Rio Dyer
{{short description|Welsh rugby union footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Rio Dyer
| image = Rio Dyer 2023.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Dyer representing Wales during the Six Nations Championship
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|12|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = Newport, Wales
| height = {{convert|1.86|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|84|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}
| school = Newport High School
Bassaleg School
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Wing
| currentclub = Dragons
| years1 = 2017–
| clubs1 = Dragons
| apps1 = 65
| points1 = 100
| repyears1 = 2018–2019
| repteam1 = Wales U20
| repcaps1 = 7
| reppoints1 = 10
| repyears2 = 2019
| repteam2 = Wales 7s
| repcaps2 = 24
| reppoints2 = 35
| repyears3 = 2022–
| repteam3 = Wales
| repcaps3 = 23
| reppoints3 = 35
}}
Rio Dyer (born 21 December 1999) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Dragons and the Wales national team.
Club career
Dyer began his career playing for the Risca RFC and Pill Harriers RFC youth sides, as well as for Newport High School Old Boys RFC.{{cite web|url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/15903065.teenage-speedster-dyer-aiming-build-dragons-debut-euro-champs/|title=Teenage speedster Dyer aiming to build on Dragons debut against Euro champs|publisher=South Wales Argus|date=29 January 2018|access-date=5 November 2022}}
While part of the Dragons Academy, Dyer made his professional debut on 27 January 2018, against Saracens in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.{{Cite web |last=Sands |first=Katie |date=2021-04-27 |title=New kid Rio Dyer is already one of Wales' fastest players as excitement grows |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/new-kid-rio-dyer-already-20473922 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}} His first appearance in the Pro14 came against Benetton Rugby the following month.{{Cite news |title=Dragons 15-18 Benetton Rugby |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/43077403 |access-date=2023-03-18}}
Dyer was named man of the match on 4 January 2020, as the Dragons beat regional rivals Ospreys 25–18, with Dyer scoring a try in the victory.{{Cite news |title=Dragons inflict more misery on Ospreys |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/50944328 |access-date=2023-01-23}} In March 2020, Dyer signed his first professional contract with the Dragons.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Dragon News : Speedster Dyer signs contract |url=https://dragonsrfc.wales/news/2020/march/speedster-dyer-signs-contract.html |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=Dragons RFC |language=en}} He signed an extension in January 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-12 |title=Dragons back rapid winger to kick on after agreeing new contract |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/19841975.wing-rio-dyer-signs-new-dragons-contract/ |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=South Wales Argus |language=en}}
On 23 October 2022, Dyer again claimed a man of the match award against the Ospreys, scoring twice and propelling the Dragons to a 32–25 win.{{Cite web |title=Dyer double gives Dragons Welsh bragging rights |url=https://rugby365.com/tournaments/united-rugby-championship/news-united-rugby-championship/dyer-double-gives-dragons-welsh-bragging-rights/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=rugby365.com |language=en}}
On 17 January 2024, Dyer signed a long–term contract extension with the Dragons.{{Cite news |title=Wales wing Dyer signs new 'multi-year' Dragons deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/68011814 |access-date=2024-01-21 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
International career
Dyer was a Wales U20 international.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2018-05-10/wales-name-squad-for-u20-world-championships|title=Wales name squad for U20 World Championships|publisher=itv|date=10 May 2018|access-date=5 November 2022}} He missed the 2019 Six Nations Under 20s Championship to participate in the World Rugby Sevens Series, but rejoined the U20 side for the 2019 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{Cite web |last=worldrugby.org |title=Strong sevens influence in Wales U20 Championship squad {{!}} World Rugby |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/420390?lang=en |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=www.world.rugby}}
On 18 October 2022, Dyer was named in the Wales squad for the 2022 Autumn series.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-squad-announcement-live-updates-25287670|title=Wales autumn rugby squad announcement as Wayne Pivac names five uncapped players|work=Wales Online|date=18 October 2022|access-date=20 October 2022}} Dyer started against New Zealand on 5 November 2022, and scored the first try for Wales.{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-new-zealand-live-score-25442017|title=Wales v New Zealand Live: Score updates as Justin Tipuric and Rio Dyer claim tries|publisher=Wales Online|date=5 November 2022|access-date=5 November 2022}}
Dyer scored his second try for Wales in the final match of the series, a loss against Australia.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-26 |title=Wales 34-39 Australia: Autumn Nations Series – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2022/nov/26/wales-v-australia-autumn-nations-series-live-rugby-union |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
Owing to his continued good form, Dyer continued his involvement with the national side, and was named in the Welsh squad for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=Owens captains new 37-man Wales squad - Welsh Rugby Union |url=https://www.wru.wales/2023/01/owens-captains-new-37-man-wales-squad/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions |language=en-GB}} Dyer started the first two matches against Ireland and Scotland, but was dropped for the match against England, following Louis Rees-Zammit returning to fitness.
Recalled to the starting team against Italy, he scored his third try for Wales, and secured his first win for the national side.{{Cite news |title=Wales secure bonus-point win against Italy in Rome |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/64921012 |access-date=2023-03-11}} The following week Dyer scored again, against France, securing a try bonus point for Wales as they avoided a wooden spoon finish.{{Cite news |title=France beat Wales but Six Nations hopes dashed |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/64963382 |access-date=2023-03-18}}
Dyer was named in the Wales squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and appeared in all matches as Wales made the quarter final round.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=Wales reveal squad for Rugby World Cup 2023 - Welsh Rugby Union |url=https://www.wru.wales/2023/08/wales-reveal-squad-for-rugby-world-cup-2023/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Welsh Rugby Union {{!}} Wales & Regions |language=en-GB}}
Career statistics
= List of international tries =
{{International goals header|ref=no}}
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|1
|5 November 2022
|Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{ru|New Zealand}}
|style="text-align:center;"|5–17
|{{lost|23–55}}
|2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|26 November 2022
|Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{ru|Australia}}
|style="text-align:center;"|32–13
|{{lost|34–39}}
|2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|3
|11 March 2023
|Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy
|{{ru|Italy}}
|style="text-align:center;"|8–0
|{{win|29–17}}
|2023 Six Nations Championship
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|4
|18 March 2023
|Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
|{{ru|France}}
|style="text-align:center;"|26–41
|{{lost|28–41}}
|2023 Six Nations Championship
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|5
|3 February 2024
|Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{ru|Scotland}}
|style="text-align:center;"|10–27
|{{lost|26–27}}
|2024 Six Nations Championship
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|6
|10 March 2024
|Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
|{{ru|France}}
|style="text-align:center;"|8–0
|{{lost|24–45}}
|2024 Six Nations Championship
|}
{{as of|2024|03|10|lc=y}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- [https://www.wru.wales/player/rio-dyer/ Rio Dyer] at Welsh Rugby Union
- [https://www.dragonsrugby.wales/teams/player/dragons/181171/rio-dyer.html Dragons profile]
{{Dragons squad}}
{{Wales 2023 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dyer, Rio}}
Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen
Category:Rugby union players from Newport, Wales
Category:Welsh rugby union players
Category:Wales international rugby union players