HIS father captained Pontypool RFC in the 7 jersey yet it's with 42 on his back with Glamorgan that Callum Taylor aims to leave his mark.

Last month the Welsh county announced that the 20-year-old had earned a professional contract at Sophia Gardens, an opportunity that started with an email to Newport Cricket Club three years ago.

Chairman and coach Mike Knight was contacted by Matthew Taylor, the former Pooler skipper who followed in the footsteps of his father Jeff by playing in the back row for the club.

His Newport-born son had moved with the family to Australia as a child and the promising all-rounder needed a club back in Wales.

It's a move that has worked for both parties – the young Welshman with an Aussie accent has earned a Glamorgan contract after being a member of a team that lifted the Premier League trophy in 2016 and 2018.

South Wales Argus:

"It was hard work early on at Newport," said Taylor, who was named as young player of the year in his first season.

"I was batting down the order at eight or nine in a strong team and I had to prove myself to go up the ranks.

"It's nice to now say that I am part of a leadership group at Newport and that we've won two Premier Leagues in three years thanks to the hard work that has gone in."

Taylor's genes meant that he was a handy rugby player, albeit a half-back rather than back rower like his father and grandfather.

But when the choice had to be made it was always cricket for the off-spinner, who has been Newport's player of the season for the last two years and has been allocated back to the club for the coming campaign.

Taylor spent the winter playing for South Brisbane and now wants to prove his worth to Glamorgan after featuring for the county's seconds last year.

South Wales Argus:

"It's a great opportunity for me," said Taylor. "I have always wanted to be a professional cricket player from when I was 10 or 11, even more than a rugby player.

"The thought of playing for Glamorgan only came about when I was about 15 and then I really wanted to try and play over here in Wales.

"Living in Queensland for so long, I wanted to play for them after growing up in the youth system there, but coming over here and seeing family made me have that desire to play for Glamorgan even more. Now I have got the opportunity it's a bit surreal."

Taylor wants to grasp his chance in all forms of the game and made a strong start in last week's three-day intra-squad game.

He made an unbeaten 65 that was described as "attractive" on the Glamorgan website before a second "breezy" half-century.

"After getting a chance it's now about striving to play first-team cricket," said the right-hander.

"The last two years I have played second-team cricket and had a taste of it, so now I have that desire to push on to play first team in all forms.

"I wouldn't say that I'm the best technically – I am a bit outlandish I suppose! I like to be aggressive and get on with it.

"White-ball cricket has suited me in the last couple years and now it's about adapting to take that into red-ball cricket and putting the performances on the board.

"I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket. You need to adapt to all forms of cricket these days. There's money in T20, especially with the 100-ball tournament coming up, but you can put your foot in the door in every single format.

"T20 and one-day cricket is a big asset of mine, but getting in the first team for all formats is the aim."

Glamorgan face Cardiff MCCU at Sophia Gardens in a three-day friendly that starts on Friday and get their Championship campaign under way in the capital a week on Thursday against Northamptonshire.