He might not have the accent, but Johnny Williams is adamant he is very much Welsh and that he looks better in red than white.
The 24-year-old centre was born in Weston-super-Mare and educated in Berkshire and Surrey, playing all his rugby across the bridge until this summer.
He represented England at U20s level and appeared for the senior international side against the Barbarians at Twickenham in June 2019.
But that was an uncapped match, so he remained eligible for Wales, who he qualifies for through his father from Rhyl, and he will now make his Test debut with the three feathers on his chest against Georgia on Saturday.
As his full name of John Bleddyn Rhys Williams suggests, the roots are strong.
"I’ve always been a huge, huge supporter of Welsh rugby," said the Scarlets No 12.
"My dad has had a debenture at the Principality Stadium for many, many years.
"So, ever since the age of six I’ve been going there.
"I do consider myself as Welsh. Just because I don’t have the accent, I still want to play for Wales.
"I have got an opportunity to do that on the weekend, so I just hope I show my best self and play hard."
As for that try-scoring outing for England against the Baa-Baas last year, he says: "I don’t want to delve down on that too much.
"That was just an opportunity where I showcased myself and proved to myself that I could play international rugby.
"But I am happy in a Welsh shirt. I look better in a red shirt!
"I am here ready to represent my country and I am really looking forward for the opportunity."
It wasn’t long after that uncapped appearance for England that Williams was diagnosed with stage two testicular cancer, an ordeal that he spoke to WalesOnline about in detail earlier this month.
But, happily, after undergoing chemotherapy treatment, he was able to return to rugby in January of this year.
"That was worrying times," he acknowledges.
"I look back on it and I learned a lot for going through that.
"I’ve come through an absolute roller coaster going through it and I am out the other side now.
"My goal was always just to get back on the field and having that focus to get to where I am today.
"I have never taken my eye off the ball. Looking back, yeah, there were some tough times, but it got me through."
Having first made his mark with London Irish, Williams switched to Newcastle in 2018 and then joined the Scarlets this summer with a view to forcing himself into the Welsh frame.
It’s proved a good move with his direct, hard running and footballing skills having earned him a place in Wayne Pivac’s autumn squad and now a first cap.
"There are a lot of emotions, a lot of excitement and a lot of nerves," he said.
"I have been patient for my opportunities.
"It’s taken me quite a lot of graft and effort to get to here, so I’m just grateful for it.
"I’m back playing some really good rugby and looking forward to representing Wales on the weekend."
It will be familiar turf for him, with the match being played at his regional home of Parc y Scarlets.
"It’s a shame not to be at the Principality," he admitted.
“That was one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to play for Wales, looking on from when I was six and wanting to be on that pitch and experience that atmosphere. It’s amazing there.
"It’s a massive shame I can’t be there for my first time but it doesn’t ruin the occasion.
"It’s Parc y Scarlets, where I am familiar with, and it does ease it in for the first cap."
Turning to the Georgian opposition, he said: "We know what they bring. They are a physical bunch and they are big up front.
"But we are an exciting young group that want to play well and stop that losing streak.
"We all want to showcase what we’ve got and play hard."
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