Ken James: Wales’ debut from one of the world’s most isolated islands

Back in Cardiff, rugby became the family business.

Chris coached Kane through his formative years at St Peter’s, one of Cardiff’s strongest junior clubs.

“We had a super team,” he recalls. “A lot of us started out there but we were pretty good growing up, so a lot of people wanted to join us.”

There is another rugby player in the family.

Kane’s younger sister Crystal was named in the Wales squad to face the Barbarians earlier this summer.

At the age of 16, James left Cardiff for Sedbergh School in Cumbria because there was no sixth form in Corpus Christi, the Welsh capital.

“I didn’t know anyone at school. It’s four hours from Cardiff, so it can be quite scary,” he explained.

“But I actually found it quite easy. The people there were really welcoming.”

The move eventually led him to Exeter Chiefs and naturally to the England Under-20 set-up.

Like many talented young Welsh players continuing their education across the border, it became the obvious path.

For James, it was never about turning his back on Wales.

“It was probably the best thing for my development,” he said.

“Our head defense coach was the England Under-20s defense coach and it seemed like a really good system. It was a pretty easy transition into that as well.”