It has been a long time coming for Mat Protheroe, but he has finally realised a dream and got to pull the Ospreys jersey on and represent the region he has supported since he was a boy.
The wing/full-back has been one of the standout players at the start of the Guinness PRO14 campaign. The shock of blonde hair, the side-step and the turn of pace have all been noticed by the Ospreys faithful.
Protheroe, 24, signed a two-year deal to return home to Swansea after establishing himself and impressing with high-flying English outfit, the Bristol Bears, across the border.
He has certainly benefited from new Head Coach Toby Booth’s philosophy of blooding new and young players and has made the PRO14 Team of the Week twice already.
Protheroe, along with hooker Dewi Lake, lock Rhys Davies, fly-half Josh Thomas, centre Joe Hawkins and scrum-half Rueben Morgan-Williams are just some of the names been given an opportunity so far this season.
And the influence of Attack Coach, Brock James, and his philosophy of allowing players to express themselves is having an impact on Protheroe’s approach on the field.
“The opportunity to come home and play for the region I supported was something I really didn’t want to miss out on,” said Protheroe. “It’s been really exciting, with the change of coaches with Toby and Brock coming in.
“I have been welcomed home with open arms. I grew up watching the Ospreys when they were winning leagues, being really competitive in Europe. There is an expectation when you come to the Ospreys and pull on the jersey to perform.
“It was a long time coming really but for me growing up to actually get the moment to put the jersey on and run on the pitch was awesome. I left home in Swansea when I was 16 was daunting, but having the opportunity to come back and play for the team I grew up supporting has been amazing.
“Probably since I was eight and going down to watch the Ospreys play down at the Liberty, it was a dream of mine to actually go out and do that. It was a proud day for my family and me.”
Protheroe became the 250th Osprey to wear the jersey when he made his competitive debut as a replacement against the Cardiff Blues back in August, but his history with the team goes way back.
“My first memory, as a boy, was when we beat Australia at the liberty, that was my first memory of the Ospreys and it is the interception try by Richard Mustoe,” said Protheroe.
“I am glad I can join a long list of players who have actually been lucky enough to pull on the shirt. We fully believe in what we are doing here and all the boys are excited and there is a really good vibe around the camp.
“We have had a massive positive shift in terms of mindset, parking what has been and it’s all geared to the future now. Rugby-wise we are a team that is going to attack a lot and everyone has to buy-in with their roles.”
Protheroe’s career began across the border when he won a scholarship to the famous Hartpury College as a teenager. He scored seven tries in 14 games for Hartpury RFC in National League One in England in 2015.
He signed his first professional contract with Gloucester Rugby in the same year, before he left to join Bristol Bears in the RFU Championship from the 2017-18 season.
Protheroe signed for the Ospreys in the summer and sees similarities between the new Ospreys under Booth and what Pat Lam began with Bristol Bears across the border in England.
“I was at Bristol when they were in the championship when Pat came in and I do see similarities,” said Protheroe. “Toby has come in and created this environment for the boys, which is very similar to what Pat did.
“Toby has acknowledged the past but told us to recognize it is the past. It’s just exciting for me because Toby has a great track record of getting players around my age bracket and bringing them on and helping them play international rugby.
“We have a good relationship and he makes me express myself on the field and understands what I am doing. That’s just infectious and he’s just a coach everyone wants to play for.
“We know how we want to play and we don’t change the way we play for anyone, we may have a few tweaks for certain opposition, but we pretty much stick to our principles and the way we want to play.”