[4] In the late 1890s an ageing and failing Welsh pack forced the selectors to look for options outside the likes of Newport and Cardiff.

This saw the emergence of the 'Rhondda forward', manual workers chosen from the villages and towns of the south Wales valleys.

[7] In 1897 Hellings was chosen to face England as part of the 1897 Home Nations Championship along with fellow Rhondda players, Jack Rhapps and Dai Evans.

Under the captaincy of legendary Welsh player Arthur Gould Wales beat England by a goal and two tries to nil.

There were hopes that Wales would retain the Triple Crown, but although beating England in the first game, the selectors felt the forwards, of which Hellings was given the role of leading, lacked cohesion in the tight.