The Ospreys backrower is approaching cult hero status
Ospreys’ Harri Deaves takes on the Bulls defence(Image: Getty Images)
Harri Deaves is already a cult figure and a fans favourite at the Ospreys but his stock is growing rapidly.
Very few people gave the Ospreys a chance of competing against the Bulls in Pretoria, but while the Welsh club didn’t win they scored 40 points at Loftus Versfeld to prove they mean business this season. Tenacious backrower Deaves, 24, was totemic making 17 tackles, 22 post contact metres and two try assists.
Deaves has won many admirers, with Wales legend Shane Williams labelling him an “absolute dog”, while Adam Jones has previously described him as “phenomenal” and an “absolute nightmare to play against.”
The praise has come in thick and fast but Deaves has never forgotten his roots and his real passion in life is his home town club Pontyclun RFC.
“I practically live in the club,” he said.
“I play darts Monday, coach Tuesdays and Thursdays and then I’m up there helping out however I can on other days.
“I know every age group so it’s nice to see how they are transitioning. Last year we had four out of five age groups in the Blues cup final and one loss in the semis.
“So, it is a pretty good set-up down there.
“I coach the youth so I help transition the boys from the juniors onto our first team and senior rugby.
“That’s my main goal just to get the club back where we feel as a community it should be in the better leagues.
“There’s always boys who kick on at our club but there’s boys kicking on right now which is class to see.
“There’s some quality players, Harry Lewis who is U16s and played for Wales U18s out in Italy.
“There’s some quality boys coming through the ranks and it is nice to be able to see that happen as well.”
Deaves has had to overcome adversity to become a professional rugby player after getting told he wasn’t big enough by some figures in the game. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
He may not be the biggest but he punches well above his weight and is often one of the most physical players on the pitch.
Against the Bulls he was dominating the collisions against some colossal South African forwards including former Springboks backrower Marcell Coetzee.
Deaves credits his upbringing at Pontyclun RFC and his ability to deal with the setbacks he received as a youngster for his edge on the rugby field.
“You could say Pontyclun,” he said when asked where his edge and tenacity comes from.
“Maybe being an underdog.
“I was a bit of a late developer playing in a tough position, always being called too small and stuff like that.
“I think the size of my heart had to take over sometimes and I’d like to say that it still carries on now.
“There’s no doubt it makes you want to do well.
“I don’t know what really spurs me on. It’s about making my village proud and I love representing my village. Also my family and giving back to them.”
Deaves is also in good hands being mentored by Wales legend Justin Tipuric who is the Ospreys’ new defence coach.
“He’s my hero,” said Deaves.
“His transition into coaching has been seamless but I think everyone would have predicted that.
“He’s a surreal human on the pitch and off the pitch.
“If you bumped into him and someone didn’t know who he was he would never tell you he was a rugby player or anything like that.
“He’s the epitome of a good human.
“He’s my hero because when I was selected for Wales U18s I had a signed grog off him.”
Openside flanker is an area of strength in Welsh rugby with the likes of British & Irish Lions star Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Josh Macleod, James Botham and Taine Basham vying for a spot.
But Ospreys head coach Mark Jones is adamant Deaves should be in the international reckoning.
“Yes, I do and I’d be surprised if he was not in the international conversation right now,” said Jones when asked if he thought Deaves could play Test rugby.
“It depends on coaches’ opinions, how they want to play the game and what skillsets they are looking for but if you look at his post contact metres he’s the highest in our squad. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
“He beats defenders and wins collisions in his own way, not just through brute force.
“He’s very dangerous when he’s on the edge, he’s got a good skill set and he’s super aggressive.
“So, he’s got all the traits that you’d associate with an international rugby player.
“I suppose he, like many others at the minute, is waiting to see how Steve Tandy is going to build his game and the type of players he’s going to want to use to put that onto the pitch.”
The Ospreys are not short of quality in the backrow with the likes of Deaves, Morgan, Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morris and Morgan Morse all vying for a starting spot.
But Deaves is as important a player as any of them and Jones insists he is a lynchpin of the Ospreys environment.
“I’m a big advocate of Harri’s and I always have been since I arrived at the club, particularly when I had my defensive hat on because he gives so much energy to that area,” said Jones.
“He gives such a high quality of delivery in that area.
“He’s a tenacious character who puts his body on the line but he’s also very very detailed and smart.
“A lot of his work is calculated. He lives on the edge but he’s always on the safe side of the edge and he’s always very disciplined in what he does.
“I would imagine that any team that plays against him don’t enjoy it which often is the case with top sevens.
“You’ve only got to look at the work he does in his casual time around his local rugby club. How much he cares about that environment while he really respects the journey that he’s been on and who has helped him along the way. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
“When he’s in our environment he’s such a good man around his level of respect for his role and the coaches along with how he can help.
“Often as a coach you just look at players and it’s the ones you can look at and you are proud of going out there and representing you on the field.
“He represents an awful lot of what I love and every time he’s out there he’s raising everyone else’s game along with his own.
“There’s not many players who can do that and he’s certainly one who makes others feel like they can run a bit faster, hit a bit harder and go for a bit longer when he’s out there.”
Deaves is a rising force for the Ospreys, driven by heart and hometown pride. His journey is just getting started.