Barry Maddocks has backed new signing Jonah Holmes to have a big impact at Dragons – admitting that Sam Davies showed him the blueprint for success this season.
Wales international Holmes has signed up with Dragons on a long-term deal after being released from the final year of his contract with Leicester Tigers.
Maddocks is looking forward to working with the versatile back when the team are able to return to training.
And he knows the impact that Davies made is the path to follow for the new recruit.
“Jonah is a big signing and, of course, you only have to look at what Sam (Davies) did last year,” said Maddocks, speaking on the rugby podcast for BBC Cymru.
“He’s made an excellent impression at the region and made a real difference to the group.
“We had that leadership and experience off someone like Sam and Jonah will once again bring that from where he has been playing.
“He can play in multiple positions too, which will be very important. Everything is looking very positive going forward.”
Looking ahead to a potential playing resumption in August and aead to next season, Maddocks is confident the region are on the right path under Dean Ryan.
“This is my fourth season here and last year we made a big leap forward,” he said.
“The plan now is to have players like Jonah and a couple of other players come in and make an impact. “It’s starting to progress and get to the point where Dean sees the Dragons going forward.”
Dragons are set to resume training soon with a target date of mid-August for Guinness PRO14 games and any potential European Challenge Cup knockout fixture with Bristol Bears also to look fowerad to.
And Maddocks is full of praise for the way the players have adapted to the situation.
“The players have all been great,” he said. “Someone like Ollie (Griffiths) can’t stop, he always has to be doing something all the time, lifting weights or going for a run.
“Through social media you get to see a day in the life a bit for some of the players, which is interesting.
“The hard part to begin with was not knowing when we woud be back,” he added.
“It now looks like an August playing return now so at least there is that starting point for everyone to look at.”
We had that leadership and experience off someone like Sam and Jonah will once again bring that from where he has been playing...
