Wales v Japan: Cardiff Blues reject Hill eyes Wales success

Pontypridd-born Cory Hill has played for Moseley, Bedwas, Cardiff Blues, Pontypridd and Ynysybwl

Lock Cory Hill hopes to stake a claim to a permanent Wales spot three years after being rejected by Cardiff Blues.

The Newport Gwent Dragon, 24, initially turned up as a training, rather than full member of the Wales squad.

However, after coming off the bench to debut in Wales' heavy opening defeat by Australia, he partners 103-times capped Alun Wyn Jones at lock against Japan.

"The second-rows have gone well so far, so it's up to me now to live up to their standards," said Hill.

"I've got to put my head down, put in a good performance and who knows what will happen."

After leaving Cardiff Arms Park, where he had come through the region's academy, Hill joined English second-tier club Moseley.

Newport Gwent Dragons recruited the former Wales Under-20 player in November, 2013.

He said: "You have to take a step back to go forward in your career sometimes.

"I was only young when I got released by the Blues, but I knew I had a career and 15 years of rugby ahead of me.

"You can't beat yourself up over things like that. You just have to bounce back when you get knocked down, and that's what I did."

Hill called in along with Ospreys wing Keelan Giles and fellow Dragons, prop Leon Brown and number eight Harrison Keddie to train with the national squad.

He said of his introduction to the Wales set-up: "I just kept my head down and I didn't know what to expect - it's like a first day at school, I suppose.

"You are the new boy and most of the boys had been involved in the set-up before. It was only me and (Ospreys fly-half) Sam Davies who hadn't.

"I just got my head down, got on the computers and learnt the calls, because you don't want to turn up at training not knowing anything.

"I got my head in the laptop, and all of the boys were really helpful to get me up to speed.

"I had to give a 30-second speech about myself, so I just reeled off a load of nonsense and got on with it. I will keep that all between the four walls!"