that spark, but in modern rugby, for a nine I know it is a fine balance, running with the ball and putting pressure on sides with the kicking game.”
So has it always been scrum-half?
“When I was five or six my dad was coach of Tenby Utd and took my year group on. He loved his rugby and brought us into that environment. I remember him telling me I don’t think you are going to be big enough to play anywhere else!!”
So what of the challenge of Saturday’s opponents Ulster, a side rejuvenated this season, sitting third in the URC and having secured their spot as one of the top seeds in the EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16.
“They are a good attacking side who play good rugby. We know it is going to be tough to deal with that, but we set a standard last Sunday that we need to keep and hopefully we will be able to come away with a win,” adds Archie.
“As I said, putting in good performances against the likes of Bordeaux, Bristol, Northampton can only give us confidence. They have been great challenges and made us better as a group.”
Archie also hopes the Parc y Scarlets faithful can replicate the atmosphere from the away fans on the Franklin’s Gardens terrace.
“We felt we had a 16th man and Northampton is not known as a quiet place,” he adds.
“The fans were awesome, hopefully we can have more of the same this weekend.”