Canada 3-60 Wales

With his two rivals away on Lions duty, the 25-year-old made the most of a rare Wales start by scoring a powerful solo try in Saturday's 60-3 win over Canada.

And he told BBC Wales Sport: "I was chuffed to bits for the boys winning the Six Nations.

"But it's nice to get the nod again after my neck injury and hopefully I'll be involved in the autumn Tests."

Popham was making his first Wales start for nearly a year in the impressive victory in Toronto.

He made a brief appearance as a replacement in last November's record-breaking win over Japan, but was overlooked for the Six Nations campaign.

I'm moving back more for family reasons because I had a great time in Leeds, but it should be great Alix Popham on joining the Scarlets

"I was told I was on the bench at first [to play Canada] but then Ryan got selected for the Lions," Popham explained.

"It's always nice to start because you can get into the game.

"It's hard, I find, to come off the bench with 10 to 15 minutes to go and make an impact. So I was pleased to get the start."

Popham is returning to Wales to play for Llanelli Scarlets next season after a three-year stint with Leeds Tykes.

The Stradey Park outfit have recruited aggressively to freshen up a an ageing squad, and Popham says he excited at the prospect of meeting up with his new team-mates.

"I'm moving back more for family reasons because I had a great time in Leeds, but it should be great," said Popham, who will miss the beginning of pre-season training because of his imminent marriage.

"I know a few of the boys who I played with at Newport and the Welsh boys who are at the Scarlets.

"I've been told it's a good set of boys so I'm looking forward to getting down there."