New Wales wing Mee reflects on rapid rugby rise

New Wales wing Ellis Mee has been quite a journey in a short space of time.

The 21-year-old looked to the manor born during his international debut last weekend in the Six Nations defeat in the Principality Stadium cauldron against Ireland.

But less than a year ago, Mee was playing in the English Championship for Nottingham before being picked up by Scarlets.

From there, Mee has now made his first Test start after just 10 professional games and only a few months after turning out for Llandovery in Welsh rugby's semi-professional Super Rygbi Cymru.

"It was an unreal experience from start to finish," said Mee.

"I'd been to the stadium as a kid to watch games, but being on the pitch was just a different feeling.

"It's gone so quick since I started rugby. I only played Championship rugby a year ago now, so to be able to pull on the Welsh shirt was an unbelievable feeling."

Mee was born in Nottingham, with his family spending some time in Adelaide before returning to England from Australia in 2012 when he was eight.

He grew up playing for clubs Keyworth and West Brideford before graduating to Nottingham Trent University and the Nottingham club side.

The unique aspect of Mee's rapid rise in the modern professional game is that he has not been involved in representative sides before turning out for the Wales senior side this past Saturday.

"I was at Brooksby SMB College, which is linked with Leicester, but I was never in an academy," said Mee.

"I have never really been in any representative team before this. Not being in an academy means you are quite raw and allows you to be shaped later on in your career.

"That might be more ideal for coaches, so I don't think I missed anything by not being in an academy."

Mee believes has benefitted at Scarlets during his unusual rise to prominence.

"The biggest difference is in the coaching," said Mee.

"In club rugby you don't have many coaches. At Nottingham there was a backs, forwards and head coach and just having individuals showing you how they want you to play has helped a lot.

"The main person who brought me on was Dave Ross, who was my coach at Nottingham Trent Uni."

After starring at Nottingham, Mee was scouted for Scarlets by former Wales flanker James Davies, who is now the region's recruitment and rugby operations manager.

After arriving in Llanelli ,Mee had to bide his time after being sent out for two games with the Llandovery club team.

On his return to the Scarlets' starting side, some impressive December performances saw Mee selected by former Wales head coach Warren Gatland in the Six Nations squad.

It has always been Wales for Mee with his heroes including Liam Williams and Shane Williams.

His Welsh connections are his mother Karen, who hails from his Newport, while he admits his main rugby influence was his father Tony, who died in 2022.

Mee, who is the middle of three brothers alongside Connor and Evan, wrote on his social media after the game: "This one was for you Dad."

"He would have loved it," said Mee.

"It would have been surreal for him as well as me.

"It was my dad mainly who got me into rugby. He always played rugby, watched rugby on television and then every weekend basically I went to watch him and also my brothers play.

"My mum's Welsh, so she dominates things. My mother's influence is very strong and she was a big influence on my dad.

"I was a Wales fan with my dad taking me to the games in Cardiff. I'd always watch Welsh teams and been to more Wales games than English ones."

Mee's family were at Cardiff's Principality Stadium to witness him fulfil his dream.

"My mum was shaking the whole time, she was nervous, but once the final whistle blew she was all good," said Mee.

After the 'unbelievable' bus journey into the ground, the next thing Mee had to do was learn the Welsh national anthem which he achieved by listening to a recording 'non-stop'.

Mee then slotted seamlessly into international rugby with one of the most assured Wales debut performances of recent times.

He produced impressive statistics of 69 metres made from 13 carries, which included two clean breaks with six defenders beaten and one offload.

The one thing missing for his efforts was a try with his 73rd-minute effort denied by inches by television match official (TMO) Ian Tempest.

The English official ruled there had been a knock-on after referee Christophe Ridley had initially given an on-field try decision.

"It was close, very close," said Mee.

"Immediately I thought I was in touch because I thought my feet were out.

"But looking back at the video, I could see my feet weren't out, but I was that tiny bit short."

Mee quickly became used to the pace of international rugby as he combined with fellow Scarlets' Blair Murray and Tom Rogers in the back three.

"I'm happy with how it went," said Mee.

"It was class being with Blair and Tom. I've been playing with them at Scarlets and the cohesion between us all worked so well."

"It was a step up in intensity. Going from Nottingham to Scarlets [playing the game] was quicker and now from Scarlets to international rugby was another step-up.

"At the start it came as a shock, but then once I eased into things, I got my foothold into the game."

Mee was initially happy with being called into the squad before being given his chance.

"Coming into the camp, I'm still young so I thought it would be a good experience for me," said Mee.

"I never thought I'd get a chance, but I got one and think I've taken it.

"I just want to carry on building my career and see where it takes me."