by Joe Mansfield
LAUDED as a ‘proper 6’, Shane Lewis-Hughes will enter the test arena on Saturday afternoon, when Wales play Scotland in their final game of the Guinness Six Nations Championship.
The 23-year-old blindside flanker has been a standout for Cardiff Blues this year. In the opening two rounds of the Pro14, he recorded the most tackles and most turnovers of any player in the league.
Lewis-Hughes was not named in the original 38-man squad, but his debut is no surprise to his former PE teacher, Josh Hughes.
“His determination and desire to succeed stood out to me from the first minute we met,” said Hughes, from Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda.
“He had a drive and a professionalism at an early age that clearly set him apart from others.
“Shane has this obsessive nature within his character. This was identifiable within Shane as a pupil as he would always be asking questions like ‘How do I become stronger? How do I become faster? How do I become more powerful?”
Physicality has been a big feature of the flanker’s game and Hughes says this was also the case during his school rugby days.
“As a year 11 pupil at the age of 15 or 16 years old he would be consistently dominating and man handling 18-year-old opponents with ease.
“He clearly enjoyed the contact elements of the game and was so destructive at a relatively young age in his rugby career.”
Hailing from the Rhondda, Lewis-Hughes started out playing for Ferndale RFC and he later moved on to Ystrad Rhondda RFC.
His rugby was then developed with the Rhondda Schools Dewar Shield team and he was capped for the Wales U16’s side.
Lewis-Hughes left Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhondda to continue his education at Coleg a Cymoedd. While studying there he played for the Cardiff Blues academy and made appearances for Wales at U18’s level.
The next step for the Rhondda boy was to play for the Wales U20’s, where he appeared in every game during their Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016.
Pontypridd RFC acted as a transitional club for the flanker, they gave him game time in the senior ranks. Lewis-Hughes took to the field eight times for the Premiership club in 2017 and has since advanced into a first team regular for the Cardiff Blues
The physical flanker has made 36 appearances for the Cardiff Blues in total. Notably he made 18 appearances during the Blues’ 2019-2020 Pro14 campaign.
That breakthrough as a regular for his region set up the platform for his post-lockdown exploits. Defensively, the number 6 has been immense, making 43 tackles and enforcing four turnovers in his two Pro14 outings. He has certainly been making the most of his huge frame – weighing 114kg and stands at 6’5”.
Crucially, it is this form since the break that has forced the selectors to bring him into the national side. Lewis-Hughes was originally omitted from the Welsh squad but has now been called up and thrust straight into the starting line-up.
His former schoolteacher, Hughes, believes the blindside will adjust to test rugby without any issues.
“Nothing has ever seemed to phase Shane, as an individual he takes every challenge in his stride. I’m sure he will rise to the occasion this Saturday and put his imprint on the game with a performance to be proud of.
“His work rate around the park is top class and as seen with his impressive performances for the Cardiff Blues post lockdown, he is having a significant impact at the tackle and ruck.
“What many people underestimate is his lineout ability. He is an extremely dynamic individual who will impact effectively on the Welsh lineout, both in attack and defence”
Although, as a youngster, adjusting to the physical demands of the game did take some getting used to, as Hughes recalled.
“A particular funny moment that stands out was the week of his Wales U16s capped game against England in which Shane had a stormer down at the Gnoll in Neath on a Sunday afternoon.
“The following day, I would be teaching him a practical GCSE PE lesson, where he came into the sports hall and asked me to tie his shoelaces on his size 14 trainers because his body was in bits.
“Who would have known that in years to come he would be making his debut for the senior Welsh team.
“I wonder who will be there to tie his shoelaces pre-game against Scotland this Saturday!” Hughes said in jest.
