Aaron Wainwright has been named Wales Player of the Year by the Welsh Rugby Writers Association (WRWA) for 2024.
The Dragons RFC back row received award this week and follows in the footsteps of Jac Morgan, who claimed the gong last year, and many legends of Welsh rugby.
Previous winners include Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams, Mervyn Davies, Phil Bennett, Terry Holmes, Jonathan Davies, Scott Gibbs, Ieuan Evans, Neil Jenkins, Rob Howley, Scott Quinnell, Gareth Thomas, Martyn Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Shane Williams, Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny and Alun Wyn Jones.
Reacting to receiving the Lloyd Lewis trophy, the 27-year-old said: “It's a bit scary to be thrown in that mix.
"It's a bit surreal but hopefully I've got a couple of years left in me yet to keep going. Hopefully the best is still to come.”
Wainwright has enjoyed a strong 12-months in the red jersey of Wales and hit a major milestone when he brought up cap number 50 at Allianz Stadium against Australia in the summer.
However, six years after debuting for Wales in a 23-10 win over Argentina, the Dragons back row was later forced off with a hamstring injury and is now hoping for a return before the autumn.
"I don't want to jinx anything and put a game or a date on it, but in the next couple of weeks hopefully,” he said.
"The thing I'm battling with at the moment, being my first big major injury and first surgery, is just having those conversations with the physios. They are the guys that are there to dictate when I come back and they're the ones who are in charge.
"An ideal scenario, I'd try and play for Dragons before anything else. I am just focusing on getting the body right and going from there."
Wainwright celebrated his award this week in typically humble fashion by going back to his roots to do what he loves best – helping at his first club, Whiteheads RFC.
The back row can often be seen coaching the men’s and youth teams in his spare time and was once again this week back on the field at Park View to show his love for the grassroots game and helping the next generation of Welsh stars.
“It’s my first club. I played youth, played seven or eight games of senior rugby, even played in a final at Rodney Parade which we lost, and I got a yellow card,” he laughed.
"I don't think I could see myself doing anything more serious than this at the moment, in terms of coaching.
"Just seeing some of the younger guys, how they progress and if I can help contribute to that and give them bits of detail and different tips I've picked up over the years.
"It's good just to come down and have a laugh with some of the boys and have a bit of a chat with my mates. Maybe later in my career I'll start thinking about that more seriously.
"After the games I play, I often come back here and they're happy enough to get stuck into me as much as I am to get stuck into them at training and on Saturday,” he added.
"It's a good balance. It keeps you grounded. There is nothing better than walking through those doors and straight away, them saying what on earth were you doing today? It brings you straight back down, but it's great."
When he takes time to reflect on his impressive last 12 months and the award, Wainwright admits it all still seems very surreal.
He said: "It does feel that way. I can come back here (to Whiteheads) and just switch off, calm down, socialise, and interact with the people at my club and then a few days later I'm back in training for a massive game on the weekend to play.
"Just being able to come here after games or on a Tuesday night come and switch off and just have a chat with some of the boys is important to me.
"It's a good balance but it adds to that surrealness of it sometimes when you are out there playing in a packed-out Principality Stadium in front of 75,000 fans."
So, after a stellar 12 months, what are the next targets for the back row talisman?
"With goals, I don't really like putting too much in my head, thinking about too much further into the future,” he admitted.
"First thing first, get myself and my body back right. Try and get back playing and training well and then just go from there."
An ideal scenario, I'd try and play for Dragons before anything else. I am just focusing on getting the body right and going from there...
