The 23-year-old wing suffered a frustrating spell on the sidelines at the end of last season due to sinusitis caused by a heavy blow to his face. But Pewtner burst back onto the scene with a string of eye-catching performances on the Dragons’ road to Premiership Rugby Sevens final at the Twickenham Stoop last Friday
and was named player of the tournament as the Welsh regions made an impressive debut.
“It was quite a nasty injury and that ruined the end of the season for me,” said Pewtner. “I missed the last few months and that put a downer on what had been a pretty decent campaign.
“But there’s nothing better than sevens for getting you back sharp. It gets the lungs burning and gives you the chance to get ball in hand and express yourself.”
Pewtner will hope to further press his case when the ‘Men of Gwent’ travel to Clifton for their first pre-season friendly against Bristol Rugby on Sunday. A Development XV take on Lydney a week later before Ebbw Vale’s Eugene Cross Park plays host to Northampton on Friday, August 24 ahead of their Guinness PRO12 opener with Connacht.
And Pewtner will be hoping to be a part of the squad that travel to The Sportsground on September 6, after a fruitful preseason at the region’s brand new Caerphilly County Borough Centre for Sporting Excellence training base.
“It was a shame we didn’t quite go all the way in the sevens but I think we showed the sort of spirit that will be needed throughout the season. We worked hard for each other and fought for everything,”
he added.“Pre-season has been really good in the new facility in Ystrad Mynach. Hopefully now we can start to kick on ahead of the new season.”
