Dragons RFC are delighted to confirm that EIGHT players – with over 1,000 senior appearances between them - have agreed new deals to extend their stay at Rodney Parade.
The Men of Gwent are pleased to today confirm that captain Harrison Keddie, Elliot Dee, Jack Dixon, Joe Davies, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ollie Griffiths and Ashton Hewitt have all agreed new contracts with the club.
Lock Matthew Screech will also remain at Dragons for another campaign after terms were agreed to extend his loan spell with us.
The eight players represent the very core of the squad at Dragons RFC with 1,078 senior appearances to date between them.
Seven are already club centurions with Ollie Griffiths (99 games) set to complete the set and join the 100 Club next season.
All eight have also already accumulated over a decade of service with the club or will have done so within the terms of their new contracts.
Head Coach Dai Flanagan said: “We’re delighted that these eight key players, who form part of the core group here, have agreed new terms to remain with us at Dragons RFC.
“We want to build our club around these local boys who are proud to represent us and who want to stand for something special. All these players embody that pride, with Matthew and Lloyd honorary Men of Gwent.
“We’re extremely pleased to now secure their futures and thank them all for their patience and professionalism throughout this difficult period.”
Jack Dixon (168 appearances) – Dragons Cap 166
Jack Dixon became the youngest player to make a Welsh regional appearance when he came off the bench in the LV= Cup win away at Wasps in October 2011, aged just 16 years 313 days.Newbridge-born Dixon broke the record set by team-mate Hallam Amos just 33 minutes earlier, when he had started the game. Dixon, 28, hit a century of appearances for Dragons in December 2018 when he faced Northampton in Europe and now stands fifth in the all-time list – the most games ever played by a centre at the club.
Lloyd Fairbrother (162 appearances) – Dragons Cap 201
Prop powerhouse Lloyd Fairbrother, 31, has made over 150 appearances at Dragons and is a true cornerstone of the pack. Born in Cornwall, Fairbrother joined Dragons in the summer of 2014 and made his debut against Connacht later that year. The hugely popular figure hit the hundred game milestone in the 2018/19 season away at Franklin’s Gardens against Northampton Saints and is now seventh in the all-time appearance list.
Elliot Dee (141 appearances) – Dragons Cap 187
Elliot Dee, 29, is a product of the Dragons Academy who made his senior debut as a replacement against Leicester Tigers in November 2016. He was included in the Wales senior squad for the first time for the 2017 Autumn Series and made his debut off the bench in the win over Georgia in November of that year. Dee has already earned 41 caps for his country and has clocked up an impressive 141 games to date for the Men of Gwent.
Ashton Hewitt (115 appearances) – Dragons Cap 191
Ashton Hewitt is regarded as one of the most potent finishers in Welsh rugby with his electric pace and powerful running. He came through the Academy ranks at Dragons and made his regional debut in 2013. The 28-year-old has gone on to make over a century of appearances for his home club and is the third highest try scorer in our history with 34 scores.
Joe Davies (114 appearances) – Dragons Cap 188
Dragons Academy product Joe Davies, 27, made his senior debut in 2013, in a regional derby against Scarlets in the LV=Cup. A true stalwart for the region in recent years, the ever-dependable lock went past a century of appearances last season and currently stands on 114 games to date.
Harrison Keddie (107 appearances) – Dragons Cap 224
Versatile back row Harrison Keddie, 26, made his debut for Dragons in 2016 against Zebre Rugby. The Dragons Academy product was named co-captain this season – alongside Will Rowlands – and made his 100th appearance for the club earlier this season against Ospreys.
Ollie Griffiths (99 appearances) – Dragons Cap 209
Dynamic back row Ollie Griffiths, 28, made his debut in 2014 against Ulster. A product of the Dragons Academy, the Newbridge-born forward was named in the Wales squad to tour Tonga and Samoa in 2017, making his international debut against Tonga in Auckland. Griffiths stands just one game from a century for Dragons – when he will become the 34th player to achieve that feat.
Matthew Screech (172 appearances) – Dragons Cap 182
Matthew Screech, 30, joined Dragons in the 2013/14 season and made his debut against Ulster at Rodney Parade in 2013. Regarded as an honorary Gwent man, Screech has become a mainstay on the pack at Dragons and currently stands fourth in the club’s all-time appearance maker charts with an impressive 171 games to date.
The eight players represent the very core of the squad at Dragons RFC with 1,078 senior appearances to date between them...
