LEON Brown’s rugby career reached new heights when he made his senior Wales debut last Saturday – and it wasn’t just on the pitch that the prop had to perform.

The 21-year-old from Maesglas, who this time last year hadn’t even played a game at regional level, won a first cap after replacing Tomas Francis late in Wales’ 29-21 defeat against Australia.

Dragons tighthead Brown watched as Rodney Parade teammate Hallam Amos crossed to give the hosts a faint hope of victory but there was to be no dramatic comeback.

After the match, Brown and fellow debutants Sam Cross and Owen Watkin were handed Wales caps by Welsh Rugby Union president Dennis Gethin.

However, not only did the trio pick up what every Welsh player craves, they also had to sing a song in front of both squads as part of their introduction to the international fold.

“I got presented with my cap after the game in the presidential suite – my mother quickly took it off me though,” said Brown.

“Dennis gave me the cap and then I had to sing a song, I did Rockstar by Nickelback.

“Sometimes you have to sing your song on the bus but Alun (Wyn Jones, Wales captain) was keen on getting us up to the front and singing.

“It was alright and I think the Aussie boys loved it, and they were happy it wasn’t a tradition of theirs.”

Brown’s proud mum Sally also has her son’s jersey from the Wallabies clash, with high hopes that there will be plenty more to come in the future, starting against Georgia this Saturday.

On his Wales bow, Brown added: “It was bittersweet because of the result but it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.

“Every boy who starts playing rugby wants to play for Wales so I was really happy to be able to do that – this time last year I hadn’t even played for the Dragons.

“The games I’ve had for the Dragons this year have been completely unexpected and obviously the call (for Wales) was, again, unexpected, and then to play, it has all come quickly.

“I’m just trying to take it in my stride and get better as we go along.”

Brown managed to get his hands on the ball more than once in the five minutes or so he played in Cardiff.

And even though he didn’t have too much game time, the forward still loved the experience.

“I was really nervous on Friday night, I didn’t sleep much,” he said.

“When you’re on the bench you know you can go on any time so you’ve got to keep yourself ready.

“When I got the call it was probably the least nervous I’d been all day.”

He continued: “They (the coaches) just wanted to see energy.

“Obviously coming off the bench you need to bring a different dimension when boys are coming off tired or bruised.

“They said just to go out there and express myself, and don’t worry about making mistakes, and to enjoy the moment.

“It was five minutes but really intense. The first carry I got hit, and it was a tidy hit, and I was like ‘oh’, but it was amazing.

“Once you’re on there you block out all the lights and the people and concentrate on the rugby.

“As soon as I was on there I wanted more of it so if it does come then great, if it doesn’t it’s something I’ll keep working for.”