AARON Wainwright admits he looks at the lives of today's multimillionaire footballers and wonders what might have been if he'd made a career with the round ball instead of the oval.
But after becoming Wales' breakout World Cup star, the 22-year-old tyro is understandably more than happy with his lot as he plots making a hulking South African side his next victim.
Dragons ace Wainwright has – from nowhere – established himself as a regular in Warren Gatland's backrow in Japan, benefiting admittedly from the injury woes of others.
Still, the former Cardiff City and Newport County junior footballer has taken his chance with aplomb and was man of the match in Wales' quarter-final win over 14-man France. This morning he starts once again, this time against South Africa as Gatland and Wales look for a place in a first final.
“I played football from 10 to 16. I was at Cardiff and played there for a couple of years, but when it came to academy contracts and signing scholarships I got dropped,” Wainwright said.
“I went to Newport County and got offered another scholarship, but turned that down and went to rugby.
“I was a defensive midfielder and played in front of the back four. When you hear about what goes on in the football world, you wonder what might have been, but I'm happy with the way things have worked out which is the main thing. I'm enjoying my rugby at the moment.
“I did not think it would go quite this far. I started off just playing with my mates in school and it has just carried on from there.
I'm really excited and ready to go.” Wainwright produced a champion performance against France, racing nearly half the pitch for a breakaway try in which he showed superb pace. He was immense throughout and even had to take a vicious elbow to the head from Sebastien Vahaamahina for which the lock was sent off.
Now Wainwright will have to go to the next level against a giant South African back-row of captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter- Steph du Toit, and Duane Vermeulen. It doesn't get much tougher.
Remarkably, the young Welshman will call on his experiences of playing university and Welsh Championship rugby in his pursuit of glory. Not many World Cup semi-finalists can say that.
“The serious side of rugby started when I was at Cardiff Met and I had a phone call from Bernard Jackman to say I was going to be on the bench for the Dragons,” Wainwright.
“That was a massive step for me going from university rugby to professional rugby and the PRO14.
“Playing that year and then getting the call for the Wales summer tour were massive for me. That was when I realised it was going to be a lot more serious than I thought it would be.
“I'm enjoying it and just looking to progress. Cardiff Met was massive in terms of helping me to understand the game better. I played Championship rugby at weekends against some big lads down in places like Narberth and Bedlinog. It gets you ready for senior rugby and in BUCS rugby and the English university league it was faster and more skilful.
That was beneficial for me too and what Cardiff Met and Whiteheads have done for me has been massive.
“It has helped me get to where I am now.” Wainwright celebrated his try against France by mimicking a pair of antlers on his head. His boyhood club Whiteheads – on the outskirts of Newport – are nicknamed the Stags and Wainwright was the man who set up their sevens side. The whole club will be watching him against South Africa.
Should Wainwright – who has been compared to former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton at this World Cup – help his team to a first World Cup final, it would only continue what has been a remarkable rise. There is surely no player at the World Cup who has had a quicker rise.
“South Africa are a big, physical team and it will be a tough Test match,” Wainwright said, who is well aware Wales have beaten the Springboks in their last four meetings.
“I didn't think I'd be here a couple of years ago so it's a massive achievement.
We've been building for a couple of years and now we have eyes on the semi and hopefully the final. Hopefully we can come away with the trophy.”
