He will be over 10,000 miles from home this Christmas time, but prop Mesake Doge admits he will not be feeling homesick this festive period as part of the Dragons family.
The popular Fiji international is spending his first Christmas as a Dragon in Wales and has spoken about how he is enjoying the festivities with his new team-mates.
Doge is yet to decide where to spend the big day - but is not short of offers from his colleagues to celebrate with their families.
“It’s normally warm weather at Christmas time back in Fiji and it’s mostly about celebration, because we come from a Christian country,” revealed the 28-year-old.
“It’s about getting together as a family, plenty of food and enjoying the company of each other. It does mean a lot to us celebrating Christmas at home.
“I’ve been getting a lot of invitations from the boys for this Christmas, to be fair,” he added.
“I feel very at home here and everyone has been inviting me over and asking me where I am going to go. It is nice to have that support.
“It certainly feels very Christmassy here - because it is cold! I’m trying my best to keep warm inside the house after training, but I am really enjoying it here.”
Dragons have been looking to try and enjoy some festive spirit this week - despite the disappointment of the news that the Boxing Day clash against the Ospreys has been postponed.
The squad have enjoyed the annual fun of Secret Santa and even a healthy Christmas dinner – as part of the region’s bubble - at the training base in Ystrad Mynach.
And tighthead Doge admits he is loving the team culture at the Dragons and those special moments leading up to the Christmas period.
“We’ve done Secret Santa this week - it’s been some fun. I love the surprise that you don’t know who is getting you the present,” he smiled.
“Seeing the boys get excited and buying each other stuff is special. My Secret Santa got me a cross which is very special to me - the thought of someone getting me something so personal is touching.
“I like the traditions here with the boys and the social side is great, it brings togetherness and brings us alive.
“The culture is massively different to my previous environments. I love it here because back in Fiji there isn’t much socialising outside of training or games, but here the boys are very close and a tight group.
Doge continued: “We do the Lovo (feast of food) in Fiji on Christmas, like we did for the kit launch day at Rodney Parade. That is something that is unique that I can bring over here from back home.
“Christmas is very special at home, but also different to here. Presents for example. You get gifts if you can, but just to be around family is enough and that’s how I feel here at Dragons.”
You get gifts if you can, but just to be around family is enough and that’s how I feel here at Dragons...
