Welsh international lock Ben Carter is raring to go for the 2021/2022 United Rugby Championship campaign following his summer with Wales.
Carter had a breakthrough season culminating in a call up to Wales Head Coach Wayne Pivac’s squad for the summer internationals.
The 20-year-old went on to start in all three tests including a man of the match performance on his debut against Canada.
The Caldicot born second row admits it was a dream to wear the Wales jersey but is now ready and raring to go after some time off.
“My summer was really good, I had that sort of a surprise with Wales and got a lot of involvements in that so that was really enjoyable and I learnt a lot” said the three timed capped Welsh international.
“Playing on that stage and wearing the Wales jersey is something that has been a dream, so it was a brilliant experience, and it was good to test myself against some really quality opposition.
“So first week back in now from what was a really good four weeks off, where I chilled out, relaxed and now I’m raring to go into the new season.”
Dragons supporters got a preview of what the second row partnership could look like for the region this season with Carter partnered with new signing Will Rowlands while on international duty.
Rowlands joined the region from English Premiership outfit Wasps and has linked up with his new team-mates this week.
Carter admits he enjoyed playing alongside the ten timed capped Welsh international and is hopeful they can continue their relationship and have a great season in the United Rugby Championship.
“It was really good playing with Will, we get on really well and it was nice to get a jump on that partnership and see what it would be like playing with him.
“I am really looking forward to playing with him and everyone else in the new season and hopefully have a good year together.”
“I’m just looking forward to seeing the supporters really, we only had that one game against Leinster away that we played in front of fans and there wasn’t any Dragons fans there.
“So I’m looking forward to playing in front of them and hopefully we can put in some good performances that they’ll be excited to watch.”
The 6”5 lock has re-joined the squad for pre-season this week after a month off following his international exploits.
Carter admits it’s been tough, but they need to get back into the swing of things quickly with the new season just around the corner.
But he admits he’s excited at the prospect of new opposition in the United Rugby championship and can’t wait to test himself against the powerful South Africans with the hope of another Welsh call up in the Autumn.
“First week back has been good, they are looking after us and easing us back in but it’s going to be tough, and we got two weeks until the first game so we will have to ramp it up and get up to speed.
“We have had a good four weeks relaxing, we need to get back up and running, but this week has been good, seen some faces we haven’t seen for a while and hopefully see some more next week.”
“The new league looks brilliant, the second row is quite a physical position to be in so you know what the South African sides are going to bring, and it will be tough, they will physical so it will be a good test.
“It will be good to play against some new opposition and change things up, it’s really exciting and looking forward to it.”
He continued “I always say I want to be enjoying my rugby and I really enjoyed it with Wales so that is something that I want to try and stay involved in but it’s about putting in the hard work now and hoping that hard work takes care of that, and then give it my best.”
