BKT United Rugby Championship action returns this weekend following a brief hiatus for the Autumn internationals and Dragons A games.
During the three-week hiatus, Dragons RFC showcased their burgeoning youth and Academy talent with wins against Scarlets and Ospreys Development sides.
Several youngsters outlined their credentials for being important Dragons players of the future and interim head coach Filo Tiatia has been “impressed” by both individual and team performances.
“There have a been a lot of young players here who have impressed me,” said Tiatia.
“Huw Anderson the young outside back, Sam Scarfe and Oli Burrows are growing young hookers. Even young Harri Ackerman who is fighting his way through conditioning to try to play at the next level.
“There's a lot of talent here. Nick Thomas and Owain James, young Morgan Lloyd at half back, we've got a lot of young youth players who are putting their hands up.
“The key thing is when you give young players an opportunity because if you keep playing some of the senior players they are going to break.
“Some boys are ready, and some are not quite yet. It is being courageous in some of our selections and how do we keep growing the programme, players need to play.”
The selection of youth starts this weekend with senior Academy players Ryan Woodman and Joe Westwood joined by Anderson and Lloyd in the matchday 23 to face Cardiff on Saturday.
“If you watched the Scarlets game against the Dragons A team and then the Ospreys, you can see signs where we can actually build a good nucleus around these players,” said Tiatia.
“That's a great opportunity for our young guys but some of our senior guys need to be challenged by our youth coming forward.
“Each player needs to earn an opportunity because it won't get given to them. Keep learning and keep grafting.”
While the Academy talent can provide a “nucleus” to build around, it is also important that they have experienced players to learn from.
Player coach Dan Lydiate has been “outstanding” according to Tiatia and one who has been “doing a great job with his peers, but also challenging his coaches” and someone the former All Black has “thoroughly enjoyed working with.”
Rhodri Williams, who at 31 earnt his fifth and sixth Wales caps this Autumn, is someone Tiatia sees as an inspiration for Dragons RFC’s young talents.
“Rhodri hasn’t played for Wales in a decade and then what a celebration,” said Tiatia.
“His resilience and belief. It was his desire at the one-on-ones right at the start of the season that his ambition was to play for Wales again and what a great story.
“It’s inspiring for our young people, at his age or even younger that hard work, staying in it, belief and not listening to naysayers then you can achieve most things.”
Others include Ashton Hewitt who Tiatia says has been “awesome” in training as he returns from injury.
“We’re really excited about Ashton and he’s building confidence every day, just being in the environment,” said Tiatia.
“He's one of our leaders, has been outstanding around the community work and he's really well connected with the people here.
“He has a lot of care around the younger guys, he looks after them, so I can only speak highly about him.
“The next part is just keep building around his game, because, ultimately, he's a player.”
It’s inspiring for our young people, at his age or even younger that hard work, staying in it, belief and not listening to naysayers then you can achieve most things.
