Josh Hathaway: Gloucester wing targets more Wales caps

Hathaway admitted he learned valuable lessons in Australia.

“The main thing was how physical and quick the game can be,” said Hathaway.

“The Premiership is a great standard and you can never fault it. But when you go and play international rugby in Australia against the likes of Tom Wright and Andrew Kellaway, you learn off them while you’re playing against them, that’s the big thing.

“Playing also with Liam Williams and Gareth Davies, people I’ve looked up to since I started out in rugby, and getting to train and even spend time around camp with them was amazing.”

Hathaway enjoyed a meteoric rise that helped fill the Gloucester void left by the departed Louis Rees-Zammit during the last campaign.

“It all started with Hartpury and then when I signed here with Gloucester, George [Skivington] gave me the opportunity,” said Hathaway.

“How quick things have turned around from me playing at Hartpury to making my [Gloucester] debut on a Friday night against Saracens at Kingsholm.

“Everything happened so quickly, I’m still processing it. Hopefully I can get more appearances, push on for what I want and we get some good results.”

Hathaway knows he will not be as much of a surprise package this season.

“You don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself,” said Hathaway.

“You want to be thinking it’s just another game. That was my mindset last year going into the summer and it’ll be the same this year.

“If people want to see me as a marked man, they can come but we’ve got the players and experience around me to put me in that space and give me the ball. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”