Can Young Owen Lane Crack Wales World Cup Squad?
Can Young Owen Lane Crack Wales World Cup Squad?
Owen Lane could well be the next in line of great Welsh wingers. He hopes a strong summer earns him a spot at the Rugby World Cup
One of the players to keep an eye on heading through the Summer Test Series is uncapped Welsh winger Owen Lane.
The 21 year old Cardiff Blues man has set the Pro14 and the Heineken Cup competitions alight the past two years, and there is hope among Welsh fans that he could be the next in line of great Welsh wings. His combination of power and speed are uncommon for a player with his skillset and footwork.
FAST LANE ? @owen_lane, one of Wales' two uncapped players in the World Cup training squad, gives us his thoughts on a whirlwind couple of months for the @cardiff_blues youngster. #HWFN pic.twitter.com/BAjLtDS6lz
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) July 22, 2019
Tough competition for the red shirt
Lane notched 11 tries from 18 outings this season, and was an every-week starter for the Blues. However, getting the honor of sporting the red Wales shirt has been tricky thus far.
The Welsh have arguably the strongest back-three unit in the northern hemisphere; they boast world-class talent in the form of Liam Williams, George North, and Leigh Halfpenny, as well as rising stars Josh Adams and Hallam Amos, and two more formidable options in Steff Evans and Jonah Holmes.
So, for Lane to be brought in to join these lads for the World Cup training camp and for the Summer Test Series at his age speaks volumes to how coach Warren Gatland views the youngster.
Should he bring the same form to his Wales team in the Summer Test Series that he brings each week to his Cardiff Blues outfit, there's a decent chance he could crack Gatland's 31-man World Cup roster that leaves for Japan in September. 
US-based subscribers can watch Owen Lane and his Welsh teammates gear up for the World Cup live on FloRugby in the Summer Test Series: