Head Coach Dai Flanagan believes Dragons RFC can look forward to a new dawn under the leadership of Ben Carter and a host of homegrown stars.
Carter leads the Men of Gwent for the first time this afternoon (Saturday) as they welcome Ospreys to Rodney Parade in the BKT United Rugby Championship (kick-off 3pm).
Flanagan is looking forward to the opening day and has been enthused by the appointment of Carter and the Dragons Academy products standing up.
“It's been like a new dawn, if I'm honest, with Ben named captain” he said.
“Our leadership group is full of our Gwent boys, people like Harrison Keddie taking a big leadership role, Aneurin Owen and Angus O’Brien to name a few.
“We have young Will Reed, that we're nurturing behind it, and people like Ryan Woodman too. “It's a new dawn of Gwent boys and they can be role models.
“They're top end professionals who do every bit of work asked, and they're ready to lead now. I'm excited to see them go and take our club forward.”
Dragons RFC face four games out of the first five at Rodney Parade and Flanagan is well aware that the outcome of the first block of games could shape the season.
“Being a bit of a rugby nause my whole career, studying the English Premiership and the Top 14 for years, where you finish after your first six games is usually where you end up at the end of season,” he admitted.
“You don't tend to drop more than two or three places during blocks after that. “So, if we can have a good block and try and get as many points as possible on the board, it usually sustains for the rest of the season.
“If you are struggling after the first six it is hard to regather momentum in the table. “It is an exciting opportunity, four games at home, and it's awesome for us to go play in front of our people.
“We want to start seeing that identity we play from minute one. We saw it from minute one in Bath, what we can bring, and we're excited to see it from minute one to 80 this week with a fully loaded team.”
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Our leadership group is full of our Gwent boys, people like Harrison Keddie taking a big leadership role, Aneurin Owen and Angus O’Brien to name a few...
