In a change from the last 14 years, the USA leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series has moved to Los Angeles – hosts of the 2028 Olympics – with Lewis thrilled to be back in the mix for Wales after eight months away.
“It’s like being in a movie with all the palm trees and yellow school buses out here,” says the 23-year-old from Croesyceiliog, renowned for his try-scoring abilities. “We’ve been training hard so we haven’t had much time to explore, although we got to watch an ice hockey game last night which was cool. Snoop Dogg and N.W.A. have been on repeat on the bus to and from training as well, so I can’t complain!”
All this is a far cry from the self-described “low point” at which he found himself in 2018. Released from the Dragons after a long spell on the sidelines with shoulder injuries, so disheartened was Lewis with rugby that he turned down offers from Welsh Premiership clubs.
“I was so fed up with it all, but then Pontypool stepped in and asked if I was interested,” Lewis recalls. “I’d briefly played for them at 17 on permit from the Dragons academy and had real fond memories of my time there.
“My Mam said I had nothing to lose and it was a chance to start enjoying rugby again. Turns out it was the best decision I could have made and I’m loving rugby more than ever now.”
Ambition is in plentiful supply in NP4, and Lewis’s tries are crucial to their promotion push. He has scored an astonishing 29 of them in 32 appearances for the club. Should everything go to plan for Pontypool at the top of the Championship – they are currently unbeaten after 16 games – he says he can’t wait to see how they fare amongst the big hitters in the Premiership next season.
Lewis is something of a Renaissance man: when he’s not playing rugby, he’s creating music, teaching, or doing TV work.
First, the rap music, some of which you can find here. “It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing and I’d say it is a big part of my life. The buzz you get from performing is like the feeling you get after scoring a good try,” he explains. “It’s hard to describe but it’s just one of those things you have to experience to understand.
“I love the process of sitting down with the boys and making something completely from scratch – from producing the beat to writing to it. We’ve been working hard recently and have a few big things in the pipeline.”
A joint honours degree in English Literature with Media and Journalism from Cardiff University stoked his interest in the TV side of things, and he’s now looking to apply for a BBC postgrad journalism scheme. “The English lit was heavy but the skills I acquired really complement journalism, which is an industry I’d love to be involved with.”
Early steps into the industry have seen him turn up in a number of Welsh-language shows on S4C – and the Cymraeg is partly how the teaching came about.
“After graduating last summer I started as a full-time teaching assistant at Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran while looking for jobs more relevant to my degree. I really do enjoy working at the primary school. I don’t see it as a job, because it’s just great being around the children, and the staff are great too. I’ve made some good friends.
“What’s more, it’s really helped me keep on top of my Welsh, which I hadn’t had the chance to speak much since leaving comp. It’s something I’m really passionate about and it’s definitely improved my language skills speaking it all day, five days a week.”
For now, though, it’s full throttle in the City of Angels, where Wales will be competing at the home stadium of LA Galaxy, with a trip to Vancouver on the horizon next weekend. Just another exciting project to keep Lloyd Lewis busy.
For Wales Sevens team news ahead of this weekend’s LA tournament, click here.
