Dyer straight in for U20 debut

Unlike many of his teammates tonight in Newcastle, who have played together with Wales U18, Dyer’s only previous age grade experience was with the U16s. “Having missed out on U18s, to now get called up to make my debut against England is great,” he says. “I’m delighted to get the opportunity, to say the least.”
 
By happy coincidence, Dyer’s fellow back-three debutant against England is Gloucester fullback Carwyn Penny. They last played alongside each other as 12-year-olds in Risca. “Carwyn’s from High Cross. We’d been playing together since we were about eight,” says Dyer. “He then went over to England and we haven’t played on the same team until now.”
 
The Gwent contingent in Newcastle tonight will extend off the field too, with his family travelling up North for the special occasion. Conveniently, Dyer’s uncle already lives in Newcastle.
 
Since finishing school – Dyer attended Bassaleg and then Newport High – he has been at Dragons on a full-time basis for the past couple of months. “Bernard [Jackman] likes to give youngsters at the region a chance,” he says, “which is good for people like to me to show what we can do.”
 
Evidently in his two senior appearances in the Anglo-Welsh Cup – one of which included a home victory against Worcester Warriors – Dyer has also shown the Wales U20 coaches what he can do.
 
“I’ve been with the Dragons for the past couple of weeks, so I’ve been getting my head around things coming into the U20 camp,” says Dyer. “All you can do is knuckle down and get on with it, because it’s such a big opportunity.”
 
Despite the Anglo-Welsh experiences he’s had this year, he doesn’t know if any of those Saracens or Worcester players will be involved tonight in Newcastle. “I wouldn’t know too much about the opposition, to be honest, because I just concentrate on my own game,” he says by way of explanation. “If I’m back and forth between Dragons and U20s over the coming weeks, all I need to do is give the best account of myself and play well.”
 
He won’t be drawn on suggestions that he’s the fastest player in the Dragons squad. “No comment,” he laughs. “I just try and run. I’ve always played wing, because it’s the only position I really fancied. It’s why I enjoy being with Wales U20: it’s quick and attack-based.”
 
His ambitions are to “push myself as far as I can go. If I put the effort and work in, hopefully I can get a chance to show what I’m capable of.”
 
Dyer is known in the U20 squad for his creative thinking. As he puts it: “When I’m bored I just try to think of things. Avocado spread, for example. Everyone makes spread out of it anyway, so why not have a readymade spread?
 
“After rugby, I’ll see if I can make a couple of million out of one of my inventions.”