NEWPORT Gwent Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns looks like a certainty for the World Cup to cap his amazing rise and rise this year.

He was already well in the frame after earning his first cap as a replacement for Wales against the Barbarians on Saturday and later named in a 45-player World Cup training squad.

He was included as one of three hookers alongside Ospreys pair Huw Bennett and Richard Hibbard after impressing Wales coach Warren Gatland during the second half of the season with his agressive, ball carrying style.

But Hibbard had to undergo a shoulder operation on Monday and is not expected to play again for at least ten weeks.

Even if he makes that deadline he would be available only for the Argentina warm-up game on August 20 before the final World Cup squad of 30 players is announced.

Clearly his chances of making the final cut are borderline at best while Bennett did not have the best of games against the Baabaas.

Another candidate, Ken Owens of the Scarlets, is also affected by injury. He missed the second half of the season after having a neck injury, ironically leaving the pitch in the match against the Dragons on New Year’s Day.

He hasn’t started a game since and his return in time for the World Cup as a possible replacement for Hibbard would clearly be a gamble.

So Burns has suddenly rocketed right to the top of the list after just one full season at the highest level and after playing at hooker for only three years since being converted from a back row forward to a hooker on leaving Pontypool for Cross Keys.

A year ago Burns was working as a labourer and playing for Cross Keys in the Premiership, the club still holding his registration, which made his inclusion on Saturday somewhat historic as the first Premier League player to play for Wales.

But he made his mark with the Dragons in the season just ended especially with Tom Willis and Steve Jones suffering from injury, and he took his chance big time.

Director of rugby Robert Beale believed in any case it was only a matter of time before he won his cap - a prophecy which came true with his call-up against the Barbarians.

Now he is within touching distance of being on the plane to New Zealand with a place in the World Cup. And he got married only last Friday - Burns really is reaping the whirlwind.

l Dragons centre Rhodri Gomer Davies is being linked with a move to the Scarlets after he wasn’t retained.

Wing Jamie Davies, who joined the Dragons from Cross Keys but didn’t play a game for them, is heading back to his west Wales home and joining Neath.