"That's nothing compared to this," says David Llewellyn. "I remember having good, bad and indifferent in rugby's goldfish bowl. I thought that was intense, but this is even bigger. I'd take that any day!"
Welsh rugby's goldfish bowl is noted as being pretty demanding, but it is certainly nothing compared to that of TV dating gameshow, Love Island. Llewellyn is just finding that out for himself.
The former Wales scrum-half, who won four caps for his country in the late 1990s, has just seen his son, Liam, head into the villa - where the eyes of the nation, plus many more worldwide, will be watching his efforts to find love. Suddenly, even running out at the Principality Stadium seems a little less daunting.
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"It brings a lot of emotions out in you as his father," he said. "I'm missing him for one.
"But I'm very proud of him. I didn't realise how big this was until this week. It's big in America, Canada and all around the world.
"When he first rung me up, he said he needed to speak to me. I asked if everything was okay and he said the Love Island crew had contacted him - he hadn't even applied - about an interview. He went down to London a couple of times and obviously must have nailed it because now he's on the show."
Such is the success of the show, many former contestants have gone on to enjoy celebrity lifestyles once leaving the villa. For David, he would simply be happy if the exposure helped Liam's business - with son having followed father into working as a personal trainer.
"Hopefully it might just set up his business as a strength and conditioning coach," he says. "He's worked hard during lockdown to achieve his masters. His tutors said how incredibly hard he worked during a difficult time and they were so proud of him. It was the proudest day of my life along with when my two kids were born, seeing him walk across the stage at his graduation in his gown and hat."
The fact that 22-year-old Liam has a former Wales international for a father is something which has gone a little under the radar given that one of the other contestants, Gemma Owen, is the daughter of former England striker Michael Owen. The two youngsters were briefly coupled up by the public, before Gemma partnered up with another contestant, Davide - leaving Liam at risk of being eliminated from the show.
Naturally, though, David is fairly philosophical about the whole matter. "It's a gameshow and it's edited so you see what they want you to see," he said.
"He was matched with her by the public. I think Liam liked her, but she probably didn't like him as much as he liked her. That's life."
All he cares about is that his son continues to be himself on TV each night. He adds: "Liam is just such a kind, caring gentleman.
"What you see is what you get. He's an honest guy and his smile lights up any room he's in. I love spending time with him. He's got such a beautiful soul.
"I didn't realise how big this is. My mum is ringing every morning saying Liam is on TV. I have to keep telling her I'm trying to work!
"Everybody is just so proud of him and are buzzing. Whether he comes out this week or further down the line, he'll have that support around him to keep him grounded.
"You don't realise how big it is until you've been in there and how it can affect you. We'll make sure he's still that lovable, adorable gentleman we raised."
To make this week even better, as well as Liam's appearance on one of TV's biggest shows, one of Llewellyn's former personal training clients, Joe Cordina, made sporting history last weekend. Cordina became Wales' 13th world champion on Saturday night, securing a second-round knockout to defeat champion Kenichi Ogawa and take the IBF super-featherweight title.
Llewellyn is simply looking forward to having a quiet bet on the golf course with Wales' latest world champion.
"I used to train Joe as a teenager," he says. "One day we did some boxing and I said he'd got some potential.
"Next thing I know, he's taken it up and he's now world champion. It's such a grounded loving family and I'm so proud of him. He loves his golf so I'll give him a challenge on the course at some point soon and have a shandy to celebrate."
