Rio Dyer: Dragons flyer on course to make Wales debut in end-of-year Tests

David Skippers
Rio Dyer Dragons United Rugby Championship 2022 - Alamy.jpg

Dragons wing Rio Dyer’s current form suggests his dream of playing international rugby could become a reality during Wales upcoming Autumn Nations Series campaign next month.

The 22-year-old is one of five uncapped players called up to Wales head coach Wayne Pivac’s squad for their next month’s fixtures against New Zealand, Argentina, Georgia and Australia in Cardiff.

Scored two tries against the Ospreys

And he continues to shine for the Dragons as he scored a brace of tries in their victorious Welsh derby against the Ospreys on Sunday.

Dyer’s outstanding form is evident in the United Rugby Championship‘s attacking statistics as only Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham has made more line breaks than him.

The duo are also the only players who have gained more than 400 metres in the competition which is much more than third-placed Ulster full-back Mike Lowry.

Those outstanding figures indicates why there is so much hype over the Newport-born flyer as Wales’ World Cup preparations continues to gather pace.

“It is obviously going to be high-intensity, but it is also about doing the little things well consistently,” said Dyer, ahead of reporting for duty with Wales‘ squad.

“That’s what sets you apart. You can do it once or twice, but you have to keep doing it throughout the 80 minutes.

“It is all about becoming the best player I can – it’s just striving for that. I am still pretty young, so I have still got loads to learn.

“These couple of weeks will be that opportunity to take that straight into my stride. The camp will make me learn a lot of things.

“It would be amazing to get a cap, but the only way I am going to do that is by bettering myself. It will come when I am ready.”

Despite being uncapped at Test level, Dyer is no stranger to the Wales set-up as he was part of the broader training squad ahead of their tour to South Africa in July.

He showed his class as he scored a try in a warm-up game for Wales ahead of the series against the Springboks which saw the Welsh clinch their first triumph on South African soil when thy won the second Test in Bloemfontein.

“That week and a half was definitely an eye-opener to what is in store.,” added Dyer.

“It gave me that little extra boost of thinking how I need to develop my game to be at that top level, to be able to be at the Principality Stadium and put in performances.

“I have watched a lot of the boys in the squad growing up, seen them on the television when I was a kid in my teenage years. It is a case of realising I am now in the situation I have been watching.

Comfortable in Wales camp

“When I went in there in the summer, it wasn’t like I felt uncomfortable. Everyone was welcoming.”

Wales Autumn Nations Series campaign kicks off against the All Blacks in Cardiff on November 5. They have not beaten New Zealand since 1953, losing 32 successive Tests.

RED MORE: United Rugby Championship: Dragons claim derby spoils as Rio Dyer double floors Ospreys