The 20-year-old from the Rhondda made his debut in Dubai last weekend, along with five other promising Welsh youngsters – all of whom repaid the faith shown in them by head coach Gareth Williams and assistant Richie Pugh with some confident performances.
“Leading up to the series has been the most brutal training I’ve ever experienced,” Lewis says. “They’re long days of high intensity training, but you feel good after it. You learn a lot mentally, like how to keep going when you’re in a dark place. Your skills are tested a lot too, and you’re always learning from the coaches and the senior players.”
Did he get nervous playing in front of the famously raucous crowd at the Sevens Stadium? “Not really,” he answers. “In our earlier game against Fiji the stadium was starting to fill up. Then when we came out to warm up for the Russia match it was heaving.
“I didn’t really feel nervous – more excitement than anything. The atmosphere was incredible, so you just enjoy the experience and seize the moment. I think all of us new boys stepped up to the occasion.”
From the desert of Dubai to coastal Cape Town, the heat is literally intensifying. “It’s boiling in South Africa right now. We had a session on Tuesday under the sun which really took it out of us,” says Lewis, who last season was a regular at centre for Wales U20. “That sort of training will prepare us for when we get underway on Saturday.”
Surprisingly, he is new to the sevens game, having once played for Cardiff Blues in the Singha 7s competition. It was through his region that he got the opportunity to represent his country. “It’s all for the development of players like myself and Phil Jones; a step forward which helps us develop our game.”
He has been impressed by the team culture within the sevens programme. “I can honestly say it’s the best rugby environment I’ve ever been in,” he admits. “It’s just a really good bunch of boys, focused on working towards the same target, and when it’s time to relax we’re all close-knit as well.”
Seeing his parents, Dean and Nicola, supporting him out in Dubai last weekend was a particularly proud moment for him: “They come everywhere to watch me and have been a massive part of my career, so it was class to have them out there. They’re legends.” Dean played a formative role in his son’s rugby career, coaching him and fellow Cardiff Blue Keiron Assiratti at Wattstown.
The more experienced players in the team have briefed Lewis about the Cape Town leg of the series. “They tell me the fans are rugby mad and the stadium is jam-packed,” says Lewis, whose side will face Canada, Fiji and Samoa. “Looking at the group, we can go into it with confidence. We know what those teams can bring, and us new players have now had our test run in Dubai. We’ve had a taste of it so we know what to expect going in, and we’re aiming high.”
Wales’ Pool D fixtures in Cape Town, Saturday 9th December: Fiji (08:37 GMT); Samoa (11:36 GMT); Canada (14:57 GMT)
The World Rugby Sevens Series will be shown live on Sky Sports.
