AMONG the luxury cars parked in Ystrad Mynach while Newport Gwent Dragons are training is a rather more understated Ford Ka. Its owner is now a Wales international, but Cory Hill doesn’t plan to head to the showroom anytime soon.

In the autumn of 2013, the lock from Pontypridd agreed terms at Rodney Parade after a brief spell in the English Championship with Moseley.

Now 24, Hill will run out at Principality Stadium this afternoon to face Argentina and add to the cap that he won against Australia last weekend.

He woke up this morning at Wales’ plush Vale of Glamorgan headquarters and will have his pre-match meal with the likes of Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins, George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Alun Wyn Jones.

Hill, however, isn’t getting too big for his own boots and does a fine line in self-deprecation – a 4x4 with tinted isn’t on his wishlist just yet.

“I’m still keeping my feet firmly on the ground and driving around in my Ford Ka,” he said. “I get a lot of stick off the boys at the Dragons for my little run-around, the boys love it.

“The MOT isn’t up until February so I am going to dig in now… I couldn’t change it now because all the boys would get stuck into me and tell me I’ve changed!

“Luckily the Mrs has got a company car, a Golf, so I had that the first week with Wales. I rocked up in the Golf, bedded in and then brought the Ka in second week!”

Not that Hill expected to be heading to the Vale to be put through his paces by Rob Howley & Co this autumn.

The lock had been with his Dragons teammates as they licked their wounds in Krasnodar after a shock European Rugby Challenge Cup hammering by Enisei when he was given news to put a smile on his face.

“We were just sitting down for our after-match function in Russia. Kingsley (Jones, head coach) called me over and said that Rob Howley had been on the phone and I needed to be training on Monday,” he said.

“I was like ‘great, 24-hour journey, straight off the plane, couple of hours kip and off to the Vale’! But it was exciting.

"We weren’t celebrating much because we lost, so the beers were on hold anyway.”

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Hill made sure he arrived early on the Monday, being one of the first to enter the team room, and after impressing the coaches was made a full member of the squad by the Wednesday.

He said: “It was a massive achievement for me and a very proud moment, so I had an hour for it to sink in and then it was back on the training field.”

One of the first men to congratulate Hill on his selection was his old second row partner Andrew Coombs, who enjoyed a similar ascent to Test rugby.

Coombs was released by the Dragons academy before earning another pro deal at Rodney Parade and then winning 10 caps and a Six Nations title.

Whereas he had a spell as a software salesman, Hill never left the game and instead headed to Moseley in the English Championship after being cut by Cardiff Blues.

“It was a kick in the teeth to get released by the Blues and it was late in the year so clubs had all done their business. I took a step back in the Championship but I think I was stronger for that,” said Hill.

“There were a few Welsh boys at Moseley and we had a bit of a car crew with Rhys Buckley, Mike Powell, Ben Evans. It was a good experience and I enjoyed the short time I was there.”

Hill only spent a months in the West Midlands before the Dragons, then under the stewardship of Lyn Jones, came calling in the November of 2013.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind,” said Hill, who made 14 appearances in his first season at Rodney Parade. “I tried to get my head down at the Dragons and get regular rugby, which I’ve managed to do.”

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His exploits ensured that he was on the radar of Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde and, just like Coombs before him, Hill has grasped an opportunity that has arisen thanks to the misfortune of others.

“Everyone starts somewhere,” said the lock, who has now played 65 times for the Dragons. “There were one or two injuries and in I come, then it was just about expressing yourself.

“In training do everything right. Try not to overthink, just do your job right and do it well to impress the coaches.

“It’s about getting your foot in the door, then you never know what can happen. I’m still here now in the second week and I’m on the bench again.”

Like a batsman in the nervous 90s, Hill is relieved to have a swift chance to add to his appearance against the Wallabies.

“You get your first cap and don’t want to be stuck on one,” he said. “I’m involved again on the bench against Argentina and hope to get some game time.

“I enjoyed it against Australia, the game was more or less gone so it was a bit different and open. Luckily we had a bit of ball while I was on.”

He continued: “It was great for me to get my first cap but then we lost a game of rugby and I’m not a loser, I was hurting as much as anyone else. We’ve had a really solid week of training and we can hopefully put the wrongs right.

“It’s a massive step up in intensity but it’s still just lineout, scrum, attack and defence. You just get your head around it, learn the calls and job because there are 14 other international rugby players around you doing theirs.”

The Dragons will testify that Hill, like his Ka, may not be flash but he is certainly dependable.