​Wales lock Adam Beard is no stranger to success in Argentina, having been there before and come away with a win. He was part of the squad that earned a 23-10 victory over the Pumas eight years ago, a memory he still cherishes as Wales prepare to return to the same venue this Saturday. A handful of players from the 2018 visit remain in the current group, including wing Josh Adams and prop Dillon Lewis, who both started that memorable day.
Beard recalls Aaron Wainwright making his first Test appearance off the bench in that match, while hooker Ryan Elias — who is set to win his 50th cap this weekend — also came on as a replacement. Tomos Williams was the unused scrum-half on that occasion. “It’s great to be back here eight years after the last time and how quickly that time has gone, it’s crazy,” Beard said. “Argentina are a proud nation with a great rugby side. There are a few of us who have been here before and had some good victories. The squad has changed since then, but hopefully we can get a result this weekend.”
The Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan is an intimate venue with a capacity just over 25,000. “They can be hostile crowds, but as rugby players and sportspeople these are the types of events and places you want to play in,” Beard added. “Experiencing different crowds and teams is great, so the boys are looking forward to playing this weekend.” Beard is set to win his 67th cap on Saturday and has spent the past year fighting to maintain a place in the Wales starting XV.
The 31-year-old endured a difficult moment during a poor performance against France, including a mishit kick that led to a French score. He was relegated to the replacements bench for the remainder of the tournament, with Ben Carter partnering Dafydd Jenkins in the second row. “The start of the Six Nations wasn’t great for me, probably, especially that France performance,” Beard reflected. “That wasn’t good enough for me, and there were a couple of costly mistakes I wasn’t proud of, but that’s sport and you don’t always get the performances you want.” He used that experience to grow, noting that he had time to reflect and adapted to a different role later in the campaign when he came off the bench.
Wales have been eager to bounce back from a disappointing Cardiff result against the Pumas, and Beard’s role in the squad has evolved accordingly. He returned to the starting lineup against Fiji in the opening Nations Championship victory after Exeter captain Dafydd Jenkins was ruled out of Wales’ summer games with a shoulder injury. “I didn’t take the opportunity for granted and felt I performed well; whenever you get those opportunities now, you’ve got to take them with both hands,” Beard said. “I just want to enjoy my rugby again in the Wales jersey.”
In Wales, there is depth in the second row, with Beard acknowledging that he is one of the older players at 30, even though he still feels decades younger in his head. He has accumulated over 60 caps and remains a fixture in a physically demanding pack. The ongoing search for consistency and strong performances in the forwards is a top priority for a Wales team eager to reassert themselves on the global stage. As Beard looks ahead to the weekend, his focus is clear: continue contributing to a resilient Wales performance, relish the opportunity to play in Argentina once more, and savor the chance to help his country secure a result on what promises to be an unforgettable night in San Juan.