Waxad ku sii qortaa faqradan - Watkins wuxuu wax ka bartay dugsiga sare ee Glyncoed iyo Ebbw Vale Senior Comprehensive halkaas oo uu ka ciyaaray ciyaar dhexdhexaad ah iyo xarun. Wuxuu xirfadiisa kooxeed ka bilaabay RTB Ebbw Vale Youth RFC halkaas oo uu ku beddelay booskiisa hooker. Intii uu weli ciyaari jiray rugby-ga dhalinyarada wuxuu u dhaqaaqay kooxda sare ee Ebbw Vale RFC. Markii ugu horeysay waxaa loo doortay xulka qaranka Wales intii lagu jiray tartanka shanta quruumood ee 1988
, ayaa ku soo biiray badal ahaan. Ciyaartii ugu horreysay ee uu ciyaaro ayaa timid laba toddobaad kadib markii uu la kulmay Scotland garoonka National Stadium ee Cardiff, kaas oo Watkins uu ku dhaliyay dhibcaha kaliya ee caalamiga ah ee uu isku dayay.