Sam Wainwright last played for Wales four years ago. Since then, his life has been touched by tragedy after losing the person who did so much to help him achieve his dream
Sam Wainwright last played for Wales against Georgia in 2022(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Much has changed for Sam Wainwright since the last of his four Wales caps just over three years ago.
Almost a year to the day following his fourth Test cap against Georgia in the November internationals in 2022, the prop’s father, Shaun, passed away in tragic circumstances at the age of 58 in 2023. 15 months prior, Shaun had proudly watched on as his son made history, coming off the bench for his debut in the win over South Africa.
That 13-12 triumph was not only Wainwright’s first taste of international rugby, but Wales’ first victory over the Springboks on South African soil.
Wainwright’s first year in Test rugby would, until now, be his last. Earlier this week, an injury to Cardiff team-mate Keiron Assiratti saw the 27-year-old called up to Wales’ Six Nations squad.
“We had aspirations for me to get back to this position,” said Wainwright about his dad. “I’ve always been hungry to get back into the squad.
“We talked about never giving up on anything and its just nice to be given another opportunity. He was a huge influence on me and he was my best friend.
“He was my biggest support network. When I got the call I thought about him and it was quite emotional.
“We’d speak about everything and he’d watch every game. When I was at the Scarlets he would tell me what to pick up on after every game.
“He was unbelievable for me and that’s why getting this call up was a bit emotional for me. He would have been proud of me – 1000 per cent.”
Sam Wainwright with his dad, Shaun
Wainwright’s father was a huge part of his rugby journey, despite Shaun growing up playing the 13-a-side code. When Wainwright was part-time in north Wales at RGC, his dad ensured he stayed fully focused on achieving his rugby dream.
“My dad was a construction worker who worked very hard to ensure I had everything I needed to have a crack at this,” he said. “He put everything into it for me.
“Dad worked for a company that was very good to him down the years, Jennings, and I told him I wanted to follow his route and have the rugby alongside it, but he would never let me do it.
“He said ‘I do this, not you – you just focus on the rugby’. I was part time at RGC and got a wage, but my Dad just told me to eat and sleep my rugby.
“My dad had his own company and he always wanted me to go to college and stuff. I wanted to follow his own route – and do the rugby alongside but he’d never let me do it.
“He always wanted me to focus on this, to be fair to him.
“He was like, ‘you do this and you eat, sleep rugby and do your best and then you’ll get to where you want to get to. You go full into this until we get something.’ I have to give him credit for that, he was very supportive of me.
“He wanted me to focus on the rugby and just get to where I needed to be. He was a good man.”
Wainwright’s family were in Bloemfontein for his debut nearly four years ago, with the tighthead calling it “one of the fondest memories” he has.
“At that point, I was 24 at the time,” he says. “As a tighthead prop, I’d not really played a lot of rugby.
“I played a lot of semi-pro and around 22 games for Saracens. But I was around a lot of quality players, so it was a case of giving what I could in that game.
“It was huge. The history of winning there, it was massive. It was a huge experience in general, with my family alongside me there.
“I didn’t really expect it at the time after only 22 games for Saracens. I got put in and it went well. It came early for me and I am a different player now to back then. I’ve got a lot more experience, but there is still a lot to work on.”
The chance of another cap is something Wainwright is dreaming of, with the Cardiff prop believing he’s a better player than when he was last there.
Wainwright is older and wiser since he last played for Wales(Image: Getty Images)
“I’ve played a lot more rugby than when I was last in,” he says. “I did the summer tour and the autumn last time under Wayne (Pivac).
“I only played 20-something games for Saracens at the time and then to be put in that environment.
“It went well in South Africa and the autumn too, but there was a game or two where scrum-time I was under the pump a bit.
“You play games and it was a big moment for me. When I was here last time it was a big learning curve for me and I’ve played a lot of rugby in between with the Scarlets and at Cardiff now. It’s been good.”
And, should he be called upon to take on the English scrum and Lions prop Ellis Genge in particular, there would be no fears for Wainwright.
“You’ve got to back yourself,” he said. “You shouldn’t be saying no in this environment.
“I think you shouldn’t be playing if you’ve got the mindset you can’t. Anyone in this squad should be relishing the opportunity and realising that they could do a job.”
No doubt about it, his father would be proud.