Back in 2016, Kieran Hardy's dream of pulling on a Wales jersey at a World Cup had never seemed so far away.
Then just 20, the scrum-half's career was already threatening to stagnate. Having trained for the Scarlets for free as a teenager, he had been rewarded with an academy contract and made his senior debut but had then hit a stumbling block, or rather three, in the form of team-mates Gareth Davies, Rhodri Williams and Aled Davies, all of whom had been capped by Wales in his position.
The young man from Carmarthen had a big decision to make and he rolled the dice, flying the nest and signing for Jersey Reds in the English Championship. It was a bold play, but it ended up being the making of him, as he helped the club to the final of the British and Irish Cup before being named Player of the Season after extending his contract for another year.
Hardy returned to Llanelli in 2018 and soon made the impact he had longed to make in his first spell at the club. After some eye-catching displays, including seven tries in 18 appearances in his first season back, a call-up to Wayne Pivac's Wales squad followed, while he now finds himself at a World Cup training camp in Switzerland, with the realisation of his dream now within reach.
How times change, you think, as the now 27-year-old takes time out from another sweltering session to reflect on how far he has come. Did he ever think he would make it here?
"Six or seven years ago, probably not," he admits. "It seemed a million miles away at the time. Looking back, it probably was brave [to move to Jersey], I was going into the unknown a little bit.
"But there was a lack of opportunities at the Scarlets at the time, with three international No.9s in front of me. I probably wasn't going to play much rugby or develop, so the opportunity came up and it's the best thing I've ever done.
"Having the opportunity to play a decent standard week in week out, I learnt a lot about myself, about my rugby and I came back a better player. I think it worked out pretty well in the end."
That it did. Despite his involvement in a Wales shirt under Warren Gatland being limited to a 10-minute cameo against England in this year's Six Nations, Hardy is still in contention to make the final squad for France, along with Tomos Williams and Scarlets team-mate Davies.
His chances of making the cut were given a boost by the international retirement of Rhys Webb, a move that caught many in Welsh rugby off guard just 100 days out from the World Cup.
Hardy admits he too was surprised, but insists that it has not changed his focus going into the training camps. Nor has the suggestion that Gatland could only take two scrum-halves to France, a tack last taken by a Welsh coach 20 years ago, nor the fact that he is now competing directly with Davies for what could be the final No.9 spot.
"It was a bit of a shock [losing Webb], but obviously there's still three No.9s here," he said. "As Gats mentioned previously there could be two or three going to the World Cup, so obviously it's about pushing each other.
"We get along pretty well, me and Gar, and Tomos as well. Competition is only good for you and only makes you a better player. It’s nothing personal, when you get down here everyone wants to be the best."
Asked if he was feeling the pressure of chasing one of potentially two scrum-half spots, he brushes it off with typical determination. "I just think every time I come and train," he said. "I just give it my best, give it everything I’ve got, work hard and take on board what coaches are saying. I listen to the feedback we've been given and hope to continue to improve."
While he is keeping his cards close to his chest, such focus is what Hardy is all about. After all, it is largely his perseverance, his ambition and his constant willingness to learn and improve that has made him into the player he is today.
"It's got me this far," he admits. "But I think that hard work is always what gets you where you want. I'll continue to work hard, every time I come into a training session or I’m in the gym or on the field, it’s continued throughout. Hopefully I can continue getting better."
Having had nothing handed to him throughout his career, what is another fight - or two - to Hardy? He certainly has a couple on his hands now, not only for his position but also simply getting through the gruelling pre-tournament preparations, which are unlike anything he has faced before.
While he received a few heads up from the more experienced squad members ahead of the Switzerland camp, no amount of advice can really prepare you for a Huw Bennett beasting in the heat - although Hardy, like the rest of the squad, is still leaving the sessions with a smile on his face.
"It's been really tough," he said. "It's everything I expected it to be, everything the boys spoke about before we got here. They've definitely worked us hard.
"But it’s been really enjoyable as well. We’ve spent a lot of time together on and off the field and the boys are coming together nicely."
With Gatland set to trim his squad following the conclusion of the training camp later this week, Hardy has, for now at least, just a few more days of fighting to keep himself in contention.
If he makes it to France, it will be some end to his remarkable story. From being, in his own words, a million miles away, his dream is potentially just a matter of weeks from coming true - and it might get even better if Wales go far.
"It would mean so much, a hell of a lot," he said. "It’s everything I’ve wanted to do since playing for Wales, I’ve had that long-term goal in mind of playing in the World Cup. It's the pinnacle really, playing for your country there, and it would be an honour and a privilege for me, myself and my family.
"There’s a lot of talent in the group and a lot of experience as well. Some of the boys have been here for a number of years and been successful in World Cups. Traditionally, Wales have done pretty well when they've had a long time together beforehand.
"And it feels like we've got a pre-season together, rather than the Six Nations only being a week or so.
"We're quietly building and working hard, so we'll see what happens."
