Add to that, the strong rumour that in a pre-season warm-up game for Llanelli Scarlets at Northampton you tried to put one through on World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson at a scrum, and had to be reined in by your own props, then avoiding the media spotlight becomes downright impossible.
However, Reed, who hails from Treorchy and made his second league start for the Scarlets in the emphatic victory over Glasgow on Friday night, shows no signs of slowing down. He stole four Glasgow throws in the first 20 minutes, and should the Scarlets go into receivership following the mothballing of their Stradey Park housing development scheme, the other Welsh regions will be queuing up to snatch him away.
At the moment, though, Reed says his mind is concentrated on developments on the pitch, rather than off it. “I’m a teenager living the dream. It’s an honour to play for Scarlets, and I’m not going to let anyone down.
“I was really nervous before making my Magners League debut against Ulster at Ravenhill last weekend, but, because of the company I was in, the venue, and who were playing against, I couldn’t help but have a big smile on my face as soon as we ran onto the pitch.”
Reed says, however, that he is in no danger of getting carried away. “Things have come thick and fast, and I’m really excited, but nothing is easy. The physicality and speed are greater, and the training is much more intense. I like a bit of banter and a joke during training, but now I can’t afford to switch off for a second or I’ll miss something.”
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The acid test for Reed, who turns 19 today, will come when the media hype dies down and the elbows fly as second-row rivals seek to bring the young upstart down to earth. He would not be the first novice lock to buckle, but those who know him best say that is unlikely.
Justin Burnell, the coach of the Wales Under-19 Grand Slam-winning side that Reed played for last season, is in no doubt that he will come through the baptism by fire: “We beat Australia Schools for the first time in 36 years last season, and Lou was inspirational. He’s got the athleticism, and the attitude.
“I would be amazed if players like Lou Reed, and his fellow second-row, Bradley Davies, who were the mainstays of last year’s under-19 Grand Slam, are not internationals after the World Cup. These are big, aggressive lads, capable of being the equal to anything the South Africans have.”
Although off the pitch Reed wears spectacles with lenses thick enough to remind you of Brains in Thunderbirds, Clive Jones, the former Pontypridd director of rugby who mentored Reed, is convinced he has the focus to succeed: “I’ve known Lou since he was eight. He was always a big lump, but I remember early on we had to persuade him to keep playing rugby. He’s had his share of hardships, especially when his parents split, but his mum, Mandy, did a great job with him, and he has come through great.”
Reed lists Jones as being the biggest influence on his career, and every fortnight when he returns to Treorchy he spends an hour chatting to his old tutor. Jones points out the difficulties of leaving a close-knit community such as Treorchy: “At the age of 16 it got to the stage when he had to decide how much he wanted it. Boys up here in the valley ask themselves if they are good enough to live with the big city boys. They also have to recognise that if they want to be a professional sportsman that they can’t do what they used to, like go down the pub.”
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Jones is convinced Reed has the physical equipment, and the mental rigour to get to the very top, and describes when he first realised just how much potential he had. “When he was 15 he produced a big surprise on a 3km run where he did just over 11 minutes and came in the top two or three against boys in their late teens and early twenties. It made me realise just how good an engine he has.”
Ask him if Reed will keep his feet on the ground and he has few doubts: “He will if he keeps coming to my house. I want the pressure off him, and for him to earn his place at the Scarlets first. They’ve done a good job putting him into the squad, and he’s learning good habits from top players like Simon Easterby.”
There is, however, a warning to those who might take liberties: “He’ll stand his ground, but he has to learn his trade. He realises he hasn’t arrived yet, and doesn’t see himself as some superstar.”
If Jones is right, the long wait for a Welsh second row of substance could soon be over.