The names of knee injury victims Ellis Jenkins and Aaron Shingler immediately spring to mind when considering Welsh rugby’s unluckiest player.
Others may suggest it’s Rhys Webb, with his seemingly harsh exile from international rugby still a topic of hot debate.
And Leigh Halfpenny, who like scrum-half Webb missed the 2015 World Cup through injury, was sidelined for months as he recovered from his latest concussion.
But it can be argued Ashton Hewitt possesses the unwanted label after being on the cusp of Wales honours only for his dream of being in Warren Gatland's squad for the World Cup to go up in smoke, not just once but three times.
The speed machine was ruled out of the 2017 Six Nations and end of term Tests with Tonga and Samoa after suffering a concussion against the Ospreys. Hewitt later admitted keeping the symptoms a secret.
Hewitt returned the following campaign and was named in Gatland’s party for last year’s June Test victories over South Africa and Argentina.
But he never got on the plane taking Wales to Washington to face the Springboks after coming off worse during a training ground collision with his Dragons teammate Elliot Dee. You can read what happened here.
The knock-on effect was traumatic with Hewitt needing two operations and being forced to sit out all of last season.
Hewitt exonerated crest-fallen Wales Grand Slam winner Dee of blame for the injury, pointing out: "I didn’t get my tackle technique as good as it should have been and I ended up worse for wear."
It was the second time Hewitt had dislocated his right shoulder – he needed a reconstruction the first time – but any fears over his playing career have subsided.
"It was the same shoulder but a different procedure, and hopefully it should be stronger than ever," Hewitt has revealed.
"I’m sure my luck will change and I hope to get that chance of international rugby again. It’s my biggest aim. I’ve had a taste and I’d love to get back involved."
He’s only 24 despite seeming to have been around for years with 21 tries in 72 appearances for the Dragons and is fired up to convince the Gwent region's new director of rugby Dean Ryan of his worth after being offered and signing a new contract.
"The boys have a point to prove – especially me. We’ve got new boys coming in who might not know how I play and I don’t know if Dean has seen me play. I need to impress," Hewitt told the South Wales Argus .
"It would have been easy for me to lose my head a bit when I found out that I needed to have another operation.
"You do worry; there are days when you’re fine and there are days when you’re not so fine.
"You’ve just got to deal with it and be as professional as you can be. I feel I have learnt a lot from this period.
"I’ve missed quite a bit of rugby, but that can happen in sport and you have to stay positive and look forward. It’s about how you come back from that."
