Centre Aneurin Owen believes he is stronger for overcoming a challenging season disrupted by injury – as he bids to finish with a flourish at Judgement Day.
Dragons Academy product Owen made his successful comeback as a second half replacement in the BKT United Rugby Championship defeat at Ulster at Kingspan Stadium.
The 22-year-old was making just his fourth appearance of an injury ravaged campaign and admitted it was fantastic to be back in the mix after the toughest spell of his young career.
“Coming on in the second half I was buzzing; just to be back among the boys in the changing room was special,” said Owen.
“It has been a tough year for me, so to be back out was class and important.
“It’s been a frustrating season. Getting back and then being injured again, I’ve wanted to work hard but it was setback after setback.
“It has been one of the most challenging things I’ve had to do in my career.
“I feel like I’m in a better place coming back from it, and it has made me appreciate the atmosphere in stadiums, being part of the squad. It’s nice to be back.
“Walking around after the game, seeing how many people travelled out, the support makes such a difference,” he added.
“It means a huge amount that people have made that effort to come to Belfast and it was great to see so many. The support is always unreal.”
Owen was back in the fold in the challenging surroundings of the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast, but it was a recall that he relished.
And he reflected on a performance of positives after a second half resurgence.
“Coming to Ulster, second in the league, is special. The atmosphere was unreal,” he said.
“This is where we want to test ourselves and that is how we learn; we review and get better.
“The boys showed a lot of fight. We could have folded at 26-7 but we got back into it and with a bit more accuracy, the details we can get better under pressure, then we are not far away.
“We’ve got to be hard on each other because it is another loss. But we are knocking on the door with displays like thar and a lot is about playing under pressure.”
The Men of Gwent now finish the season with a clash against Scarlets at Judgement Day on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). And it is an occasion that Owen is eager to be a part of.
“Judgement Day is one you look forward to in the calendar and hopefully I can try and make it into the squad again,” he stated.
“There is a lot of competition around the place - that is driving is all on.
“It’s another big game against a Scarlets side that are going well.
“They are still in the (European) cup and are on a good run. It’s a big challenge for us.
“It’s another big week of preparation and we have got to work hard, test ourselves and push to get better, because when you face the good teams, you have got to be on it, or they punish you.
“Rhod (Williams) spoke after the Ulster game that we gave them too many entries into our 22 and they took them.
“We get one or two, we took one, but we have got to be accurate with all we get. There is always a work-on.”
I feel like I’m in a better place coming back from it, and it has made me appreciate the atmosphere in stadiums, being part of the squad. It’s nice to be back...
