The 29-year-old has been a mainstay of the side since heading east from Llanelli in 2012, playing in 119 of 153 games in all competitions.
However, last season was a complete write-off thanks to a pre-season knee injury suffered in the final pre-season run-up against Glasgow in Ebbw Vale last August.
Cudd has always impressed with his dogged defence and breakdown prowess and now back fit he’s determined to add to Bernard Jackman’s back row headache.
“It’s been a long wait,” said Cudd, “almost 50 weeks since I last played, but it feels good. I was a bit nervous beforehand, but it was fine once I started playing and I’m pleased to come through the game unscathed. That was the main thing for me today.
"I felt really good in the game and the knee felt good, so it’s just about getting back into it, getting my match fitness and getting that edge back. It was good to get that first tackle in."
Cudd’s injury last season tearing his ACL in his right knee, kept mr dependable out of action and restrained to the gym, for what has been a difficult 12 months, but he knew the route back to playing would be long and arduous having had the same injury seven years ago.
“I’ve really missed not playing, it’s been a long time locked away in the gym, so great to start playing the game again, it’s what I’m here for.
"I actually did the same thing in my left knee seven years ago, so it was similar timings, and I came through that ok, so I’ll do it again.
“I knew what to expect with the rehab, I just had to be patient with it. I’ mostly doing what everyone else is doing in training now, but I still do certain exercises to make myself feel better really and to keep on top of it, to make the knee stronger.
“In training now it’s about match fitness and you can do what you want fitness wise, but you are still going to be blowing in that first league game, so it’s about getting used to that game situation.”
The Dragons have made fourteen additions to their squad ahead of the new season with Ross Moriarty and Huw Taylor moving from the Premiership to PRO14 and the likes of Aaron Wainwright have developed into first team players.
“There’s always a turn-over in players, but perhaps more so this season, so it was a good hit out for us. There were good facets in our play, but plenty of work-ons. We’ll look at what didn’t go so well and keep tweaking the things that we can do a bit better off again.
"The squad seems strong anyway, and then our Welsh boys came back in last week which gave us a lift and the boys have to up their games again, which is the best thing for us so everyone is challenging and competing for places in the squad.
"The squad is much stronger than it has been so we’re looking forward to the season and to some success on the pitch.
"There’s great competition in the back row. I’d say it’s the strongest we’ve been depth wise since I’ve been here. Ollie is due back, Jumbo is there as well and there’s a few other guys who can slot in at seven, Aaron Wainwright did really well last season, Lewis Evans as well, so it’s about putting your hand up now in the pre-season for the first game of the season.”
