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Josh Navidi won his fifth Wales cap as a replacement against Georgia in Cardiff

Autumn International: Wales v New Zealand Venue: Principality Stadium Date: Saturday, 25 November Kick-off: 17:15 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales & S4C, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary.

Josh Navidi lines up for Wales in Cardiff on Saturday against the country where he spent two years developing his playing skills and where he might have stayed to play.

The Cardiff Blues back-row forward was a surprise choice ahead of Justin Tipuric to face New Zealand.

But surprise is a word that characterises Navidi's route to the Wales number seven shirt, a route as unorthodox as his striking dreadlocked hairstyle.

Brought up in Bridgend, Navidi was taken to New Zealand to further his rugby education after completing his GCSE's.

He was 16 then, now at the age of 26, Navidi's consistency and work-rate is finally being rewarded.

Add patience to the list of attributes, because in the era of Sam Warburton, Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau, getting into the Wales back row has been a big challenge.

It's taken nearly four and a half years to get from his first international appearance to his sixth - with a four-year gap between his first and second caps.

How did it happen? Well, it has a lot to do with his father Hedy, a freestyle wrestler born in Iran who came to Wales to study civil engineering at the age of 18.

Driving north, going south

Justin Tipuric (l) is on the bench while Josh Navidi (r) starts against New Zealand

"One day we were driving up to north Wales and my dad asked whether I still wanted to go out to New Zealand," Navidi told BBC Wales Sport.

"This was just before my GCSEs and I said 'yes why not?' So two days after my last GCSE exam we flew out and ended up in Christchurch.

"I went to Christchurch Boys High and then St Bede's, which had this programme you could do rugby.

"Normally it would be for Japanese kids who would go out there and learn English and play rugby. I could obviously speak English so I was enrolled in mainstream classes.

"It is a bit wild. The first week we were there people were saying go and watch this school game and it was in Rugby Park and it was packed to the brim.

"For me coming from Brynteg (Comprehensive School) where my first year there they got to the final of a Welsh Cup where all the school would go.

"Every week in Christchurch the school would go and watch the team play.

"My Dad took me out there - something he always wanted to do.

"My Mum and brother came out later and we toured the north Island in a camper van before we came back."

Resisting the urge to stay

Why Wales flanker Josh Navidi resisted the temptation to stay in New Zealand

His grounding in Wales wasn't bad either. Brynteg school has produced more than its share of top class rugby players, including Rhys Webb, who lines-up alongside Navidi on Saturday.

Wales attack coach Rob Howley is another former-Brynteg pupil while legends Dr Jack Matthews, JPR Williams also attended, as did Gavin Henson.

With that pedigree it was little surprise Navidi made enough of an impression in New Zealand to be offered an academy contract with Canterbury, but says his heart and his future always lay in Wales.

Another reason was his father's gym business in Bridgend.

"I went to school for about two seasons. I was back and fore over the winter and I would work in my old man's gym and then go back," he added.

"When I was younger we were going to emigrate out there, but it just kind of held off.

"I am a Welsh boy and it's hard to let your country down. I had an academy contract offered by Canterbury, but we have a lot of business back here with the gym.

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"My dad told me I am a Welsh boy and by the time you get residency and all that and I was always going to come back here."

After going through the school of hard knocks, Navidi is faced with a task which has been mission impossible for Wales for more than a generation.

The last time they beat New Zealand was in 1953.

Winston Churchill was Prime Minister and meat was still being rationed after World War II.

Navidi's long journey will lead to a place in sporting history if he can help Wales end that even longer wait.