Beard: 'I’ve played a lot of rugby against James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne, and now Joe McCarthy has burst onto the scene'

Wales haven’t won a Six Nations game at the Aviva Stadium since 2012 and Adam Beard has yet to taste success at the home of Irish rugby after four previous visits.

NEW CHALLENGE: Adam Beard’s biggest concern playing against Ireland used to be battling against James Ryan, but now the Wales lock is having to factor in the rapidly rising Joe McCarthy into his equation. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Adam Beard’s biggest concern playing against Ireland used to be battling against James Ryan, but now the Wales lock is having to factor in the rapidly rising Joe McCarthy into his equation.

Beard surprisingly beat Ryan to a British & Irish Lions tour and Test appearance in South Africa in 2021 and is currently the leading cap holder in the new look Welsh pack heading to Dublin for Round 3 of the Six Nations next week.