Captain Rhodri Williams believes refreshed Dragons can take renewed belief and momentum into the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup.
The new competition – set to feature all the PRO14 sides and four new South African giants - kicks=off at the end of this month.
Dragons will face three derby games in Round 1 to 3 and start by welcoming Scarlets – a former side of scrum half Williams – to Rodney Parade in the last weekend of April.
“We used to finish for the season on the first week of May but things change,” smiled Williams.
“It’s a new competition and one that we can get excited for.
“There are a few weeks to refresh mentally but we want to take the momentum from the end of the PRO14 and positives from the Northampton game into the Rainbow Cup.”
One positive for Williams in recent months has been the fresh competition for the starting nine jersey with new recruit Gonzalo Bertranou.
And he believes the arrival of the Argentina international has given him the impetus he needed to push his game to new levels.
“We are pushing each other and trying to get the best out of each other,” said Williams. “I’ve learnt some things from his game… I’m not sure he’s learnt a lot from me, but it’s good!
“Competition is needed at the highest level; you know that if you are not performing then somebody else will step in.
“Gonzalo has definitely pushed me and it’s given me a kick up the backside. That’s positive and it is good that we will be battling it out moving forward.
“We’ve got other scrum-halves pushing us two as well, so we are in a good place.”
There are a few weeks to refresh mentally but we want to take the momentum from the end of the PRO14 and positives from the Northampton game into the Rainbow Cup...
