It caps an exciting week for the Cardiff backrow, who will not turn 19 until next month, after he came off the replacements' bench on Saturday to make his senior club debut against Cross Keys.

"My aims for the season were to get into the Wales FIRA side and do as well as we could in the tournament," Sowden-Taylor said.

Wales reached the semi-final stage of the FIRA Under-19 World Cup before losing to France.

"But to be called up the Welsh side is a fantastic feeling and a great honour."

Sowden-Taylor is one of 17 uncapped players who will tour Japan under coach Lynn Howells, who as the young player's current club coach broke the news of his selection before the Keys match.

Worthy

"I was panicking a bit," Sowden-Taylor admitted. "I'd forgotten my boots - which was a great start to first team rugby - and then Lynn Howells also told me that I'd be going on the Wales tour to Japan.

"I was just ecstatic. It was a great day Saturday after getting on for Cardiff as well."

A product of New College and Cardiff Schools, Sowden-Taylor is still in full-time education, reading Criminology and Sociology at University of Wales, Cardiff.

It should help the young backrow in his ambition to emulate his role-model at Cardiff, Lions openside flanker Martyn Williams who knows a few things about stealing opposition ball.

Echoing Williams' statement that he was not touring Australia just to make up the numbers, Sowden-Taylor is determined that the next generation of Welsh rugby will make their mark in Japan.

"I think the young boys coming through, myself, Gavin Henson and Andrew Lloyd, we'll be going out there really wanting to prove ourselves.

"We want to have an impact on the coaches and prove that we're worthy of going on this tour."