Kane James and Louie Hennessey hope Prem can fire Wales breakthroughs in Nations Championship

Wales have not truly settled on a midfield partnership under Tandy, who sees Eddie James as primarily an outside centre despite his encouraging displays at 12 for Scarlets.

The versatile Hennessey, who prefers the 13 jersey, is also battling for action with Max Llewellyn, Joe Hawkins and the uncapped Aneurin Owen.

The likelihood is that Hennessey will have to bide his time to add to the first cap he won as a replacement against Ireland in the Six Nations.

But the 22-year-old from Llanishen in Cardiff has experience of climbing the pecking order since coming through Bath’s academy.

“I probably didn’t realise all of the stuff that I was picking up as a youngster,” said Hennessey, who has Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh and Cameron Redpath as midfield rivals at Bath.

“The level that they operate at and what they do on the training field and off it has been great for my development.”

Hennessey, who played on the wing for Bath last weekend, has also profited from working at close quarters with Finn Russell, and from being targeted by the Scotland and Lions fly-half.

“It’s the speed of thought with Finn,” he said. “As a youngster coming through I trained on the other side and defended against him, reacting to stuff and trying to think two steps ahead.”

That work on the training field helped Hennessey when he was selected for Bath’s Champions Cup semi-final against Bordeaux-Begles.

“That was the most hostile place that I have played,” he said. “The noise for 80 minutes was something that I have never experienced before.

“That game probably showed the level that I can compete at.”

Hennessey is Cardiff born, Cardiff bred, but hopes his Bath exploits can help him make the next step with Wales.

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Wales’ Prem Rugby contingent

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