Now the Dragons back-row talent wants to beat his old friend to a senior international cap in a different sport and cap a remarkable breakthrough season.
Dragons flanker Wainwright has come from nowhere to be called up to Warren Gatland’s Wales rugby squad for their summer tour clashes with South Africa and Argentina.
It’s been a meteoric rise for the 20-year-old in his first full season of professional rugby and he is now in line to feature against the Springboks in Washington DC on Saturday.
“I played with Regan for two years at Cardiff City. He went to Newport County and did really well there and got picked up by Manchester United,” said Wainwright.
“He’s been doing really well there and he’s been in the Welsh squad. We used to be good mates, we don’t speak to each other much anymore, but we’ll have to wait and see if I beat him to a Welsh cap.
“I played football since I was 9 or 10. I was in the Cardiff academy, but I got dropped when I was 16 and moved over to Newport for a year where I was offered a one-year contract.
“But I wanted to stay at my own school – Bassaleg near Newport – rather than move, so I gave up football and started playing rugby.”
Wainwright was one of the men to benefit with a late call up to the Wales squad and is pushing hard to be involved in Gatland’s squad to face the Springboks.
Should he feature he will get one over on United youngster Poole who has represented Wales in the round ball game, but is yet to be involved in competitive action for his country.
“I don’t think my season could have got any better, but then I got the Wales call,” said Wainwright.
“I’m really happy to get some stash, I’ve filled my car up with a couple of suitcases of it!
“I got a call last Wednesday and I was sat on my sofa watching TV. I didn’t believe it at first, I thought it was a prank call, but Alan Phillips the team manager assured me it was real.
“I’ve had quite a bit of luck with injuries giving me my chance, but I’ve taken that with the Dragons and hopefully if I get the chance to play on tour, I can do the same and make an impression.”
Last season Wainwright was studying at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
This Saturday, he’s in line to run out at the RFK Stadium against one of rugby’s biggest nations.
“If I do get on I want to try and keep doing what I’ve been doing. If I play well then hopefully I might have a chance of playing at the World Cup next year,” he added.
“South Africa have a really good pack, but we’ve been working hard on how we’re going to defend against them and if I can get on the pitch and knock them back, I’ll be more than happy.”
