Mention Bridgend and Tondu in a rugby context and the memory conjures visions of J.P.R. Williams. The former Wales and Lions full back played for both clubs during the 1970s and 1980s and was turning out in the back row for Tondu 3rd XV as he passed his half-century. But a younger generation will think of another former Tondu player who lives in Bridgend, Lee Byrne, the full back who blossomed during Wales's 2008 grand-slam success.

Throughout this year there has been a sense of Byrne as a man whose time has come, through accident as well as design. Not content with his leading role, including three tries, during Wales's ascent to glory in March, he has started this season where he left off, helping the Ospreys to the top of the Magners League, and is preparing to begin his team's defence in Swansea on Sunday of the EDF Energy Cup grasped from Leicester in April.

Byrne's form has made a mockery of the decision not to include him in Wales's abortive World Cup campaign in 2007, but, curiously, it may have been the making of him. “When I missed out on the World Cup, I wanted to make a statement,” he said. “I went back to the Ospreys and the coaches said I could either go on a downward spiral or we can push you back up the ladder. I had to keep a positive attitude.”

It had been Byrne's misfortune to play in the weakened Wales team who were thrashed 62-5 by England at Twickenham in a World Cup warm-up match. But the departure of Gareth Jenkins as coach after the World Cup, the retirement of Gareth Thomas - one of the two full backs, along with Kevin Morgan, to play in the global tournament - changed the landscape. Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards arrived with a preparedness to select on form, knowing little and caring less about recent history.

The combination has helped to make Byrne one of the leading candidates for next year's Lions tour to South Africa. Edwards, the Wales assistant coach, attributes Byrne's development to the player's hard work. “He's a very coachable player is Lee,” he said. “Perhaps he used to get a bit too aroused, but he's got all the skills you need.”

Byrne has even picked up one of Edwards's habits, of reading a book in the changing-room before a match to keep himself focused. At the moment it is Shane Warne's autobiography. “The boys take the mickey, but it calms me down a lot,” Byrne said.

We are used to Wales producing young players, apparently fully formed, at the drop of a hat. Byrne, 28, is not one of those. There were no schoolboy international appearances and although he won 14 caps between 2005 and 2007, his move from the Scarlets to the Ospreys two years ago has been the making of him.

He has developed greater self-confidence playing alongside fine players from around the world - Justin Marshall and Marty Holah, as well as Shane Williams, James Hook and Gavin Henson. “I believe in myself more,” Byrne said. That confidence grew when Gatland chose him to play against England in February, with 12 other Ospreys players in the starting XV.

“Warren said a lot of people had told him not to pick me, but he made up his own mind,” Byrne said. It is the kind of gesture that can make players and Byrne's response was immediate: a try at Twickenham, where Wales had not won for 20 years.

Byrne missed the summer tour to South Africa to have a knee-cartilage operation and plays down any notion that he can make up for that with the Lions. “That's in the back of your mind, but there's a lot of rugby to be played - the EDF Cup starts at the weekend and we're not going to give that away lightly,” he said. “I realise I need to be even better, that I need to keep learning all the time. I set high standards for myself.”

Such an approach has placed Byrne on the path that made J.P.R. Williams a legend on the Lions tours in 1971 and 1974.

Contenders

There are few prominent challengers yet to play full back for the Lions, but here are some:

Rob Kearney Outstanding for Ireland in Australasia during the summer, but has to play No15 against the claims of Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy.

Rory Lamont Sharing duties for Sale Sharks with Mathew Tait, but if Scotland give him his head, he could be formidable in the role.

Danny Cipriani England will play him at fly half, but there will be competition from players such as James Hook and Ronan O'Gara. Ian McGeechan converted Neil Jenkins into a full back in 1997 and the Lions beat South Africa.