Shane battling to stay ahead of the pack
HE MAY have ended 2020 on a high by winning three Welsh caps, but the first priority in the New Year for Shane Lewis-Hughes is to consolidate his place in the Cardiff Blues side.
Any thoughts of making Wayne Pivac’s Six Nations squad have been banished to the back of the mind of the 23-year-old flanker who knows that winning a place in the back row at the Blues is going to be easier said than done in 2021.
“The amount of talent in the back row at the Blues is ridiculous. You could put anyone out and they would do a great job,” said Lewis-Hughes.
“I’m in a highly competitive environment here at the Blues and just because I played for Wales in the autumn doesn’t mean I can start for the region. I have to prove myself in every game I play – that’s my job and that’s what I love.”
Lewis-Hughes was joined by clubmate Jim Botham in winning his first cap to give John Mulvhill a huge headache when it comes to picking his back row.
With Josh Navidi and Ellis Jenkins ready to return by the end of the month it means he has five internationals to choose from, as well as Olly Robinson and Wales U20 cap Gwilym Bradley.
“To have Ellis and Navs back is great, but who do you drop? That’s the luxury we’ve got at the moment and it is definitely a headache for the coaches,” added Lewis-Hughes.
“I made a joke to Ellis the other day. I asked him to let me know when he’s ready to return so I could give Cardiff RFC a call to see if I could get a game in the Premiership.
“If you look across the four regions there are so many good back rowers. There is so much strength in depth and everything really is up for grabs.
There are no guarantees and you have to perform in every game. I am always trying to fight for something and know that someone is trying to take what you’ve got off you.”
Lewis-Hughes has been destined for great things ever since he launched his rugby career with the Rhondda Schools and played at Coleg y Cymoedd, but his rise to the top has probably come more quickly than people imagined.
Even he didn’t think he was going to be anything other than cannon fodder when he got called up to the Welsh squad.
“It has been a bit of a whirlwind and if you had told me this time last year that I would be sat here with three Welsh caps I’d have been amazed,” he added.
“It was unexpected and when I was called into the squad I thought I would just be making up the numbers and be trying to impress in training. To be given the opportunity against Scotland, Ireland and England was just brilliant and I learned a lot.
“But there is still a long way to go before I’ve achieved what I want to in the game – this is just a start. I want to keep pushing for Welsh honours and to play at the highest level possible in 2021.”