Dragons flanker Ryan Woodman targets first Wales cap after Barbarians debut

Ryan Woodman is chasing a first full Wales cap this season after the Dragons RFC flanker got his initial taste of international rugby as a replacement in the uncapped match against the Barbarians at Twickenham in June.

The 22-year-old lined up alongside Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright and Dewi Lake that day, facing a Barbarians pack that included Faf de Klerk, George Norge and Virimi Vakatawa — an experience that sharpened his understanding of exactly what Test-level physicality demands.

“It’s a big goal in my career right now, getting that first cap,” Woodman said. “I just want to keep going in that positive direction and that’s going to happen by taking the feedback I have had from the Welsh coaches. They tell you what they are looking for and what your work-ons are to get in the squad.”

Woodman has a direct opportunity to press his case when the Dragons host the Scarlets in a URC Welsh derby at Rodney Parade this Saturday. Wales are set to name their Nations Championship squad within three weeks, making the fixture a timely audition.

The flanker’s primary focus heading into the new season is bulk. He has added two to three kilograms over the summer and now sits at approximately 117kg — by his own account the heaviest he has ever been.

“When I played against the Barbarians, the size of that pack was ridiculous. I think they had four or five players that were 130kgs,” he said. “The South African and Irish sides are really physical and we have equally physical players here at the Dragons. I just want to be even more of a physical presence on the pitch as that big six role. I want to try and dominate other teams more.”

He cited teammates Levi Douglas, Harrison Keddie and Ben Carter as benchmarks for the kind of physicality he is working towards. “Ben Carter is just such a physical player. That’s where I want to be with my game.”

Maintaining the extra weight brings its own challenges. “The worst part about the job for me is eating. I’ll be round the missus’ house at 10pm, trying to slog chicken and rice down just before going to bed and then having a protein shake. I don’t enjoy it,” Woodman admitted. “But the game is getting bigger and bigger. Everyone is big now, so you can’t really afford not to be as big as you can.”

Woodman was first called into the Wales squad as a replacement for the injured Taine Plumtree during the Six Nations before earning his Barbarians appearance. He described the wider squad environment as a significant learning curve: “It was a really good experience, a load of fun and I learnt a lot from being around the best players in Wales.”