He’s a No 8, his father is a Tongan international who lived in a house at Ebbw Vale rugby club and he’s about to play for Wales.
Sound familiar? It should do because young Ben Moa is treading the same path as a certain Taulupe Faletau.
His dad is Uiniati Moa, a former Test prop, who lived in that famous house at Eugene Cross Park along with Faletau’s father Kuli.
It was dubbed the Tongan Embassy because so many Wales-based players from the South Seas island used to gather there on a weekend. It became their social hub. You can read the remarkable story of that house here.
Uini “Winni” Moa played for Ebbw Vale, Pontypool and Bridgend in the late 1990s and now his son Ben is forging his own rugby path.
Having come up through the Dragons pathway, going on to play for their A-team and catch the eye with Ebbw Vale this season, he has been named in the Wales U20s squad for the Six Nations and is set to make his debut against Ireland at Cork’s Musgrave Park on Friday night.
As for the Faletau connection, well that runs deeper still.
Just like Taulupe before him, 19-year-old Ben has worked at club level under Greg Woods, the former Cross Keys and Ebbw Vale coach.
And Woods, who is part of the WRU community rugby department, sees clear similarities between the two back rowers.
He first crossed paths with Pontypool Schools product Moa last summer.
“Ben came through the Dragons Academy and was allocated to Ebbw Vale after lockdown,” he explained.
“With his father having played there, he was well known to the kitmen and back room staff at the club. He continued that sort of Tongan connection really.
“He came to training and we knew we had a special talent on our hands.
“I remember giving him his senior debut versus Brecon in late July.
“He came on in the second half and scored a lovely try down one of the the wings, with great footwork.
“From there, he found his feet getting into senior rugby and had some good games for Ebbw Vale before I left.
“He’s an explosive ball-carrier, he has good feet before contact, which is crucial really, and I just like his ball-handling and decision making in the wide spaces.
“I wanted him to return kicks because his footwork would always break that first line.”
You could easily be describing Faletau there and Woods is well placed to make the comparison.
“I remember coaching Taulupe when he first came through at Cross Keys,” he said.
“Ben is very similar in that he can play across the back row. He is very good over the ball.
“He massively brings back memories of working with Taulupe.
“We were playing against Newport in October and we were taking a bit of hammering.
“He came on for the last 30 minutes and he was really explosive off the back of the scrum, making some real good yardage.
“I turned to one of the other coaches and said ‘The last time I remember seeing that was probably Taulupe when he first came to the Keys’.
“There were just little traits that you recognised.”
Woods, who left Ebbw Vale in November, added: “All I used to say to Ben is just keep working hard and accept the next challenge.
“His next challenge then was to start regular at senior rugby, get into the U20s squad, then to play for them and just keep progressing.
“He’s got a good rugby brain and has the ability to play across the back row, which I think is good for him.
“I played him at flanker in some games, but then at 8 on our ball.
“I would say he will be a No 8 long-term, to get the ball in his hands at the earliest opportunity.
“His explosiveness is probably his key skill and it’s all about maximising that power, speed and footwork really.
“He is one of those players that just needs to have lots of involvements in the game, with or without the ball because he will make a positive impact.
“What I also like about Ben is his attitude was good in training. He just loved playing rugby. Sometimes that can get lost with talented youngsters, but he just wanted to play and show what he can do.
“It’s exciting to see how he progresses.
“He’s someone I’m looking forward to watching for the U20s in this block, as that’s the next challenge and the next step up for him.”
Wales U20s coach Byron Hayward actually played with Ben's dad "Winnie" at Ebbw Vale.
“There are so many of the boys here now where I either played with or against their fathers," the former fly-half said.
Giving his thoughts on Ben, Hayward commented: "He is a very talented player.
"He’s got a great skill-set, he’s a very dynamic ball carrier. I am looking for him to get us some good go-forward at the weekend.
“He’s certainly got a big future ahead of him.”
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