He was selected for Charlie Newman's Wales team to face England in the opening match of the 1886 Home Nations Championship.

Lewis was one of four new caps brought into the Welsh pack, alongside fellow Cardiff team-mate George Young, Llanelli's Evan Roberts and Swansea's William Bowen.

Wales lost the match narrowly, but the selectors kept faith with Lewis for the next game against Scotland.

With Newman unavailable, the captaincy was passed to Frank Hancock, the Cardiff centre known for introducing the new back formation at club level.

With six Cardiff players in the team, including Lewis, it was seen as a good time to experiment the system at international level.