Bath Rugby’s young centre Louie Hennessey said making his debut for Wales was a very proud day for him and his family.
Bath Rugby’s Declan Treacey will captain England U18 in a friendly against their France counterparts here at Chinnor RFC’s ground on Saturday 14th March | Photo © Richard Briggs
The 21-year-old came off the bench in the principality’s battling defeat to Ireland in Guinness Six Nations Round 4.
Cardiff-born Hennessey arrived as a 70th-minute replacement during Wales’ 27-17 setback at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Friday 6th March.
He said: “Crazy feeling, very proud day for me and my family. I’ve worked for this for so long.
“In the autumn internationals in 2025, I didn’t get the opportunity then, so I went away, worked hard, and luckily Steve [Tandy, Wales’ head coach] has put his trust in me and given me it today.
“Coming out of the tunnel, standing next to all the Irish players, all the fireworks going off, walking out at the Aviva, then it was like ‘OK, we’re here, we’re going here now’.
“When you’re on the bench, and you come on, you want to impact the game in a positive way.
“We were man down at the time, so probably just nailing my basics, trusting myself, trusting my instincts, and going from there. It’s nice to get to run out on the pitch.
“I had my mum here today, my grandparents, all my family. There was eight of them that took the trip out.
“I’ve got a lot of thanks to those guys, especially my mum. Very grateful to all of them.”
Blue, Black & White prop Archie Griffin also played a part for Wales in Dublin, coming on in the 57th minute.
Griffin has kept his place on the bench for Wales’ Round 5 encounter with Italy in Cardiff on Saturday 14th March.
Bath fly-half Finn Russell converted six of Scotland’s seven tries and kicked a penalty as they recorded a hugely impressive 50-40 win over France in their Six Nations clash at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, on Saturday 7th March.
His clubmate, back row Josh Bayliss, joined the action as a 52nd-minute replacement.
The Scots are level on points with table-topping France with one round of matches to go – and some more Bath players could play a big part in ensuring the championship trophy ends up north of the border.
Scotland will lock horns with Ireland in Dublin in their final match of the Six Nations campaign, on Saturday 14th March – Russell will again be in the guests’ starting XV – and later in the day, England will face France in Paris.
Bath skipper and scrum-half Ben Spencer and back row Guy Pepper will be in the England starting XV at Stade de France, and on the bench will be Blue, Black & White back row Sam Underhill.
If Underhill comes on, he will win his 50th England cap.
Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, said: “Reaching 50 caps is a special achievement and a reflection of the consistency Sam has shown in an England shirt.
“He’s worked extremely hard for this milestone and it’s a credit to him and the people who’ve supported him along the way.”
England will be desperate to sign off with a win, having suffered a shock 23-18 reverse in Rome on 7th March – their third Six Nations loss this year.
Spencer, Pepper and Underhill – who was yellow-carded – were all in the England starting XV but were replaced in the second half.
Bath number 8 Connor Treacey will again captain England U20 when they take on their France counterparts in U20 Six Nations Round 5 on Sunday 15th March.
Also in the England starting line-up in La Rochelle will be Bath wing Tyler Offiah.
Offiah also joined Treacey in the starting XV as England beat Italy 37-17 in a Round 4 tie in Treviso on Friday 6th March.
Treacey’s brother Declan Treacey will skipper England U18 for the third time when they play France U18 in a friendly at Chinnor RFC’s ground in Thame, Oxfordshire, on 14th March.
On the England bench will be Bath’s Ben Allen and Max Hooper.
