Harlequins coach Gilmore backs Bryn Bradley to earn first Wales cap this summer

Harlequins head coach Jason Gilmore has backed inside centre Bryn Bradley to make his Wales debut this summer, describing the 23-year-old as a player who raises his game the higher the level he faces.

Bradley, who stands 6ft 4in and weighs 16st 9lb, was named among six uncapped players in an extended 48-man Wales squad selected by head coach Steve Tandy earlier this month. The London-born centre, whose mother is from Newport, Gwent, represented Wales at under-20 level and has scored six tries in 19 appearances for Quins in what has been a breakout Premiership season.

Gilmore told RugbyPass that Bradley’s performances against top-level opposition this season have convinced him the centre is ready for international rugby. Wales face Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in their Nations Championship fixtures this summer.

“Every time he steps up against an international centre, it’s a measure,” Gilmore said. “If he can handle himself and go well against [Fraser] Dingwall this week, then he’s in a position where he can play international rugby.”

Gilmore pointed to a clear pattern in Bradley’s development, noting that the centre has consistently improved as the quality of opposition has risen. “When he plays Prem Cup it’s solid. But as soon as he stepped up to Europe and the Prem, I think he’s played the best he’s played at Quins since I’ve seen him. He seems to be a guy who flourishes at the next level when he steps up.”

Bradley’s path to becoming Harlequins’ first-choice 12 was not straightforward. He missed the start of the season through injury and then competed with Ben Waghorn for the jersey before Waghorn’s own injury opened the door. Gilmore says Bradley has made the shirt his own and that it is now up to his teammates to reclaim it.

“He’s probably been a little bit frustrated the last few years that he’s just got snippets here and there,” Gilmore added. “He went back into our second team and worked really hard. He’s the incumbent now — it’s up to the other boys in pre-season to get the 12 jersey off Bryn.”

Gilmore said he would have no hesitation selecting Bradley against any of Wales’s summer opponents and expressed genuine excitement about what an international environment could bring out in the player. “If he gets the call-up to Wales, which I hope he does, I’ll be really interested to see what the growth in him is at that next level.”