The former British and Irish Lion is backing Billy Moss to prove himself by catapulting London Welsh to the same heady heights.
FORMER British and Irish Lion Danny Grewcock believes Billy Moss has the potential to become a Premiership force, and is backing the prop to prove it by catapulting London Welsh to the same heady heights in the process.
Since hanging up his playing boots at the end of last season Grewcock has moved from the playing field to an office at Bath and is now academy director at the Somerset club.
But one player he will have had limited contact with is 23-year-old Moss, the front-rower strutting his stuff at Old Deer Park after signing a season-long dual-registration loan deal in the summer.
And Moss is clearly enjoying himself in the Championship, making a handful of starts as London Welsh have firmly established themselves as promotion contenders.
Moss has previous at this level, shining for Welsh’s promotion rivals Bristol last season as he made a name for himself as one to watch for the future.
But Grewcock isn’t worried about the prop typecasting himself as a Championship player, believing he has the tools needed to survive at English rugby’s top table and insisting London Welsh could soon be feeding off his talents in the process.
“Billy is someone I don’t see a lot of due to is time with London Welsh but he always trains really hard when he is down at Bath,” said World Cup winner Grewcock, who is an ambassador for SSE – a leading energy company and National Community Partner of the RFU.
“He is different to a lot of our younger lads who are dual-registered in that his is obviously for a longer period of time and London Welsh will be seeing a lot of him.
“And they will be thrilled with that because he is a determined guy who works very hard and gives his all to a team and leads by example.
“He showed what he could do at that level last year with Bristol and he is doing the same with London Welsh this season and has showed he is very comfortable at Championship level.
“But I don’t think he needs to worry about people seeing him as just a Championship player and no higher because he is still improving, is still young and can play at the highest level.
“He needs to be patient as his time will come but as he works hard to make it happened London Welsh could find themselves in the Premiership at the same time and if they do I will bet that Billy has played his part in that.”
Despite featuring for England at Under-18, 19 and 20 level, helping the latter reach the final of the World Junior Championships in 2008, Moss has found his opportunities at the Rec few and far between.
But Grewcock believes Moss will get his chance and is urging the forward to exercise patience, insisting all good things come to those who wait.
“Billy is in a good place at Bath to succeed as a prop as he has some good guys with the likes of David Flatman and Duncan Bell ahead of him who will offer him some great advice,” he added.
“He is pushing for his place and he might have to bide his time but that is no different for any young guy and he has already performed to high standards and it is about keeping this up now.
“That is why he has gone to London Welsh, to show what he can do and when he gets his chance I imagine he will take it with both hands and show what a talent he is.”
For your chance to WIN a training session with SSE’s community rugby ambassador, Danny Grewcock, log on to www.rfu.com/ssecompetition
