Wales Hooker Ryan Elias Feels Revitalized After Summer Break Ahead of Autumn Internationals

Ryan Elias, a hooker for Wales, has participated in two World Cups. The Autumn Nations Series match between Wales and Fiji is scheduled to take place at Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on Sunday, 10 November, with a kick-off time of 13:40 GMT. Coverage for this event will be available via live commentary on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, and BBC Sounds, alongside live text commentary accessible on the BBC Sport website and app. Welsh hooker Ryan Elias has stated that his decision to take a break from the international summer schedule has left him feeling re-energized. The 29-year-old Elias was absent from Wales’ summer Test matches against South Africa and Australia, a decision that followed discussions with head coach Warren Gatland. The Scarlets’ hooker utilized his time off during the summer to be with his young family and to complete a thorough pre-season training regimen with his club team. Elias has rejoined the Wales squad for the upcoming autumn international fixtures against Fiji, Australia, and South Africa. During these matches, he will compete for the hooker position with captain Dewi Lake and Cardiff’s Evan Lloyd. Elias commented, “I got to the end of last season and felt physically and mentally at the edge, not burnt out but getting there.” He added, “I had a conversation with Gats [Warren Gatland] and I feel a lot better after having a summer off.” Elias further noted, “Warren always talks about family and he is true to his word, he was fully supportive of my decision.” He concluded, “He was good to me, I had that time off and feel a lot better for it.” Ryan Elias, a hooker for Scarlets, has represented Wales in 41 international matches. Elias had concluded an extended season, spanning over a year. This period began with his efforts to demonstrate fitness for a World Cup following recovery from a prolonged Achilles injury, ultimately leading to him becoming Wales’ primary hooker during the competition. The remainder of the 2023-24 campaign, which concluded in June, offered no respite from commitments for both his club and national team, resulting in Elias’s exhaustion. Elias stated, “When you’re deep into a season you have a lot of games under your belt and always have that fatigue which everyone feels.” He elaborated, “I would say this was a little bit different at the end of last season. I didn’t feel like I had much of a snap in my legs and mentally I was tired.” Elias also observed, “The enjoyment had gone a little bit. You play the game because you want to win. If you are not getting them, it can be doom and gloom and individually and collectively as a team you question those things.” Elias acknowledged that his personal disposition led him to carry rugby-related concerns into his home life. Elias remarked, “I have always put a lot of pressure on myself, that has always been the same.” He continued, “I’ve always been the type where it can be difficult to switch off. I get home and my wife will tell you, I’m there but I’m not. I’m home but I might as well not be there.” Elias further explained, “Sometimes I get quite introverted, quiet. That’s kind of how I felt at the end of last season, where I felt quite alone, just because of the way I am.” He concluded, “I kind of got into that rut and it’s not the healthiest of things.” A period of rest with his young family became necessary, during which he could engage in “normal stuff,” such as a family vacation in France. Elias had the opportunity to spend time with his wife, Megan, and their daughter, Hattie. Elias shared, “Hattie was born on 1 September last year, then a day later we were away in France for six weeks for the World Cup.” He added, “I missed the first part of Hattie growing up and then coming back it was a busy season.” Elias emphasized, “So to have that opportunity to be with my wife and baby that was huge. I have no regrets.” He continued, “I loved every minute with them, particularly as a father and a daughter getting that bond, as she’s starting to get older as well.” Elias also noted, “My wife can recognise things in me if I’m not in the best of places, then we’ll have maybe a conversation or sometimes you don’t need to do anything.” He concluded, “My family have been massive, just having them there and I have a lot to thank them for. I am in a lot better place.” During Wales training sessions, Ryan Elias and Gareth Thomas (right) were observed tackling Will Rowlands, who also received a rest from the summer international matches. The period of rest additionally provided Elias with the chance to contemplate the demands associated with international rugby. Elias stated, “It definitely has its moments but they are also enjoyable, which is what I lost sight of for a while.” He further commented, “As you get older you start to realise how important it is to enjoy the process at the same time, even though it may be difficult.” Elias’s senior debut for Wales occurred as a replacement player against Tonga in 2017, when he was 22 years old, following the commencement of his Scarlets career four years prior. Elias reflected, “I’m 29 now, nearly 30 and it feels like in the blink of an eye I’ve gone from being that 21-year-old. It’s like, where have those years gone?” He added, “Another click of the fingers and my career will be done and I don’t want to be looking back with regrets, or wondering whether I should have enjoyed things more.” Elias concluded, “That’s something I’m concentrating on now also.” The hooker, who was born in Carmarthen, has observed an increase in external pressures throughout his ten-year career in rugby. Elias commented, “The social media side of things is a lot bigger now, everyone seems to be on there and got something to say.” He continued, “I’m not on any social media now, probably for the last couple of years and that is something I’ve done myself.” Elias stated, “I feel a lot more productive being off it and most of the stuff you read, good or bad, it makes no difference to me.” He concluded, “I know if I’ve had a good or a bad game. 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