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As he sits in the Lions’ Den bar at Kingsholm, a fresh-faced Josh Hathaway is surrounded by Gloucester rugby history as he discusses his breakthrough campaign.
On the walls of the room which once served as the club’s changing facilities are team pictures dating back to the late 1800’s when the Cherry and Whites were founded.
The names of every player to have represented one of England’s most historic sides are listed. Hathaway, still just 20, is both Gloucester’s future and present, not their past.
He is eligible for England and Wales – the land of his birth – at senior level. Hathaway is unique in that he has already represented both countries in the Under-20 Six Nations.
His impressive development at Gloucester this season will surely have caught the eye of both Steve Borthwick and Warren Gatland, although neither have been in contact just yet.
Josh Hathaway is preparing to face the Sharks for Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final
Hathaway is pictured celebrating winning Gloucester’s semi-final against Benetton
Hathaway, giving his first major interview, is eligible to play for both England and Wales
‘International rugby has been a dream of mine since I was three or four years old,’ Hathaway tells Mail Sport in his first major newspaper interview.
‘As soon as I could speak, I said I wanted to play Test rugby. If I do, it would be a dream come true not just for me, but for my dad as well. I’ll do as much as I can to get there.
‘My dad was throwing a foam rugby ball at me when I was just a few months old. He’s always been very keen. He did well with his rugby and played for Wales Under-19’s but unfortunately picked up two knee injuries which stopped him from carrying on any further.’
Hathaway’s first full senior campaign has already seen him help Gloucester to win the Premiership Rugby Cup and reach the final of Friday’s European Challenge Cup.
George Skivington’s side struggled badly in the Gallagher Premiership, with the nadir being a 90-0 hammering by Northampton in which Hathaway was involved.
But if they beat South African side Sharks at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday they will not only end the campaign with two trophies but also seal qualification for next season’s Champions Cup. Standing between them are is a daunting Sharks side containing a host of Springbok double World Cup winners.
The emergence of Hathaway has been a big positive for Gloucester.
Gloucester have endured a poor season overall but Hathaway is a bright point
Born in Aberystwyth, the wing or full-back started his rugby in his hometown and was coached by his father Darren from an early age. He quickly progressed into the Scarlets academy.
But, like a number of Wales’ other top young rugby talents, he was attracted by the prospect of being educated at one of England’s top sporting establishments, in his case Hartpury College.
Hathaway studied for a BTEC in rugby sport at Hartpury – who have close links with Gloucester – and signed a long-term deal with the Kingsholm side in 2022.
Gloucester paid Scarlets a release fee to sign Hathaway such was the promise they saw in him.
That decision has been rewarded. He has eight tries for Gloucester this season including a hat-trick against Saracens. ‘Hartpury was probably the best two years of my life,’ Hathaway says.
‘I played there for the Scarlets and when we got there and saw the facilities, I said to my mum and dad straight away I wanted to go there.
‘It was where I saw my rugby future. It was the best decision I’ve made.’
Hathaway’s father and mother, Claire, are both Welsh-born. But he also has a late grandmother on his dad’s side who was English, meaning he is dual qualified.
So, what about his international future? At this stage, Hathaway is keeping his options open on whether it’s England or Wales.
Gloucester saw the talent Hathaway possessed and were keen to snap him up
‘I haven’t had any contact from anyone at either country,’ he says. ‘I get asked all the time if I’ve had any phone calls and I haven’t! I do have people in my ear.
‘The main thing for me is to retain my place in the Gloucester squad and build on the progress I’ve made. Whatever happens next, happens. When I played for England Under-20’s the boys were really accepting of me even though I’d played for Wales the year before. I didn’t get any jip!
‘My dad is Welsh through and through but wants me to do the best I can and will back every decision I make. I’m sure he’ll be in my ear and will make sure I make the right call.’
At this stage, it looks unlikely Hathaway will play Test rugby this summer. Were he to be called up by Wales head coach Gatland for their July matches in Australia, he would be immediately captured by the Welsh Rugby Union under their selection ruling even if he did not play.
He is not eligible for Wales’ June clash with South Africa due to the game being played outside World Rugby’s designated Test window. Hathaway grew up watching Gatland’s Welsh sides.
He cites Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams as his rugby heroes and visited Principality Stadium with his parents and younger sister Taylor. Now, he calls Gloucester home.
He lives in a flat a stone’s throw from Kingsholm with fellow academy player Morgan Adderly-Jones and this weekend will hope to lift European silverware.
Hathaway starts the final as a replacement.
‘It’ll be one of those moments where I’ll have to pinch myself. It’ll be one of the things I dreamed about as a young child, he adds.
‘These are the players I want to be like and play with and against.
‘It was tough moving away from home at the start. Cooking was the main thing. I still take two big loads of washing back to my mum when I go home!
‘My cooking has improved. Spaghetti bolognaise is a fan favourite. I do miss my parents but they come to all my games and it was good for my development to move away.
‘We’ve won the Premiership Cup. We’d liked to have had better results in the Premiership, but we’ve learned from the mistakes we’ve made. We’re now into the final of the Challenge Cup and if we can win that, I think it will have been a very successful season.’
Hathaway started the campaign playing alongside Louis Rees-Zammit at Gloucester, prior to the latter’s high-profile move to the NFL. Comparisons between the two have been made given both are Welsh-born, were educated at Hartpury, and took up Kingsholm contracts.
But, the reality is the two are different players. Both have an eye for the try line though Hathaway’s understanding and feel for the game is impressive. Gloucester director of rugby Skivington has admitted Hathaway’s defence still needs work and he is not yet the finished product.
But after his treble at Saracens, Skivington described his attacking game as ‘world class.’
There is no doubt Hathaway is a player of promise. He is one to watch in the next few years as both England and Wales monitor his progress. After losing Exeter’s Cardiff-born wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to their bitter rivals, you would imagine Wales and Gatland would be reluctant to let another promising player end up in a white shirt and not a red one.
‘Louis had some great qualities when he was playing rugby and he’s taken them over to the NFL. I feel I’ve got some good ones myself, be they different to Louis’ or not,’ Hathaway says.
‘I’ve had a lot of exposure this season now and confidence has taken a while to kick in, purely based on nerves before games. I was very nervous for my debut against Saracens.
‘But I’ve built up that confidence in myself, especially defensively, and that’s been massive for me. I now back myself and I’ve been fortunate to score a few tries this season. I’ve relished every opportunity and loved every minute. I just want to keep playing the highest level of rugby I can.’
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