Centre Aneurin Owen cannot wait to get back out in front of the Rodney Parade faithful and put in a performance – after over 12 months since his last appearance in the league on home soil.
The 23-year-old lines up at inside centre – alongside captain Steff Hughes – as the Men of Gwent tackle Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship on Sunday (kick-off 1.15pm).
It will end a wait of over a year to run out in Newport for a league fixture - and first start March 2022 – as he draws a line under the injury torment of recent times.
Owen was restricted to just five appearances for the Dragons in 2022/23 after suffering a serious knee injury against the DHL Stormers in Port Elizabeth last December.
The homegrown ace made his return off the bench at the end of last season in the league away encounters with Ulster and Scarlets – but he knows the game with Leinster marks a major milestone as he starts on home soil.
“I love playing at Rodney Parade. I grew up watching games there and the crowd are brilliant,” he said.
“We felt against Cardiff and Edinburgh we were a bit neutral. We couldn't put out what we wanted to put out there as best as possible.
“I feel now we've now got two great opportunities to go out there and play the way we want to play, put our best foot forward in terms of performances and hopefully the results will take care of themselves.
“I absolutely love playing at home, love the crowd, love the atmosphere. It’s just about us putting a performance in now,” he added.
“Leinster are a class team. They have multi options, speed of ball, superstars everywhere.
“We know it's going be a big challenge, but we also feel if we can get our stuff right, we can fire some shots at them.”
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I feel now we've now got two great opportunities to go out there and play the way we want to play, put our best foot forward in terms of performances and hopefully the results will take care of themselves...
