Dean Ryan believes Nick Tompkins will have a major impact on his Dragons – insisting the experiences the Wales international brings will help his players realise they are on the right road.
On loan ace Tompkins – along with fellow new recruits Jonah Holmes and Joe Maksymiw – have checked into the region’s training base to start preparing for a potential return to league action in August.
And Ryan is confident the centre – who won his first four Test caps at centre in the Six Nations earlier this year – will make big waves on and off the pitch at Rodney Parade.
“The first thing I’d say is how delighted we are Nick is here. This is a player who has played in Champions Cup finals and has won league titles,” said the Director of Dragons Rugby.
“The opportunity for us to get that level of experience was just too good to miss.
“I’ve been on record numerous times as saying we’re very early in the development journey.
“To get someone that knows what it looks like at the end of the journey is really powerful to players who don’t know what it looks like.
“We’re really excited and really looking forward to showing Nick what the Dragons are about.
“Hopefully we can teach him something - and I’m pretty sure he can teach us something.”
“There is a huge amount made about culture, but quite often it’s the little things a team keeps really integral about what they do which are the most important,” added Ryan.
“People who haven’t experienced a winning environment are constantly looking for magic.
“What’s really powerful is when people who have been successful say ‘No, we just do the same things as you.’ That’s really important. Those little moments are where we see the value of Nick.
“For me the real power in Nick is the confirmation of what we’re doing.
“He will add something different, but I think he will also help confirm we’re on the right road.”
There is a huge amount made about culture, but quite often it’s the little things a team keeps really integral about what they do which are the most important...
