Rhys Norrington-Davies has revealed how he got his first call-up into Wales’ senior squad – by email at a local cafe!
The full-back is relishing linking up with the squad tomorrow having made the 27-strong party for the friendly with England and Nations Cup games against the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria.
And if he gets his first senior cap from his boyhood hero Ryan Giggs it will complete the journey that started in the Middle East for the defender currently on loan at Luton Town from Sheffield United.
“The reason I was born in Saudi was my old man’s job,” said Norrington-Davies, who was having coffee in a Bedfordshire cafe when the message came through on his phone.
https://twitter.com/norringtonr99/status/1311770212908371969
“My mum’s Welsh, my dad’s Welsh, so I’m Welsh through and through and I’ve lived in Wales since the age of six, so I would 100 per cent class myself as Welsh.
“I’ve never had a call up from Saudi though!”
Norrington-Davies, speaking to lutontoday.co.uk, said of his senior call-up: “I’m over the moon with it really, it’s amazing.
“I only found out about an hour before the squad got announced (on Wednesday).
“I had a feeling that it might happen, but you’re never too sure and when I found out I was over the moon, I was absolutely buzzing.
“It wasn’t from Ryan Giggs himself, I just got an email, letting me know the itinerary for the week and what’s going to happen.
“Doing well at Luton is my main priority this season, but I remember the first day I came in, I talked with the gaffer (Nathan Jones) and he asked me what my intentions were this season.
“One of them was to get a first-team call up to the Welsh national squad.
“I’ve gone through the setup, done the 16s, 18s, and 21s, but for the first time, it’s completely different.
“It’s a little bit disappointing that there won’t be any fans, but the family, all my friends back home will be supporting, so it means everything to me.
“It is a little bit frustrating, but the first thing I did was phone my mum, phone my dad, they were over the moon for me, I think my mum even started crying, so that summed it up for me.
Norrington-Davies, who impressed on a loan sell at Rochdale last season, is also relishing the chance to work with ex-Manchester United ace Giggs.
“He’s a legend for Wales, a legend for Man United as well,” he added.
“Growing up, you just look up to your idols and to be fair he was one of my idols.
“I’m just looking forward to working underneath him, I’ve never done that before and just seeing what he’s about.”