Highly rated centre Louie Hennessey is hoping he has saved his best for last as he heads into his fourth and final campaign as a Wales U20 player.
With two U20 Six Nations tournaments under his belt, the 20-year-old is now about to embark on his second World Rugby U20 Championship. For the second year running he is an integral part of the Wales squad in South Africa having.
The Cardiff-born Bath centre looks set to win U20 cap No 13 when Wales tackle New Zealand on Saturday in their opening clash. He is hoping it is a lucky number for himself and the team
Wales’ narrow, 27-26 point defeat to New Zealand in the opening game of the 2023 edition also in South Africa – almost exactly a year ago to the day – surprised even themselves. But Hennessey believes there is a genuine feeling, as well as expectation, within the squad this time.
“I think definitely we surprised ourselves as well, because coming out of that game I was a bit shocked to be honest with how well we did,” said Hennessey.
“There were more nerves around it, because last year we’d come off the back of the wooden spoon in the Six Nations and didn’t really know what to expect.
“This year although we’re apprehensive, we’re very confident and optimistic at the same time if we put our best foot forward.
“Last year, we didn’t win a game in the Six Nations and then we were very successful in the summer. This year we won two but individually we’re probably expecting more from ourselves so, hopefully, we can go after it now this summer and pull a few good performances together.
“I’m massively excited and really looking forward to it. Last year was just a hell of an experience; we were quite successful as well with two wins and we came very close to New Zealand. So hopefully we can replicate that.
“For those of us who went last year we’ll just be driving standards and trying to make sure we get some consistency in our performances.”
Hennessey arrived at Bath from Cardiff Rugby having earned a reputation for his natural skillset and clinical finishing at youth level.
He enjoyed a successful 2021 at Hartpury College, helping his side to 10 wins from 10 in the ACE League and featured for Wales U18 for the first time in the 2022 U18 Six Nations Festival.
He then scored a try on his U20s Six Nations debut against Ireland in February 2023, before featuring in all five matches for Wales at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship, bagging a try brace against Georgia having also scored in the win against Japan.
He started the first three matches in this year’s U20 Six Nations, before injury against Ireland forced him to miss the last two matches against France and Italy. Speaking about his U20 experience, Hennessey proclaims he’s “loved it”.
“Since I’ve come in, I’ve felt valued, I’ve played, we’ve won games. We’ve had highs and lows but ultimately making some good friends, coming into training every day, it’s been a pleasure,” he said.
“This will be obviously my fourth campaign and I’ll just be going to do what I’ve been doing for the last three, and just enjoy it with the boys, because you don’t get to play with your mates all at the same age grade, so it should be quite exciting.
“Although we didn’t get over the line, my debut against Ireland was pretty special and then to be honest I look back at the South Africa trip last year so positively because it was unbelievable.”
Having made his senior debut for Bath against Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby Cup in September 2022, Hennessey then made his Premiership debut as a replacement against Northampton Saints in November 2023, before scoring his first Premiership try for Bath against Leicester Tigers at a sell-out Welford Road on New Year’s Eve.
He balances his studies at the University of Bath alongside his playing career.
