The Caldicot forward was promoted from the Wales U18 squad to play in the U20 Six Nations championship by head coach Byron Hayward in what some saw as a sink or swim move. Just turned 18, Woodman has shown he can stay afloat with the best of them.
He will win his fourth cap of the campaign when he starts against Italy at Parc Eirias, in Colwyn Bay, on Sunday – a game Wales are targeting for a second win in the championship.
Capable of playing in the back row as well as at lock, he cites Alun Wyn Jones as his inspiration, but reckons he resembles more the current England captain Courtney Lawes. The Northampton man moves seamlessly between the two back rows of the scrum and that’s something Woodman is getting used to.
“I am a No 6 or second row. I’m 6ft 4.5in tall and currently weight-in at 17 stone, but most of my rugby for the Dragons has been in the back row,” said Woodman.
“I started playing rugby at the age of five at Caldicot RFC. I got into the Newport U15s a year early and then went into the Dragons set-up at U16.
“I got into the Dragons Academy and they have developed me from there. I trained with the senior squad in the summer and learned a lot from that experience.
“At the start I didn’t expect to play in the Wales U20 team, I thought I might be on the bench. I played in the win over Scotland and that was the best experience I’ve had in rugby.
“I felt I had a good game in the set-piece, although I could have improved around the field. Against France the game was out of reach in the final 10 minutes so I just tried to show what I could do.
“I’ve learned a lot from the tournament, most of all about the set-piece. I’ve been calling the line-outs and that has built my confidence because I was nervous to begin with coming into games against the superstars of our age group.”
With two more season to go at U20 level, he should grow to become one of those superstars himself. And to help him get there he intends to study the great Alun Wyn Jones and try to emulate him.
“Alun Wyn is the dream role model for anyone in my position – the perfect person to follow. That’s the career you want to have.
“He’s not just one of the best rugby players in Wales, he’s one of the best known and admired people in the country. He’s a great leader who has an aura about him – everyone wants to be like him,” added Woodman.
“The coaches always tell us to watch a lot of rugby. You don’t have to analyse every player, but you can pick up certain things, especially when you watch Alun Wyn.”
