With the countdown to pre-season games and the new United Rugby Championship campaign under way, we are sitting down with a number of our Dragons for a summer catch-up.
First up in the Friday Focus, we chat to young centre Aneurin Owen for the latest on his injury, his thoughts on our new Head Coach and what he hopes to learn from the new recruits…
Q. How has your summer been, and did you get much time off or were you working hard on the rehab?
A. I had two weeks off. I went away with the boys, which is good to get a mental break from it all, but the rest of the time has been at the training ground spending time rehabbing and trying to get back. It’s been a big focus of mine to get back for the new season.
There have been some physical goals, but the main aim was always to get back from the ankle injury and get back for pre-season. We are almost there now, which is obviously good news.
Q. How frustrating was it to miss the end of last season and when can we expect you back in full training?
A. I will be back for the start of the season, which is exciting, and this time out has certainly given me a greater appreciation of playing and how much you miss it when you are taken out of it. When you are watching other people train and play you realise how much you miss it and really enjoy it.
It’s been quite challenging watching the boys play, especially because you want to be out there so badly, but at the same time I have looked to put a positive spin on it. I’ve seen this period out as an opportunity to work on some physical goals.
I’ve done a lot of skills, a lot of weights and now that I am back running, a bit more conditioning. I’m feeling in a good place, and I just want to get back out there now. I certainly feel like I’ve done enough reps and so to get back out playing will be class.
Q. What has the vibe been like in pre-season and during these opening three weeks?
A. I think a few boys were a bit sketchy on the first week back with all the testing - but it’s been great to get back in! All the new boys are good guys who are eager to make an impression.
I’m enjoying getting to know them and building some new relationships. It’s all been positive; the boys are putting the hard work in and hopefully that will lead to a good start to our season.
Q. We also have a new Head Coach in Dai Flanagan. Enjoyed getting to work with him?
A. I worked with Dai before with the Under-20s with Wales, so I knew he was an unbelievable coach before he got here. When I got the chance to work with him before I learnt a lot from the way he ran an attack.
Dai gave me a great deal when I was learning my position. He gave me a lot of tools on how to play the game and what to look for alongside some tips. He’s a top guy as well so he has settled in well.
Q. Plenty of competition this season in the centre, especially with the arrival of Max Clark and Sio Tomkinson. How do you look at that challenge?
A. I’ve alluded to this before, but when Jamie (Roberts) and Nick (Tompkins) came in before I was a bit disappointed and maybe thought that competition would stop me playing. What I came to realise over that period of time is that competition is everything within a team and it pushes you on so much.
Every training session, every meeting, every weights session, every game, you are up against someone to get that spot. It gives you an extra 10 or 15 percent which is vital within a squad.
I have met them both and, having watched them the last few seasons at their clubs, they are really good players. I can only see that as a positive and it means it will push me harder. Someone like Sio comes from a very different competition in Super Rugby so it will be great to get his perspective on the game.
They are different types of players and I can learn off them and what they have done to adapt in different leagues. It’ll be great to start working with them more.
Q. Finally, it’s less than 50 days now until we tackle Bristol Bears in pre-season before facing Wasps the week after at Rodney Parade. Counting down the days yet?
A. It’s a 100 percent from me - I’m sure a lot of the boys are like that! There is no getting away from last season being disappointing for us. But fair play to our fans, they stood by us through thick and thin last season.
I don’t think we gave the best account of ourselves, that is everyone in the club, so I do feel a big anticipation here for the new season. Hopefully we can kick on.
We want to leave last season behind us, because we were all disappointed with how it went, and really try and push on and get some good results for our fans. We’re all looking forward to it starting.
