Carter wants more Wales starts after ousting Lion

Wales lock Ben Carter is hungry for more Test opportunities after going from Six Nations fringe figure to ousting a Lion.

The 25-year-old Dragons co-captain has been a growing force in the club game but remained an occasional at Test level.

Carter made his international debut in the summer of 2021 but had played just six minutes in the Six Nations - coming on at 29-0 against Ireland in 2022 - before this year's championship.

He came off the bench against England and France before getting a long-awaited start against Scotland, replacing then 63-times capped British and Irish Lions lock Adam Beard as Dafydd Jenkins' second-row partner.

Carter's exploits ensured he kept the five jersey against Ireland, and against Italy as Wales ended a three-year wait for a Six Nations win.

"There are a lot of good second rows and I was just glad I was given my opportunity," said Carter, who has now won 19 caps.

"Adam Beard was really supportive and offered me lots of help around the line-out where I needed it, and I appreciated that."

Carter matched the impressive work-rate of Exeter lock Jenkins.

According to Opta, the Dragons forward finished the Six Nations with 50 tackles, 19 carries, crossed the gainline nine times and hit 82 rucks in attack and 24 in defence as he made up for lost time after a stop-start international career since his debut against Canada in 2021.

Last summer he got a starting chance in the first Test in Japan, only to suffer a head injury after just 27 seconds.

But Carter is now the man in possession of the jersey and will aim to keep impressing when Steve Tandy's men take on the Barbarians, Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in June and July.

"I got more opportunities than I had in the past and I know results weren't amazing but I enjoyed the whole camp," said Carter, who could have more competition in the shape of fit-again Teddy Williams.

"I look forward to hopefully being involved again and being more successful because there were definitely some aspects that were really positive, even when the results weren't there.

"Hopefully people can see the forward steps that we took and nothing feels like winning, so it was good that we got that feeling against Italy."

Carter will also hope to record more wins in club colours as Dragons attempt to finish above Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

That comes after Sunday's bid for an upset in Paris against Stade Francais in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup (12:30 BST).