Richard Hibbard believes Dragons have benefitted from a ‘summer of learning’ under new boss Dean Ryan – and revealed how he is up for the fight once again this season.
Experienced hooker Hibbard is ready set to start a second campaign at Rodney Parade, after enjoying a strong pre-season under new Director of Dragons Rugby, Ryan.
Speaking about the prospects for the season, Hibbard acknowledges there is no quick fix and change will take time.
However, he believes the squad are already making huge strides and have now been given the tools to produce on the field when the Guinness PRO14 kicks off later this month.
“It’s been a good summer of learning. There have been a few changes around the place and that can be a very good thing,” he said.
“Dean has come in and has been good for us. When he arrived he said it was not about giving us a quick fix. It’s not simply fix this and that and then you are sorted. It is not as easy as that.
“He’s been more about building confidence and a lot of it is us stepping back and saying ‘what do we do well’. It’s a change of mind set.
“It’s about being open to learning - and he has coached us at a hell of a fast pace. It’s being able to play at that high intensity.
“We cannot just worry about mistakes, they happen to any team, and instead we must focus on the next thing we do well.
“Last year you could see when we made a mistake we could go in our shells for ten minutes and that would cost us. Now it’s about learning and moving on.
“I’ve been in these rebuild phases a few times and it doesn’t just come overnight,” he stressed. “It will take a while with new game plans, new coaches, new players.
“I don’t expect us to flick a switch come the start of the season and for us to be challenging for the Guinness PRO14 and Europe. It is not going to be as easy as that.
“It’s not a flash in the pan change that Dean is looking to make. He is looking further down the line, further away than me, and it will come into fruition in a few years.
"It’s now that we lay the foundations, because without them everything will fall down.”
Hibbard's hunger for the sport shows no signs of letting up with his desire and determination to improve as strong as ever.
And there is no doubt that he is revelling in the battle for the No.2 shirt at Dragons.
“I’ve loved seeing the competition coming through - it is all about the next generation,” he said.
“The jersey is never yours. No matter where you are in your career, you are just passing through it. The next bloke is always coming up the hill. That is what keeps you fresh, what keeps pushing you, having that challenge.
“I’ve got two years left here and I will see it out. My body feels great and the conditioning here, with the physios, is very good.
“I do love a challenge and like to be written off. It is the fight in the corner that I like.”
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I do love a challenge and like to be written off. It is the fight in the corner that I like...
