New England superstar Alex Dombrandt played for Wales the last time he was picked in famous fixture

When Alex Dombrandt last featured in a Wales-England game, it was all very different to what lies in store for him this weekend.

Rather than playing in front of an 82,000 Twickenham crowd, it was at the 6,000-capacity Parc Eirias in Colwyn Bay.

He was also packing down at second row rather than his current Harlequins position of No 8.

Oh and one other thing. He was playing for Wales rather than England.

It was February 2017 in the U20s Six Nations and the 19-year-old Dombrandt was wearing the three feathers, not the red rose, as a result of studying at Cardiff Met.

He didn’t have any Welsh eligibility in terms of birthplace, family or residency, having been born and raised in Surrey to English parents.

But, as a Cyncoed-based student, he was able to be selected for Wales U20s in the Six Nations and featured in every match during that year’s Championship.

For the second game, against England, he was a sub, coming on as a replacement after half-time during a 37-21 defeat.

Among his Wales team-mates that day were the likes of Rhys Carre, Morgan Morris, Ryan Conbeer and Keiran Williams, while James Botham and Shane Lewis-Hughes were also part of the squad.

“It wasn’t a great day for myself, we lost quite convincingly,” he recalls.

“But I look back at those games with fond memories.

“I think they have really helped me into the player I am today, to be exposed at international level, albeit at age-grade.”

In the opposition ranks that evening five years ago were Tom Curry, Harry Randall and Nick Isiekwe, who are all now England team-mates and set to be involved with him versus Wales this weekend.

“They were very impressive in that game,” he recalls.

“I am looking forward to running out with those boys instead of playing