After getting a brief glimpse of representing Wales, Ryan Woodman is eager for a bigger taste as he focuses on bulking up and increasing his physicality.
The Dragons RFC back-rower featured off the bench during June’s non-cap international fixture facing the Barbarians at Twickenham.
This opportunity allowed him to share the scrum with Jac Morgan, Aaron Wainwright, and Dewi Lake, while going head-to-head with stars such as Faf de Klerk, George Norge, and Virimi Vakatawa.
He is now focused on making a strong case for selection in the upcoming Nations Championship squad, set to be announced in three weeks, with the ultimate goal of earning his first official Test cap.
This Saturday presents a perfect stage for him to make his mark as the Dragons face off against the Scarlets in a highly anticipated BKT URC Welsh derby clash at Rodney Parade.
“Securing that debut cap is currently a major milestone I am striving for in my career,” the 22-year-old expressed.
“My focus is on continuing this upward trajectory, which means implementing the guidance provided by the national coaching staff.
“They clearly outline their expectations and highlight the specific areas of improvement needed to break into the selection.
“For this campaign, my main objective is to refine those exact elements of my play.”
Expanding on this, he noted: “I aim to bring a much more dominant physical edge to the field in that blindside flanker position.
“Imposing myself on the opposition is my primary target for the year ahead.
“The sheer scale of the Barbarians’ forward pack was incredible when we played them; they seemed to have nearly five guys tipping the scales at 130kg.
“While Irish and South African teams are renowned for their power, we have plenty of brute force in our own squad here at the Dragons.
“With players like Levi Douglas and Harrison Keddie on our side—guys I certainly wouldn’t fancy trying to stop myself!
“And Ben Carter is incredibly robust in contact. That is the level of aggression and power I want to integrate into my own performances.”
To achieve this, Woodman is monitoring his body weight very closely.
“My aim has been to gain mass, and I’ve managed to put on around two to three kilograms throughout the off-season,” he revealed.
“Though my weight tends to fluctuate, I am working hard to maintain a solid, consistent size now.
“I am currently weighing in at around 117kg (18st 4lbs), which is likely my heaviest weight to date.”
However, keeping up that size brings its own set of nutritional hurdles.
“For me, the most difficult aspect of being a professional is the constant eating, especially since it has to be clean, nutritious food,” he admitted.
“I often find myself at my partner’s place late at night, forcing down chicken and rice right before sleeping, followed by a protein shake. It’s really not enjoyable.
“Nevertheless, modern rugby is becoming increasingly demanding physically, with players growing larger and more powerful. Forwards, in particular, simply must meet certain size requirements.
“Since everyone on the pitch is a giant these days, you can’t fall behind in terms of size.”
Woodman’s initial taste of the senior Welsh setup came when he replaced the injured Taine Plumtree during the Six Nations campaign, which was later followed by his run-out against the Barbarians.
“It was an incredible opportunity and highly enjoyable, allowing me to absorb so much knowledge from training with the country’s top talent,” he remarked.
“The most valuable takeaway was understanding the standard required to perform at that elite level.
“The sheer pace of the sessions was like nothing I had seen before. Club rugby is demanding, but the step up in intensity during national training is massive.”
Although the adaptable forward ran out in the second row against the Barbarians, he has no doubts about his ideal role.
“I’d much prefer to be a substantial blindside flanker than an undersized lock,” he commented.
“Number six has always been my natural fit. While I can cover lock if required, my overall role around the pitch remains largely the same.
“Second-rowers might find themselves in more heavy exchanges, but there’s no reason a blindside can’t bring that same level of involvement.
“The primary distinction is pushing in the scrum, which is definitely not a pleasant task from the engine room!”
United Rugby Championship
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
1
1
0
0
5
2
1
1
0
0
5
3
1
1
0
0
5
4
1
1
0
0
5
5
1
1
0
0
5
6
1
1
0
0
4
7
1
1
0
0
4
8
1
0
0
1
2
9
1
0
0
1
2
10
1
0
1
0
2
11
1
0
1
0
2
12
1
0
1
0
1
13
1
0
1
0
1
14
1
0
1
0
1
15
1
0
1
0
0
16
1
0
1
0
0
Standing at 6ft 5ins, Woodman started the latest BKT URC campaign at blindside flanker, helping the Dragons battle to a respectable 19-19 stalemate against Benetton Rugby in Treviso over the weekend.
This result followed a pattern from the previous season, where they recorded four stalemates in domestic action.
“Given our development, we have every reason to feel positive about where we are heading,” Woodman insisted.
“It was clear to everyone that our level of play improved last year; now we just need to translate those improved performances into victories.
“We have built a strong cohesion over time, and there is a clear, mutual understanding within the squad.
“Our offensive strategy has received a lot of focus. The goal is to produce entertaining rugby and start converting these close draws into outright wins.”
He added: “My main focus is representing the Dragons well, and if international recognition with Wales follows as a result, that would be fantastic.
“I’m just keeping my head down and focusing on my club rugby, letting everything else take care of itself.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s rivalry match with the Scarlets, he noted: “There is an inherent desire among the Welsh regions to get one over on each other. It is just instinctive, so finding motivation for these derby matches is never an issue.”
