Regan Grace will play in rugby league’s Challenge Cup final on Saturday and has admitted he would like to one day have a crack at union once again.
The free-scoring wing from Port Talbot features for St Helens against Castleford Tigers in the 13-a-side game’s showpiece game at Wembley.
He cut his rugby teeth in union in his hometown and played for Ospreys U16s. But it’s been in league where he has made his name as a devastating runner and prolific try scorer.
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Now he’s given an interview in which he seems more committed to a potential return to 15-a-side than ever before, telling the BBC : "Growing up, every boy's dream in Wales is to play for Wales one day, and when you say Wales, you mean Wales rugby union so that dream has always been in the back of my head.
"I've never written off the opportunity or the choice to go.
"It's just if the time's right at some time in my life I would like to try to have another crack at it again and go for it.
"But at the moment I'm happy, where I am."
How good is Grace, then?
In league, they see him as a superstar.
He will take the field this weekend with a glowing compliment from cross-code legend Jason Robinson ringing in his ears, with the Lions hero from 2001 likening the youngster to himself in his pomp and to union’s brightest wing talent right now, Cheslin Kolbe.
"He’s one of the players to watch, Regan Grace," said Robinson in the BBC piece. "Watch out for him. He’s absolutely electric.
"He reminds me so much, probably similar to myself, and if you look at rugby union at the moment, probably a Cheslin Kolbe."
The bad news for Wayne Pivac is Grace won’t be going anywhere until the end of next season at least, having signed a fresh contract with St Helens in May.
But he continues to shine up his reputation as one of league’s most deadly finishers. He has hoisted his try tally to 78 from 123 matches for Saints, a strike rate of two touchdowns for every three games which pretty much any union wing would be happy to put their name to.
Nor is he just an outstanding scorer of tries. He also scores outstanding tries. Last year, playing against Leeds Rhinos, he posted one of the greatest hat-tricks in any code, involving a 95-metre score, a remarkable touchline finish and a 100-metre try.
But he remains tantalisingly out of Pivac’s reach.
Grace’s latest comments on the matter suggest the situation could eventually change.
But only when the time is right.
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