AdamBeard

A prominent member of Wales’ victorious 2021 Six Nations campaign, Adam Beard wore the red of The British & Irish Lions for the first time in South Africa.

While not selected in Warren Gatland’s initial 37-man squad, the 25-year-old from Swansea was subsequently called up as a replacement for captain Alun Wyn Jones, who suffered a shoulder injury in the opening game against Japan.

Beard's rugby journey began in the junior ranks at Morriston RFC, Birchgrove RFC, and Neath Port Talbot College before joining the Ospreys Academy.

Having also played for Aberavon in the Principality Premiership, his first international recognition came at Under-18 and 20 levels for Wales as he continued to learn his trade at Ospreys.

Beard toured South Africa in 2013 with the Under-18s and made his senior Ospreys debut in 2014 against Exeter Chiefs, before helping the Wales Under-20s clinch the Grand Slam in 2016.

His debut for the senior Wales team came against Samoa on the 2017 summer tour, coming on as a replacement before making his first start against Georgia five months later.

Gatland handed Beard his Six Nations bow in Wales’ victory against France in 2019 and he went on to star four more matches as they claimed a memorable Grand Slam title.

He was also a key figure of the Wales team that reached the semi-finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup but only played one game for his country in the whole of 2020.

After missing out on the Autumn Nations Cup, Beard was recalled by Wayne Pivac for the 2021 Six Nations and started four of the five games - only missing the win over Italy through injury.

Handed the responsibility of acting as lineout caller, Beard was credited with improving a struggling Welsh lineout along with Ken Owens, as Pivac’s men secured the Championship title.

Gatland has previously said of Beard: “You can’t coach someone to be 6ft 8ins” - and the imposing lock employed his unique skillset to the Lions’ cause in South Africa.

He made five appearances in South Africa, scoring one try against the DHL Stormers.

He didn’t start in a Test against South Africa but was included on the bench for the third Test in Cape Town.