Mason Grady is still on cloud nine after he was named in Wales’ Guinness Six Nations squad but he knows it is just the beginning and he has more immediate concerns in Blue and Black.
The Cardiff centre was one of four debutants named in Warren Gatland’s squad on Tuesday and he will go into international camp on Monday.
He was in a team meeting when the news broke and found out from Willis Halaholo that he had made the cut having trained with the squad in the autumn.
Grady said: “To be honest, it still hasn’t sunk in. I’m still getting messages from a load of people to say congratulations and stuff.
“I’m just really pleased. I didn’t expect to get in at the start of the season and to get where I am now, I’m just really proud.
“There was an email at 11.30 but I was in a team meeting and then I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket at 12 so I thought maybe I was in with a shout. Then Willis told me when I got out of the meeting. I just couldn’t believe it.”
The giant centre or wing is following in the footsteps of his brother Cory Allen, who won six Wales caps having also progressed from the Cardiff academy and into the first team, and has had plenty of advice over the years.
He also pointed to the influence of George North during his stint training with the squad under Wayne Pivac.
He continued: “Cory’s trying to play it on the down low really. He’s just said well done and to keep my head down and try and get in the actual 23.
“The hard work starts now. I can’t wait to get in there and start training with the boys but I haven’t looked that far ahead to whether I will get a cap or not. I’m just really pleased to be in the squad and around that environment.
“I was a bit in and out in the last camp - going from one week in to back with Cardiff to play. I’m just looking forward to getting stuck in and hopefully showing what I can do.
“When I was in the camp before I just wanted to do my best every time and show what I can do. I’ll just take it the same.
“George (North) is really helpful in things like defence just telling me what the system was and in attack when you know when to go and how to break the gainline so it was really nice to learn from him.”
The former Ysgol Bro Morgannwg and Glantaf pupil is not losing sight however of his club duties and he remains focus on European affairs.
Cardiff are currently top of Pool A in the European Challenge Cup and are guaranteed a home encounter in the Round of 16 following three bonus-point victories.
But the better the seeding, the more home encounters should Cardiff continue to progress and that is the motivation as the Blue and Blacks travel to Brive on Saturday.
And Grady insists his side will not underestimate the French club, who have won three consecutive fixtures over Toulon, Clermont Auvergne and Lyon in the Top 14.
He said: “We just want to show what we can do. There’s a few boys with a point to prove coming back, which will be good to see.
“We want to get the win and hopefully if we win the round 16 we can get another home game in the quarter-finals.
“But Brive have been really impressive in their last three games in their league. Three wins on the bounce for them so we can’t underestimate them.
“We don’t know what team they’re going to put out. They lost to Connacht last week but we can’t underestimate them.”
CA Brive versus Cardiff now kicks off at 16:15 (15:15 UK) due to the cold conditions in France and the game will be screened in live in the Arms Park clubhouse.