Ben Carter: Dragons lock tipped for Wales return on summer tour
- Published
Future meets the past: Ben Carter started against Alun Wyn Jones' Barbarians in November
Ben Carter has been tipped to cap his injury comeback with a place on Wales' summer tour to Australia.
The Dragons lock returned in the loss to Bulls from a four-month layoff following hamstring surgery in November that ruled him out of the Six Nations.
The 23-year-old spent his first injury setback adding an extra 7kg (1st) to his frame to mix it at Test level.
Now Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan believes he has the size to match his work-rate and talent.
"It's awesome to have him back. In Wales we don't produce many out and out second rows but the sky is the limit for Ben," said Flanagan.
"I really expect him to kick on and go on the summer tour. It's all up to him."
Surgery came at the end of a frustrating few months for Carter who won the majority of his 11 caps under Wayne Pivac but was part of Warren Gatland's World Cup training squad.
He missed out on World Cup selection, but started the November friendly against Barbarians opposite Wales legend Alun Wyn Jones, only to suffer a concussion, before tearing his hamstring in a league match for Dragons that month to end any hope of the Six Nations.
"It was the first real bad injury that I've had and meant I missed out on a lot of opportunities," said Carter.
"I used the time as an opportunity to put on some upper body weight.
"But my concern was more about getting fit while carrying that weight, but if I do that, then it's extra weight into every collision and the set-piece, so I'd like to see if I can."
Gatland's second row options during the Six Nations were limited to captain Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard and Will Rowlands.
Wales face South Africa at Twickenham on 22 June before a three-match tour of Australia, including two Tests against the Wallabies.
Carter said: "Mentally I feel really good and excited to play after 16 weeks out. Going on the tour would be brilliant but my focus is on helping Dragons improving results."
Dragons are bottom of the United Rugby Championship and face Zebre - one place above them - at Rodney Parade on Friday night.
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