“I’m 100% happy with my decision.”

That’s the assessment of Wales centre Joe Hawkins when asked about life at Exeter.

The 21-year-old has been one of the most talked about young starlets in Welsh rugby since his debut for the national senior side in November 2022.  

He then earnt four further caps in the following years’ Six Nations but made the decision to move from Ospreys to Exeter at the end of the 2022/23 season.

That move made him ineligible to play for his country due to the 25-cap rule which means if a player has received a Welsh cap and has less than 25 caps they cannot move to play outside of Wales and continue to play for the national side. That is the basic rule although there are several caveats.

Hawkins’ decision came amidst the backdrop of great upheaval in Welsh rugby, before just his fourth start for the national side against England there was the threat of a players strike which eventually saw the 60-cap rule reduced to 25.

Despite being a former Wales u20s captain and seemingly destined for a bright future on the international scene Hawkins has no regrets for moving away from his country, despite missing the 2023 World Cup and this years’ Six Nations.

“I understand that playing for Wales is a huge thing and it was something I loved doing and I’d love to still be doing it, I think everyone would,” says Hawkins.

“It was a decision for my personal development as a player but as a person as well, moving away from home, if I’d have stayed in Wales that wouldn’t have been the case.

“I’m still young so whether the 25 cap rule stays or goes, hopefully one day I’ll play for Wales again, but at this moment in time I’m happy focusing on Exeter and establishing myself down here and getting better.

“I wasn’t surprised when Daf was asked to be captain in the Six Nations and I knew going into it he wouldn’t let anyone down because that’s just the type of guy he is.”

‘Daf’ is Dafydd Jenkins of course. Hawkins’ Exeter teammate and a player he played with for Wales u20s who went with the senior side to last year’s World Cup in France before being named Wales’ captain during the recent Six Nations.

“He’s just a grafter, nothing flashy about him but he’s the same here in Exeter,” says Hawkins. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him miss a training session and that’s quite a big thing the way he puts his body about on weekends.

“At 20, 21 it is hard to back up weekends after weekends and be so consistent so that’s a big testament to him to back up performance after performance and get his body to go every week.

“I’m really happy for him as well. The tournament didn’t go the way everyone would’ve hoped but I thought he came out of it with a lot of credit.”

Hawkins has recently bought a house “round the corner” from Jenkins and is looking forward to living near each other for “god knows how long we’re at the club.”

The pair, along with Wales’ Christ Tshiunza, are part of a crop of youngsters coming through at Exeter, with almost half of the starting XV selected by Rob Baxter which faced Toulouse in the quarter finals of the Champions Cup aged 23 or younger.

“It’s nice for us boys having that backing,” says Hawkins.

“It’s almost easy to please him [Baxter] in a way because what he wants from us is simple, he just wants us to put it all out on the field and go out and play.

“Keep moving, keep doing things, high work rate, it’s probably underrated how hard that is to do but as long as we’re doing that he’s normally pretty happy.”

For Hawkins that has been as a 12 this season, or off the bench, after Wales’ kicking coach and former fly-half Neil Jenkins touted Hawkins as a future 10 for his country.

“Definitely at the minute I see myself as a 12, I played outside-half growing up at Pontardawe and loved it,” says Hawkins.

“There was a bit of chat about me being a 10 long term and I’d certainly be open to that, but I see myself as a 12 who can play 10 rather than vice versa.

“But it all helps. If I play 10 then I understand what my centres need of me or if I play 12, I know what my 10 needs from me, so there’s a lot of crossover.”

Hawkins is having to come to grips with a different style of play at Exeter along with a change in his role.

“Exeter have made quite a big transition going towards playing with a bit more pace,” says Hawkins.

“They used to be a multiphase team, keeping the ball for long periods of time, now we want to play fast for two or three phases and then we might use the ball or look to kick.

“When we have the ball, we’re looking to make sure we’re using it well and having real quality in our play, I think it definitely suits my play because there are lots of opportunities to get my hands on the ball.”

That process has not been smooth, with Hawkins admitting he is “still finding” his way for Exeter.

“The biggest challenge for me this season is playing with someone like Henry Slade who’s a really creative player and I need to understand my role if the team needs go forward or gainline,” says Hawkins.

“It’s something I’m still learning because I like to be creative myself it’s just understanding what the team needs and doing that consistently.

“I’m probably not 100% happy with how that’s gone at times, but I understand I’m a young guy, learning my trade and I’m just trying to enjoy the process of it all.

“There’s always going to be ups and downs in careers and quite often the best careers have really low lows, but it’s everything I wanted it to be, everything I expected it to be and more and I just try and enjoy the processes.

“Not being 100% happy with the playing style I think is down to the fact I’m being pushed more than I have and there’s more being demanded more of me as a player than there has been before.

“I think; ‘Am I better now than I was in the first day of the season?’ and the answer for me is yes which I’m happy with.”

For Hawkins now it is about getting his head down and concentrating on life outside of the Welsh bubble in Exeter, however he admits he still can’t get away from the discussions on his future on social media.

“You obviously see things, regardless of what players say, everyone sees things,” says Hawkins.

“You have to pay no notice to it because no one knows the full story. The only people who know my circumstances or the scenario are me and my family and the average supporter doesn’t know the ins and outs even though a lot of them like to think they do.

“You have to take people’s opinions with a pinch of salt.”