A new role could point to better times for Beetham

A YEAR ago, Jacob Beetham was riding the high of a first Wales cap.

- BEN JAMES

Earlier in the summer of 2024, the mid Walian had impressed Warren Gatland on the summer tour of Australia.

A first Test appearance off the bench against South Africa at Twickenham in June was set to be followed up by a start against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, only for injury to strike.

Unfortunately, that set the tone for the campaign to follow.

If the year prior had been Beetham’s breakthrough at Cardiff, last year was the difficult second season.

A recurring ankle injury limited the fullback to just five outings for the Blue and Blacks.

As well as injuries, there is also the fact that, under Matt Sherratt, Beetham was seen almost exclusively as a fullback.

Just nine of his 24 appearances for the Arms Park club have come in the starting side, with all of those being with the 15 jersey on his back.