Steff Hughes branded his last game at Rodney Parade as ‘bittersweet’ as Dragons were edged out by Benetton – but the former captain is convinced positive results are just around the corner.
The 30-year-old made his final appearance in Gwent in the 31-21 defeat to Benetton Rugby.
Hughes will leave the club next month and move to the United States where he will join Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby.
And the centre admitted it was a night full of emotion under the lights n Newport one last time.
“The love from the crowd was great. I’ve always loved playing here in front of the support, so I’m appreciative of that,” said Hughes.
“The result is disappointing, lots of good in the game, but we were inaccurate at key times so that was frustrating but from a personal perspective, I’m privileged to have played here, and it is bittersweet to play my last game here.
“When you leave the game, the only thing you’re left with is the memories, and for me the people I’ve spent my time with are the memories that I will always cherish.
“We just need to get a couple of results now to give us a bit more confidence to get us going,” he added.
“I think it’s important that we keep believing in what we are doing, because a lot of hard work has gone in and you’ve seen already when we played out in Leinster, we beat the Ospreys and the Sharks and Lions should’ve won those.
“The growth in our game is definitely there we just need to do that next step.”
Dragons next face a trip to Galway to face Connacht who will be looking to bounce back after a 33-12 defeat to Leinster.
“On our day we can compete with anyone in our league, that’s where the belief needs to be,” Hughes said ahead of the trip to the Dexcom Stadium.
“We need to look at this game and look at areas where we can learn quickly, especially our discipline giving teams easy opportunities in.
“It’s about emptying the tanks this week, giving everything out in Galway and go from there.”
Reflecting on his time in Welsh rugby as he prepares to say goodbye, Hughes added: “You miss the people mostly, I’ve been lucky enough to play rugby a long time in Wales and when you leave the game, the only thing you are left with is memories.
“Not specifically around where you played well or the results it’s about the people you spent time with and for me that was a privilege as a lot of my best mates are here.
“I’ve really enjoyed every aspect of it you know, my ten years at the Scarlets and my two years here and doing bits with the media. I’ve thrown myself into it, and you know I’m really privileged to have had the opportunity to have played for so long in Wales.
“I think it’s where I’m at the in my career and where my family is,” Hughes added on his impending move to the USA.
“My son is one, so the opportunity came up and it just felt like the perfect opportunity for us to experience life completely different in Washington D.C. and everything that goes with that.
“I’ve played Glasgow away many times, Ulster, Connacht, so it will be nice to play like Dallas away all that sort of stuff.
“I’m just going to throw myself straight into it and really enjoy it.”
The growth in our game is definitely there we just need to do that next step...
