Rising star Aneurin Owen has vowed to keep his head down and keep on learning as he continues to enjoy a strong campaign with Dragons.
The Dragons Academy product has had a breakthrough season for Dean Ryan’s men making 10 appearances in all competitions after his debut in the European clash away at Bordeaux-Begles.
The 20-year-old is eager to keep taking the opportunities that come his way and learn from the senior stars around him.
And when it comes to looking any further ahead the level-headed and modest centre has vowed to keep his feet on the floor.
He said: "I've had to wait quite a long time to get my opportunity but when it came, I felt ready just from the year that's happened, training and learning off the likes of Jamie (Roberts) and Nick (Tompkins).
"My focus was on getting better. I thought that'd be through getting a couple of starts for the Dragons but I found real improvements by just learning off them and being around them in training."
Former Wales and British & Irish Lions ace Jamie Roberts has joked this season that Owen is "annoying as hell" when it comes to asking lots of questions – but the is little chance of the young gun changing his ways.
"You get a British and Irish Lion and Welsh international who's in the exact same position as you, why not use him? I think I'd see it as a wasted opportunity if I wasn't asking everything,” smiled Owen.
"Jamie's not the set way of how things are done, you're just getting his experiences on things, what worked for him, what didn't work for him, what he finds are the fundamentals to get in your game. It's just talking, learning and sharing experience he's had.
"It's been class - same for Nick, really. He's been unbelievable with me as well. Getting the knowledge from both of them has been class."
Owen will start again for Dragons on Sunday afternoon when they face regional rivals Scarlets at Rodney Parade in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup. And Owen is eager to cap off 2021 and an unusual season on a high.
He added: "It's been a weird [season], a lot of different emotions throughout the season, but a positive one looking back, just trying to keep that momentum now.
"I've had to wait a long time but I had in the back of my mind I'll just keep working hard.
“It's been really nice to get a run of games and be involved in the starting team and be amongst some good players who have got a lot of experience.
"I've stopped university now just so I can fully concentrate on this, just try and push it to the next level now, hopefully every week just try and get a little bit better. We'll see where it takes us."
It's been really nice to get a run of games and be involved in the starting team and be amongst some good players who have got a lot of experience...
