Boss Dai Flanagan has backed ultimate pro Dmitri Arhip to make an immediate impact should he make his debut for the Men of Gwent this weekend.
The 35-year-old Moldovan tighthead has been training with the Rodney Parade club for several months to complete his rehabilitation and now fully fit has been rewarded with a short-term injury cover contract.
Arhip could make his first BKT United Rugby Championship appearance since February last year in Friday’s crucial league game against Zebre in Newport (kick-off 7.35pm).
And Flanagan is excited to see his new man go in the heat of a crunch encounter.
“He has been with us for a little while and he is a superb man who has been around professional rugby for a long time and is a winner. We need more winners in that changing room,” he said.
“He looks after himself, I have been around some of the best professionals in the game and he is in that category with the likes of Leigh Halfpenny.
“He is first in and last out, he does all his preparation and doesn’t leave anything to chance.
“That’s why when he does come into the matchday squad you will see the same old Dmitri Arhip who is a superb rugby player.
“We have already seem that in training – he lives for the game and he lives for scrums.”
Tickets for the crunch clash with Zebre Parma are on sale NOW! Click HERE to buy online or call 01633 670690.
