Ryan Woodman can’t wait to “get stuck into Cardiff” in front of a sell-out Rodney Parade crowd this Boxing Day.
The former Wales Under-20s captain has played in all but one of Dragons RFC’s games this season and despite being only 20 is fast becoming a key member of Interim Head Coach Filo Tiatia’s pack.
After starting at six last week, Woodman will step into the second row to face Cardiff, a position where he has played several times including for Wales U20s in the 2023 Six Nations.
Whilst 6ft 5in Woodman admits he prefers playing at six, the prospect of playing in front of a sell-out Rodney Parade crowd for the first time is an exciting opportunity.
“I missed out on the last festive game when it was a sell-out crowd at Rodney Parade,” said Woodman. “I'm looking forward to playing in front of that crowd.”
“Against Cardiff last month they scored all their points in a ten or 20-minute period and at times we were the better team, but we struggled to score points.
“We're really trying to draw a line under the past. We haven’t beaten them since 2015 and it does sting a bit with a lot of these boys in the squad, obviously they've been around playing since that time.
“This game we've already started talking about concentrating way more on ourselves, what we can bring, rather than what they can. Really concentrate on what we can do, not looking in that rear view mirror.”
As with the rest of the Dragons RFC squad, Woodman will have to make some sacrifices on Christmas Day with the Boxing Day game looming however in his words, “if you get the win, it all pays off.”
“We’re told to get a lot of carbs in the day before a game. We've been told to smash the roasties and stay off the Christmas pudding, but obviously you lay off any alcohol and stuff like that,” said Woodman.
“We'll have everyone around in the evening and have a bit of fun, but they'll all probably be getting off their faces drinking, and I'll be sat there in the corner watching Cardiff lineouts!
“Some boys take the whole week to build up to the game, but I can relax the day before and I quite like to keep to myself.
“Christmas might be a perfect opportunity to do that, just completely mind off the game.”
Woodman says his increase in opportunities this season has been “class” and “a really good experience:” as he continues to develop.
“There have been some ups and downs this season, with performances, but I'm only improving with the amount of game time I'm getting,” said Woodman.
“For me, it's just about trying to stay on top of my physical development whilst playing these games. It is about really nailing this season, the next season, and keep improving season after and after that, trying to get better and better.
“I'm just trying to play every week, get selected in that match day squad, and physically develop along the way. That’s my current season goals.
“If you look at our back row, it is full of Welsh internationals and British & Irish Lions. We have a lot of injuries, but I don't think the quality has come down at all in our back row, which still makes it tough to make that match day squad.
“I think it'll be my 21st game, but weirdly I probably don’t see myself as established yet, I still probably see myself as one of the Academy youngsters alongside all the other boys, but they we're all getting so much game time now.
“It's hard to say whether I'm an established match day player, because no one's ever really all-time fit. So for me, it's just about making that match day squad every week and staying fit myself so I can become more of an established player.”
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We’re told to get a lot of carbs in the day before a game. We've been told to smash the roasties and stay off the Christmas pudding...
