Ebbw Vale coach Nigel Davies believes his outside-half Josh Lewis deserves another crack at regional rugby.

Lewis – who combines his rugby with a job as a stone mason – has picked up the Principality Premiership Player of the Month award for October.

Having played at Ebbw Vale early in his career, 24-year-old Lewis spent the last three years at Llanelli and the Scarlets before returning to Eugene Cross Park last summer.

Having helped guide The Steelmen to a current spot of sixth in the Premiership table, former Wales assistant coach Davies says Lewis has been a key influence this season.

He said: “Josh is a natural athlete. He’s a high quality player who is eager to learn and could certainly step up to regional rugby.

“Due to injuries while at the Scarlets, he didn’t have a huge opportunity to show what he can do and the big thing this season was for him to enjoy his rugby again.

“We haven’t played to our potential yet, we’ve had to adapt due to injuries to key players, but that has helped to increase our strength in depth and give players exposure and game time. We’ve got some important wins under our belt recently, especially with some away wins over top eight contenders, but we’ve still got to improve our level of consistency and that starts with Bargoed at home on Friday evening.”

Lewis said: “There’s a good environment here at Ebbw Vale and I’m certainly enjoying my rugby this season.

“We had a blip at the start of the season but we’ve gelled well now. They are all key games from now on but we are determined to make the top eight and go on to retain the title.”