Dragons flanker Aaron Wainwright is ready to do ‘anything he can’ to cap his rise to international prominence with Wales and ensure he is on the plane to Japan for the Rugby World Cup.
Wainwright, 21, will hope to be involved against England at Twickenham this Sunday (kick-off 2pm) as Wales play the first of four warm-up games.
The Bassaleg-born forward has featured in eight of Wales' 10 Tests since he made his debut in Argentina last June and was an ever-present in the Six Nations Grand Slam.
However, he is taking nothing for granted as he bids to mount one final push to ensure he is one of the final 31-strong squad named by Head Coach Warren Gatland.
"I will try to take any opportunity I get with both hands to try and show what I can do, doing anything I can to win Warren over to get me on the plane," said Wainwright.
"I spent the majority of the Six Nations on the bench and would have liked to have more game time.
"If I can get that in these warm-up games it will be ideal to showcase what I can do."
"It would be massive, the pinnacle of anyone's career," said Wainwright, reflecting on the potential of playing in a Rugby World Cup.
"As soon as you start playing rugby, that's what you want to achieve - to play for your country and then play for your country at the World Cup.
"It only comes around every four years, so it would be very special.
"To come through that quickly, I guess, it is surprising for me. If I can get into the squad, that would be awesome - one of my biggest dreams since I started playing rugby."
As soon as you start playing rugby, that's what you want to achieve - to play for your country and then play for your country at the World Cup...
