Harri Keddie’s paternity plans were ripped up when the tireless Dragons forward enjoyed a dream week.
On Monday the uncapped back-rower was named in Wales’ summer squad and the following evening the 29-year-old became a father of two after the birth of his second daughter.
“It’s been a pretty good week to be fair,” said Keddie, who got the news of his call-up from Steve Tandy while with his then pregnant partner and first daughter at a Little Kickers football session.
“I had a smile on my face when I came in to train on Friday, that’s for sure.”
Keddie is one of 10 back row forwards selected in Tandy’s 48-strong squad and joins Dragons team-mates Aaron Wainwright and Ryan Woodman, Jac Morgan, James Botham, Taine Plumtree, Alex Mann, Olly Cracknell, Tommy Reffell and Kane James.
Dragons’ season ended with a dramatic United Rugby Championship (URC) draw against Scarlets in Llanelli on Saturday but Keddie will not be clocking off.
After a few weeks with his family, the versatile forward will swap nappy duty for Wales camp.
The aim is to feature against Barbarians and retain a place in the squad for Nations Championship fixtures with Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
“I’ll just go in and have the same mindset as with most things, I’ll rip into it and give it a crack to see where it gets me,” said Keddie.
Long road to an international call-up
Ten years ago Keddie’s exploits for Wales Under-20s Six Nations Grand Slam-winning side earned an invite to help the seniors prepare for their autumn series.
Then 20, he was joined by Dragons tight-head prop Leon Brown, Ospreys wing Keelan Giles and Cardiff full-back Rhun Williams to help Rob Howley’s squad prepare for fixtures against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.
Almost a decade after getting a taste of international standards alongside Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate and Justin Tipuric, Keddie returns as a fully-fledged member of the squad.
Like Olly Cracknell, who made his Wales debut in the autumn at the age of 31, it is a triumph for resilience.
“I guess I probably just had a mindset of focusing on performances for the Dragons and not worrying past that,” said Keddie, who can play across the back row.
“I just wanted to see where that would get me eventually and I just feel incredibly privileged to have been deemed good enough to get called up.
“I am looking forward to testing myself to see how much better I can get and to see what I can learn.”
Stringing together games after injury woe
It took time for hard-working Keddie to earn a call-up due to Wales’ back-row riches but also the Dragons forward’s injury misfortune.
Like former team-mate Ollie Griffiths, the forward has endured plenty of setbacks that mean his 2016-17 tally of 21 games remains the only time he has got beyond the teens for appearances.
However, this season he has featured in 18 of 25 Dragons fixtures and his performances in the run to the Challenge Cup semi-finals helped earn the Wales call.
“I’ve always backed myself with my performances over the last few years, it’s just been difficult with a few injuries,” he said.
“I’ve managed to play consistently this season and that’s massive for any player. The only way that you’re going to get better is by playing regularly.”
Keddie will hope to make his 19th appearance of the season against Barbarians at Twickenham so that he can stake a claim for first cap in July.