Elliot Dee is determined to put the injury frustrations of the last 18 months behind him after signing a new deal with his home club – and vowed to give everything to help Dragons keep improving.
Popular front row Dee joined the likes of Harrison Keddie, Jack Dixon, Joe Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ollie Griffiths and Ashton Hewitt in agreeing new contracts with the Men of Gwent last week.
The 29-year-old – a product of the Dragons Academy system – has already clocked up an impressive 142 games since his senior debut back in 2016 to stand 13th in the all-time appearance maker charts.
But the Wales international hooker concedes it has been a difficult time with injuries over the last two campaigns – with the front row restricted to ten appearances this season.
Dee is now eager to now put that behind him and look forward with renewed determination to achieve under Dai Flanagan.
“It’s been a tough 18 months with a lot of niggles, and I haven’t been able to hit my stride,” he said.
“I am happy with where we are at the Dragons and I enjoy going to work again, and I am proud to wear the jersey.
“I think the most games I’ve strung together over the past two seasons is five, that’s not enough to find form.
“I still feel I’ve got a lot to offer in a Dragons jersey with a lot of milestones to hit. I want to keep playing with the boys that I came through with and see some good times.
“The contract is definitely a weight off my shoulders,” he added.
“It’s been a long time and a lot of uncertainty; I don’t just have me to think about now but a young family.
“There is nothing better than playing for your home club that means a lot to you, so I intend to give it my all for the next two seasons and then hopefully go again.”
Dee grabbed two tries in the recent EPCR Challenge Cup defeat to Glasgow Warriors – but admits his double was no consolation after a difficult night that saw 14-men Dragons crash out of the tournament.
And the Newbridge-born front row insists only hard work and sticking together as a squad will see the club move forward.
“We were upset with the performance at Glasgow,” he said. “There is no question about effort, we give our all every time that we pull the jersey on, we fly into everything.
“I am still so proud to be part of this group and represent my home club, but we must be better.
“There is a clear vision of what we want to achieve. Dai is a good guy, a caring guy,” he added.
“As players, there has to be accountability on us. We don’t want to be coming up to places like Glasgow and losing heavily.
“We want to fight our way up the table. We all want to win, and we have the right environment now. We must knuckle down and get it right.”
There is nothing better than playing for your home club that means a lot to you, so I intend to give it my all for the next two seasons and then hopefully go again...
