BACK row forward Alix Popham is hoping his selection for Wales' tour to Japan will help him fill the boots about to be left vacant at Newport by the great Gary Teichmann.

Wales A international Popham is after Teichmann's club No 8 spot and is expected to play in the position on tour.

He hopes some good performances will help provide him with a head start when Newport get under way next season.

'I'm very pleased to have been chosen for the tour," said Popham.

"I've had a good season with Wales A, played well in the last two games against France and Italy, and am looking forward to the trip.

"I haven't been disappointed with my progress this season. I've started 22 games for Newport. "But those games have been at six, seven and eight and I want to concentrate just on eight.

"Hopefully, I'll be playing mainly at No 8 on tour and if so it will be an opportunity to make No 8 my spot.

"I think Newport know where they want to play me, it's just that they have Gary Teichmann there at the moment and he brings so much to the team that I just have to bide my time.

"But I understand Newport are not going to bring in another number eight next season so I think it will be between me and Joe Powell.

"We are probably the only two who are happy Gary is going," he joked. "We are both looking forward to fighting it out. We get on very well and it's down to whoever is playing the best."

Popham, who has been in the Wales senior squad, toured Canada with the development squad last time and is looking forward to the Japan trip.

"Tours are demanding, but though Canada was an awesome tour, we were given time to take a break from rugby and we saw a lot of the country and to enjoy ourselves," he said.

"They are all mad-hatters in Japan," he said. "They all fly into tackles and rucks.

"I played against Japan in the FIRA Under-19s World Cup three seasons ago and they were very committed. It was a hard game for the full eighty minutes. Their legs didn't seem to tire.

"What will make it even tougher this time is that they have a lot of New Zealand and Western Samoan players over there."

At least when it's over, Popham and his Wales tour team-mates from Newport, Ian Gough and Ceri Jones, have something less arduous to look forward to. They are to fly out to Fiji and then Australia to watch the British Lions in action. Then they will yeam up with Jason Jones-Hughes in Sydney.