Angus O’Brien has expressed his pride at having the “nice surprise” of being named the club’s co-captain by interim head coach Filo Tiatia.
The fly-half and full back was announced as co-captain alongside the injured Ben Carter with Harrison Keddie, Aneurin Owen and Matthew Screech named as vice captains.
O’Brien was praised by Tiatia for his “leadership” and “integrity” along with performing tasks himself before asking others to do them for him.
“It was a nice surprise to be named co-captain,” said O’Brien. “It’s something I'm proud about, I've been at the club a long time, and Filo spoke to me last week about the opportunity of leading the team with Carts.”
“Ben has done a great job to start the season, but unfortunately, he's injured now for a few months. “I'm really looking forward to working with him and the rest of the new vice captains as well.”
This is the first time O’Brien has been named as a club captain at the professional level but says it won’t significantly change his playing style.
“I've played a lot at 10 and 15 and it will be more of the same from me on field,” said O’Brien. “Looking to direct the team as best I can, make those decisions and get on with the job."
“I’ve played with a lot of these boys for a long time. We know how each other, click, and there'll be plenty of leaders out on the field with me.
“There’s always plenty people to lean on and we work really well together.”
One of the most important roles for O’Brien and the new leadership team will be to uphold the “standards” which Tiatia expects of his players whilst also “challenging” staff and players so the club continues to grow.
“It's been more of the same from Filo,” said O’Brien. “He's been quite consistent in the way he's been, the standards he expects, and as a squad we are reacting well to that."
“We've worked with him for a few months as defence coach and he's been very good at that and very good for the squad. We're all excited to work under him as well.
“He expects high standards, as professional rugby players, that's what we all strive for, and he's been really good with that and trying to bring a bit more togetherness and a bit more belief.”
First up for Dragons RFC under their new interim head coach and co-captain is a local derby at Cardiff Arms Park.
Dragons haven’t won there in 10 years but O’Brien is “excited” at the opportunity on Saturday after a positive development block where Dragons A beat Scarlets and Ospreys development sides.
“We've had a good block over the last three to four weeks ironing out things that we needed to improve on and the main thing from me is we've started the season well, in terms of a lot of our performances,” said O’Brien.
“We need to take belief from that, we need to use that and grow that over this next block and hopefully we come out on the other end of those results.
“Cardiff will be full of confidence, and we've had a good look at them over the last few weeks. We're prepared and we're looking to put our game on them and hopefully come away with a victory.
“I feel the excitement's been building over the over the last few weeks, we haven't won there for a long timeut, as a squad, we're really excited about.
“You're aware of the history of that fixture, but you can't dwell on it. It's a new opportunity and we’ve got a fresh squad, and we'll be going down there full of belief and excitement.”
You're aware of the history of that fixture, but you can't dwell on it. It's a new opportunity and we’ve got a fresh squad, and we'll be going down there full of belief and excitement.
