WALES' sevens manager John Ryan has backed Emyr Lewis to play for Newport in the Principality Cup final after impressing him in the World Sevens Series.

Ryan rates Lewis, who can play on the wing or at full-back, highly after seeing him play in Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Africa with Wales in the International Rugby Board's sevens event.

Lewis faces an anxious wait to see if he will be selected over established left-wing Ben Breeze for a place in the starting line-up at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, but cannot rely on family loyalties.

The pacy winger romped home for a hat-trick of tries in Newport's demolition of Cross Keys on Saturday and made two others to throw down the gauntlet to the Newport selectors - including father and Newport director of rugby Allan Lewis

With his pace, Lewis junior has been an asset to the Wales Sevens team and after watching him play against Cross Keys, Ryan has no qualms about giving him a run out against the Welsh All Blacks.

The former Newport coach said: "He's come back a better player from playing in the World Series and he's been playing really well.

"He's good enough, in my view, to play and he looked pretty sharp against Cross Keys on Saturday. I'd back him to play in the final."

Having coached the national side and Newport's 1977 Welsh Cup winning team, Ryan was in Cardiff yesterday to promote the Wales round of the World Sevens on June 2 and 3, with top sides New Zealand, Australia and Fiji battling it out with the hosts.

Ryan promises sevens fans a feast of rugby and hinted that All Blacks star Jonah Lomu would lead the Southern Hemisphere charge.

With the action due to start at Rodney Parade on Saturday, June 2, before switching to the Millennium Stadium on June 3, WRU Chairman Glanmor Griffiths has promised they can guarantee ideal conditions for the final day by closing the roof.