Steff Hughes might have been named as the new captain at Dragons RFC, but he is under no illusions over the size of the battle for midfield shirts this season.
Hughes admits it will be a ‘huge honour’ if he runs out as captain when Dragons launch the new BKT United Rugby Championship season on home soil this weekend.
The Men of Gwent face Edinburgh Rugby on Saturday (kick-off 3.05pm) in the opening game of the 23/24 campaign.
But the midfielder knows holding into a starting spot will be no walk in the park with the new Dragons captain hailing the next generation.
The emergence of the likes of Harri Ackerman and Joe Westwood in the last 12 months has only intensified that battle for a jersey.
And that fierce competition was only reinforced when Max Clark joined Cardiff Rugby on loan to get game time.
“There is real competition in midfield – and you wouldn’t want it any other way. It'll bring the best out in all of us,” said Hughes.
“You look at our midfielders and the younger boys coming through, there's some brilliant options. They're great players.
“Us competing together every day, against each other, is only going to bring the best out in each other.
“My focus is playing as well as I can and helping those boys and everyone else in the team as much as I can.
“You look at Aneurin Owen, Harri Ackerman and Joe Westwood – all three are brilliant talents who are going to be shining for the club in the future,” he added.
“We will look at how they train and someone like Westy who has played with the Wales 20s and he's playing for Newport RFC now. Aneurin has proved at this level how good he can be.
“Then you add Sio (Tomkinson), Jack (Dixon) and myself in there, we're very lucky. I just think having that competition is brilliant for us.
“You look at the best teams in the league over the last few years. Look at Leinster’s squad, the competition there is astronomical. Why can we now have that?
“The younger players in the club have really impressed with. How they prepare, how professional they are their work ethic, how much they want to learn.
“It our job as senior players to help them, give them opportunities to do so.
“You look at our backline when we train against each other, it's a really good standard and really competitive.
“I am excited about what we can achieve as a backline this year and how we can go about playing.”
It is set to be a busy opening month for Dai Flanagan’s men in Newport with four out of the opening five games at Rodney Parade.
And that presents at opportunity that Hughes – named new captain this summer with Rhodri Williams, Angus O’Brien, George Nott and Harri Keddie as he deputies – wants to grasp with both hands.
He said: “The first block is big and a brilliant opportunity to play four from five games at home. I don't think that fixture list happens very often.
“We've spoken a lot about just really given that our all, getting a good start on the weekend and then building from that.
“It then it builds a bit of momentum moving forward, especially going away to Munster, and then going to South Africa after that first block.”
Tickets for the Edinburgh and Caridff Rugby games are on sale NOW – click HERE to buy online or call the Ticket Office team on 01633 670 690 during office hours.
Season Memberships for the 2023/24 season are remain on sale NOW! Click HERE to buy today!
You look at Aneurin Owen, Harri Ackerman and Joe Westwood – all three are brilliant talents who are going to be shining for the club in the future...
