Dean Ryan has commended the eye-catching development of Ellis Shipp over the last 12 months – with the hooker encapsulating the progress he wants from his young players.
Academy product Shipp produced an impressive display from the bench last weekend in the Guinness PRO14 derby draw with Ospreys and has now clocked up 20 appearances for Dragons.
The former Wales Under-20s ace, who signed a new deal on May, is challenging internationals Elliot Dee and Richard Hibbard for game time.
And Director of Dragons Rugby Ryan believes the way the 23-year-old has changed the way he trains and thinks about the game is paying dividends.
"I am really pleased with his progress," said Ryan. "Ellis captures the change here in the way that he is going about his business.
“He was on the fringes of the squad but has changed the way that he trains and thinks about the game.
“He has taken his opportunities and is very much a competitive part of the squad now. There is real debate about who starts and there is some really good competition.
“I commend Ellis for his work because there have been a number of people who have said they knew him as an age-grade player but something has changed.
“He is doing thing differently to be better and Ellis deserves all the credit for getting himself into that space.”
Shipp’s accuracy has been pinpointed by Ryan as a key asset with the front rower allowing others around him to play.
“He is very accurate,” said Ryan. “The first thing for any youngster to know is that if you are accurate it allows the other 14 people to play.
“You can be the best rugby player in the world, but if you are not accurate at hooker then nobody else can play.
“I think he is growing in confidence. He is a really good footballer, but in your first few games you are not going to run around trying to do all the bits and pieces.
“Ellis showed some nice touches on the weekend (against Ospreys) just moving the ball around.
“He has got himself in better condition. He is more physical, more durable and he is not under as much stress in terms of fatigue.
“It’s a real credit to him for the changes he has made over the last 12 months.
“We need competition,” added Ryan.
“A lot gets said about individuals and we talk about Jamie Roberts, but look what it does to Jack Dixon. Those are really positive influences.
“Competition is great. I have never, in anytime in the last 20 years, shifted a player from coaching as much as competition does.
“Getting stronger in more positions is exactly where I want the Dragons to be. Having difficulties in selection is where I want to be.”
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Ellis captures the change here in the way that he is going about his business...
