The odds of making it as a professional rugby player are stacked against you.
For two players to make it from playing together in the same youth side, the odds would seem to be next to nil.
However, Newport High School Old Boys, or NHSOB, has been the developing ground for several current and former Dragons along with a few Wales internationals.
Five members of the current Dragons senior squad recognise NHSOB as one of their origin clubs, in vice-captain Aneurin Owen, Wales international Rio Dyer, front row duo Josh Reynolds and Brodie Coghlan along with backrower George Young.
In fact, two of those – Owen and Coghlan - began their journey together in the same NHSOB under 13s side before going on to become regular first teamers.
“Before college and everything I was at NHSOB,” recalled Coghlan. “I loved it there.”
“Hopefully I’ll play for them again before I can’t play anymore, one day.”
Owen, has taken over as captain recently in the absence of club captains Ben Carter and Angus O'Brien with the centre reiterating his commitment to the club by signing a new long-term deal this week.
“I’ve known Aneurin my whole life, he’s one of my best mates,” said Coghlan.
“I’ve grown up with him and he was the same year as me in Old Boys and I’m so close with him and whatever he says I’m listening.
“He has a way of saying things that everyone listens, because you know whatever he says, he’ll do.
“He’s such a hard-working person and will give everything into everything.
“Aneurin's doesn't scream the house down, he can rev it up when he needs to, but he’s very controlled and will say whatever needs to be said.”
RGC Learnings
Coghlan himself isn’t without his admirers following a promising first season as a Dragons regular.
The 24-year-old made his debut against Lions in December 2022, making nine appearances mostly off the bench in his first season along with two starts last term.
This year however, Coghlan has started 11 of the 13 games he has played with his work rate on both sides of the ball, including an impressive tally of 29 tackles against Hollywoodbets Sharks, catching the eye.
“It’s been very busy and I have probably played a lot more than I expected at the start,” said Coghlan.
“I have appreciated every opportunity that I’ve had and loved every second of it.
“It’s been a massive learning step for me and I have enjoyed that.
“The last two seasons I got opportunities here and there along with a bit of game time in the Premiership with RGC and Newport.
“This season has been completely different, purely Dragons and I have played in nearly every game and I’ve loved every second of it.”
Coghlan’s time at RGC was under the tutelage of current Academy coach and former NHSOB player Ceri Jones.
“The season I had at RGC as a front rower was massive,” said Coghlan.
“Ceri was class for me, as we were both from this area, he really took me under his arm and gave me all the support I needed up there.
“I really appreciate the opportunities he gave me up there because I don’t think I’d be where I am now without that.”
Home Truths
With the guidance of Jones, along with Coghlan’s former U16s and now current forwards coach Sam Hobbs, the hooker has developed quickly, although he admits to having had some “home truths” last summer.
“At the start of pre-season, we came in and within the first week we were told what the coaches wanted out of us,” said Coghlan.
“They gave us goals and hard, honest truths. “Hobbs knows I like stuff being straight to the point and if he’s not happy with me then he will tell me how it is.
“I always react well to that and I had some hard truths at the start of the season about that if I didn’t do certain things then I wouldn’t get to where I want to be.
“They were honest to me and told me what I needed to do whether that was physically, on the field, set piece, then I gave everything to it, bought into it and trusted them.
“They then gave me my opportunities and I would like to think that I have taken them since I have been playing regularly.”
I had some hard truths at the start of the season about that if I didn’t do certain things then I wouldn’t get to where I want to be... I gave everything to it, bought into it and trusted them...
