A SENSATIONAL solo try from Scarlets Under 18’s winger Ryan Conbeer has drawn comparisons to rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll’s score in the first Lions test against Australia in 2001, after it was shared online via social media.
The 16-year-old ran the length of the field and through an outrageous sidestep at blistering pace to send the covering fullback the wrong way, in almost identical fashion to O’Driscoll, who throughout a glittering career sent many an opponent the wrong way with his trademark step. As well as drawing high praise from supporters and users of social media it has also drawn the attention of Welsh legend Jonathan Davies who labelled it a ‘great try’ whilst O’Driscoll himself got in on the conversation, dismissing the comparisons by suggesting the Tenby wingers score was better than his own with the quip, ‘only 40 metres longer’.
Former Greenhill School pupil Conbeer is widely regarded as a star of the future after some sensational performances for both his club and country, and the rapid winger was a winner of The Pembrokeshire Herald Young Sporting Champion award in association with Dragon LNG in 2015. After playing in the Wellington Festival in a trial game for Wales Under 16’s, a regular blogger on the BBC ScrumV rugby forum posted a glowing reference for the Tenby youngster, describing Ryan as having ‘pace to burn’, going on to say that he ‘tackled well and took a brilliant try by using fancy footwork and going outside his opposite number. Really impressed – look out for the name’.
Ryan started out playing for Tenby U10’s and quickly progressed to the U11’s District team that toured Barcelona, under the watchful eye of coach Kenny Davies. From here he made his way into the Dyfed U11’s team before earning his first cap for the U11’s West Wales side. With such a strong CV by the age of 11, Ryan decided to make the move to Narberth to play his club rugby for the Under 12’s and continued to impress for the Scarlets feeder club. After, representing the district he was subsequently picked up by the region. At the age of 14 he was picked to play for the Scarlets U16’s side, which was testament to his raw ability. Now 16, he has played for the Scarlets U16’s West side, coached by Barry John and Jonny Llewellyn-Evans.
Ryan has gone on to gain his first Welsh cap, in a game versus England, and made many more appearances since. Having now earned an academy contract with the Scarlets he recently moved to study at Coleg Sir Gar. He hopes his commitment will help him to become a professional player and that one day he will realise his dream and gain a cap for the full international side.
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