Prop ace Leon Brown has vowed to keep his head down and improving his all-round game – after a successful return in the Guinness PRO14 for Dragons.
Brown was sadly overlooked by Wales for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, despite being part of the training squad and featuring in the warm-up Test with Ireland.
However, the 22-year-old from Maesglas has refused to be down over his omission and instead has put his focus on impressing with Dean Ryan’s men in the early weeks of the new campaign.
“If I can get out there every week, happy days. I want to keep plugging on and I doubt you will find a 22-year-old who is a seasoned prop or scrummager,” said Brown.
“Some people question my scrummaging a lot, but all I can do is keep playing and keep getting better.
“People have their opinions but don’t offer any help… maybe those who write about it can give me some tips!
“You’ve got to take criticism and there is no bigger critic than myself, I will just get on with it.”
Brown’s return with Dragons had been praised by boss Dean Ryan, who has highlighted the prop’s attitude and willingness to develop his game.
“He has been incredible,” said the Director of Dragons Rugby. “Coaching tighthead props can sometimes be quite difficult; they are quite closed in terms of what they know, but Leon has been incredibly open about how he can get better.”
And Brown admitted he had benefitted from the work with Forwards Coach and former Wales international Ceri Jones, since his return from international duty. Brown said:
“Since I have come back here we have broken my scrummaging down to see what I can do to make it better, and the whole scrum better.
“We’ve been working hard on it for two weeks and now it’s just about getting out there and practicing what I have been doing.
“I’ve been working with Ceri on staying square, working on different angles and my profile.
“Everyone has been working hard, there will be times when we come under pressure but as long as we have a steady foundation we will go alright.
“I have to be open after making mistakes and things going wrong,” he added.
“Nobody wants a tighthead in their team who can’t scrum and is giving away penalties all the time. I owe that to the people I play with, and myself.
“I am very competitive and I don’t like someone to have one up on me. I definitely want to be known as a strong scrummager.”
Watch Dean Ryan’s Dragons and Leon Brown in action this Friday evening against Connacht Rugby at Rodney Parade.
Tickets remain on sale NOW – Click HERE to buy online and join us at the home of the Dragons for the first home league game.
I have to be open after making mistakes and things going wrong... I am very competitive and I don’t like someone to have one up on me...
