The Dragons speedster has caught the eye
Rio Dyer has caught people’s attention since scoring in his first Test match for Wales last autumn.
The Dragons winger has continued to impress in the 2023 Six Nations.
Ten things you should know about Rio Dyer
1. Rio Dyer was born on 21 December 1999 October
??????? 3-27 ☘️
The second half is underway
? Amdani bois!#WelshRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/BPDCxgmmdp
— Welsh Rugby Union ??????? (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 4, 2023
2. Dyer plays for Dragons RFC, making his senior debut in January 2018 against Saracens, and has been in strong form for the 2022/23 season. The speedster has had his most prolific season yet, scoring five tries in 11 appearances.
Related: Wales Six Nations Fixtures
3. Dyer has been described as a “cult figure” in his region as fans often chant “Rio, Rio, Rio!” when he’s at work at Rodney Parade.
??????? ????? | ???????!!! ?
Congratulations to ? wing Rio Dyer who starts for @WelshRugbyUnion against @IrishRugby ☘️ in the opening round of @SixNationsRugby this Saturday! ???
Good luck & go well Rio! ??#WeAreGwentRugby pic.twitter.com/xayTRjmBGK
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrugby) January 31, 2023
4. He is from Rogerstone and began his youth career at Risca RFC and Pill Harriers RFC, and also played for Newport High School Old Boys.
5. He is the product of the Dragons Academy and represented Wales at U20 level.
6. Dyer made his debut for Wales against New Zealand in the 2022 Autumn Internationals and scored a try on home soil.
??????? ????? | Pob lwc to ? wing Rio Dyer & @WelshRugbyUnion as they take on @IrishRugby ☘️ in the @SixNationsRugby opener this afternoon at the Principality Stadium! ?
Hopefully we see more of this from Rioooo! ??#WeAreGwentRugby pic.twitter.com/yvz0pCKosF
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrugby) February 4, 2023
7. He scored his second try for Wales against Australia in the final match of the series
8. Dyer looked up to Bryan Habana when he was younger because he was the “quickest man in rugby”. He told the South Wales Argus that growing up he “wanted to be the quickest kid on the pitch”.
9. Dyer earned his third cap for Wales after starting in the No 11 shirt against Ireland in Round 1 of the 2023 Six Nations – his Six Nations debut.
Related: Watch James Lowe interception knock stuffing out of Wales
10. Before Dyer’s international debut in the autumn, former Wales head coach, Wayne Pivac said: “He has come in and it’s like he’s been here for a long, long time. As I say he’s confident, not over-confident. He knows what he’s good at, he knows what his work-ons are and he gets about his work really nicely, like a good pro.”
Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.
Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.