Two auditions in one day forWales’ new rock star Leon

LEON Brown isn’t sure what was the most daunting part of being capped for the first time by Wales, facing Australia or having to sing an initiation song at the postmatch function.

The Dragons prop and Ospreys pair Owen Watkins and Sam Cross were told to perform to a packed room by Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones after being presented with their caps by WRU president Dennis Gethin.

“Dennis Gethin (WRU president) gave me the cap and then I had to sing a song, I did Rockstar by Nickelback,” beamed Brown.

“Sometimes you have to sing your song on the bus but Al was keen on getting us up to the front and singing.

“It was alright and I think the Aussie boys loved it – they were happy it wasn’t a tradition of theirs!”

Fellow young gun Watkin had said, during the build-up, he would belt out Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers’ ‘Islands in the Stream’.

But Brown quipped: “Owen tried to get away with it and get off the stage quickly!”

The 21-year-old’s mother soon had her hands on his cap and debut jersey, with Newport-born Brown grinning: “I didn’t have them for with me long.

“My family all came to the match and were more nervous than I was.

“My mum’s keeping the cap and the jersey!”

Of his few minutes on the pitch at the end during the 29-21 defeat to Australia, the St Joseph’s RFC and Crosskeys product, said: “It was bittersweet because of the result but playing for Wales is something that I’ve always wanted to do.

“This time last year I hadn’t even played for the Dragons. The games I’ve had for the Dragons this year have been completely unexpected and obviously the call for Wales was,