Captain Aneurin Owen says it “means the world” to him to lead his side out for the first time.
Owen steps into captaincy duties in the absence of club co-captains Ben Carter and Angus O’Brien having been named as one of three vice-captains since Interim Head Coach Filo Tiatia took charge in November.
Owen admits he can’t put into words what it means to captain the club which he has supported since he was a youngster.
“Ben Carter at the start of the season, and then Angus O’Brien taking it on, they’ve both been unbelievable,” said Owen.
“Even people like Harrison Keddie, Matthew Screech, they've done such a good job and there's still loads of experience here.
“You talk about Elliot Dee, Aaron Wainwright, George Nott does a great job with the forwards, Shane Lewis-Hughes, there’re some great boys here with leadership quality.
“Since I've been a youngster, I've been a Dragons fan my whole life and just to play for the region, but to get the chance to be captain, it means the world.
“I love playing for this club and every game I get to play and represent the club I genuinely do love it and I’ll put my everything into it and try and get everyone ready for the game.”
The game itself sees Dragons in a winner-takes-all clash against the Emirates Lions at South Africa’s iconic Ellis Park stadium.
“I always like when you walk in and on the walls, there's all the history of the ground and, what's gone on before,” said Owen.
“Then when you get on, it's great to say that you've played there as well.
“It’s always class coming here and I think, for a lot of the boys with it being their first time they'll really enjoy it.
“There’s quite a lot of young boys here and it’s the first time for a lot of them coming to South Africa, which is a great experience and a real positive.
“Coming to South Africa and to Ellis Park I reckon there's no tougher place to come, really. You've got to really stand up to that challenge, otherwise they'll just run all over you.
“So it's about getting your mindset right as a team and embracing the experience because there’s no better place to come to play rugby.”
While some have questioned the South African sides’ place in European competitions for Owen it is a “challenge” he relishes.
“I think this is my third or fourth time coming to South Africa now and I absolutely love the fact that we get to come to these places because it's such a challenge,” said Owen.
“It’s also unreal to play and test yourself in those arenas.
“I couldn’t believe, just walking around the streets and the gyms how much the people love rugby here and everyone’s talking about it, they come up to you, speak to you about it.
“It’s a real rugby nation and they’re so passionate and it’s always a cool place to come.
“I think it's that they're in the URC and Europe and are quite different to a lot of teams that we play back in the UK which is always interesting to play against and I think they've only been a positives since they've been in the competitions, they’ve really bought a competitive edge to it.”
Since I've been a youngster, I've been a Dragons fan my whole life and just to play for the region, but to get the chance to be captain, it means the world...
