Uncapped duo Ashton Hewitt and Taine Basham are ‘busting to impress’ when they link up with Wales ahead of the Barbarians fixture at the end of the month.
The star duo are part of eight Dragons named in a 35-man squad by new Wales Head Coach Wayne Pivac for the fixture on Saturday, November 30 at Principality Stadium.
For Hewitt, who has scored 22 tries in 77 games for Dragons, it is another chance to push for a chance in a red jersey after injury twice denied him in the past.
Concussion prevented Hewitt pushing for cap when he was called into the 2017 Six Nations while shoulder surgery ended his summer tour hopes in 2018.
The wing – who turns 25 tomorrow (Wednesday) – is eager to make his mark and believes the call-up is also a big endorsement of the work going on at the region.
“I’m obviously really happy and it’s a good confidence builder for me,” he said. “I’m just pleased that I’m fit and ready to go – it’s a nice early birthday present.
“There is new management and they have bought a few new boys so I’m sure everyone will be busting to impress and show what they can do in training.
“It’s also a massive endorsement for what we are doing at Dragons,” he added.
“The strategy that the Board and Dean (Ryan) are taking forward and the players that we have, I think anyone can see that we are moving in the right direction.
“We have the right people at the wheel and it’s reflected in our performances and now in eight players being selected for Wales.”
Back row Basham has enjoyed a whirlwind few days with his call-up coming after his hat-trick heroics against Castres in the European Challenge Cup at the weekend.
However, the 20-year-old has his feet firmly on the ground as he looks to enjoy every second of being part of the senior set-up.
“I was delighted to hear I was in the training squad. It’s been a fantastic few days with the Castres game at the weekend too,” he said.
“When you start off in this sport you want to see how far you can go and this is obviously a huge highlight for me.
“It’s now about going into camp, buying into the environment and training as hard as I can to take it all in and learn what they do on the international stage.
“Dean (Ryan) congratulated me and said well done on all my hard work before reminding me that I haven’t made it just yet. I know I’ve got to get my head down and keep working.
“I’m just looking forward to training now and making the right impression in the camp.”
We have the right people at the wheel and it’s reflected in our performances and now in eight players being selected for Wales...
