Lewis Revives Wales Career in Key Position
Dillon Lewis transitioned to the Dragons from Harlequins in 2025. Two years after his last international appearance, tight-head prop Dillon Lewis aims to address a challenging position for Wales.
The 30-year-old has been recalled to the Wales squad for the summer series against Fiji, Argentina, and South Africa in the Nations Championship.
Wales will prepare for these Tests with an uncapped match against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium on Saturday at 14:00 BST.
This fixture offers Lewis the chance to represent Wales for the first time since earning his 57th cap against Italy during the 2024 Six Nations.
"The two years have been riddled with a few injuries, which hasn't helped my case, but it is something that I never gave up on,"
said Lewis, who toured Australia the following summer but did not feature in any matches.
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Lewis reached 50 caps for Wales while playing with Cardiff before spending two seasons at Harlequins. He valued the experience, stating it made him "a more mature and more rounded player." However, last summer he moved to the Dragons to enhance his prospects of participating in a third Rugby World Cup.
"Coming home to Wales was a big driving factor in that, just trying to be in the shop window as much as possible, and luckily I picked up some form towards the end of the season,"
Lewis explained, noting he made nine appearances after recovering from an autumn calf injury.
"It was never something I closed the door on. I aspired to get back in and there was a lot of competition as well to make it even harder."
Wales' Tight-Head Prop Challenge
Dillon Lewis made his Wales debut in 2017.
The two tight-head props who played in the Six Nations under coach Steve Tandy will not be available this summer.
Sale-bound Tomas Francis was recalled to strengthen the scrum but is being rested after his commitments with Provence as Wales manage his workload ahead of the World Cup. Meanwhile, Bath's Archie Griffin is sidelined following surgery.
Keiron Assiratti, the leading tight-head prop last autumn, withdrew from the squad after sustaining a calf injury during Cardiff's United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss.
Lewis joins the squad alongside Sam Wainwright and Ben Warren, with Chris Coleman and Rhys Henry assisting in training ahead of the Barbarians match.
The three official squad members have collectively made only eight professional starts in the 2025-26 season, but the situation opens opportunities.
"You always like to think you can add something to a team, so it has been a frustrating time for me,"
Lewis said.
"The way the team finished the Six Nations was brilliant to watch. You could see a definite change and it was exciting, and something I was desperate to be a part of."
After missing out on selection twice, Lewis has now worked under coach Tandy and new scrum coach Paul James for the first time.
"You hear all the boys coming back into the clubs and speaking so highly of the environment and how much they enjoyed it,"
Lewis remarked.
"It's tough to listen to, but it also spurs you on to try to get back here, so I've loved being back in with a completely fresh, new coaching staff.
Everything's a bit different - there is a new outlook on the game and culture. I've loved it and it's been nice to get back in."
