Ashton Hewitt (born 20 November 1994) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Dragons regional team, having previously played for Cross Keys RFC and Newport RFC. He is a Wales under-20 international. Hewitt made his Dragons debut in an LV Cup match against the Scarlets on 8 November 2013.
| Birth name | Ashton Hewitt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 20 November 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Newport, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (14 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Caerleon Comprehensive School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hewitt is executive chairman of the Welsh Rugby Players Association.[1] He is outspoken against racism, supporting racial justice and also advocates for Welsh independence.
International
editHe was named in the Wales squad for the uncapped international versus the Barbarians on 30 November 2019.[2]
Personal life
editHewitt was born and raised in Newport to a British-Jamaican father and a white mother,[3] and started playing rugby at Harriers RFC. As well as pursuing a career in professional sport, he holds a degree in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Youth Justice from the University of South Wales.[4]
Following the mass support of the Black Lives Matter movement in the US and Britain, he has openly supported racial justice and has spoken out about racist abuse he has received. He has also called the rugby authorities to have a stronger stance against racial discrimination, particularly after Argentina's captain Pablo Matera was suspended due to racist tweets.[5][6]
Hewitt supports Welsh independence and has said that "there's more reasons to be yes than no".[7]
References
edit- ^ "Contract fears could spark Welsh player exodus". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Wayne Pivac: New Wales head coach picks McNicholl and Halaholo in first squad". BBC Sport. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Ashton Hewitt: 'People think rugby doesn't have society's problems'". the Guardian. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Ashton Hewitt: LV= Cup invaluable for Dragons' young guns". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Media, P. A. (29 December 2020). "Argentina's Pablo Matera ordered to undergo anti-discrimination training". the Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Ashton Hewitt: 'People think rugby doesn't have society's problems'". the Guardian. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "'There's more reason to be yes than no' says rugby star on Welsh Independence". Nation.Cymru. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2022.