Mefin Davies admits he is relishing the prospect of helping mould the pack at Dragons when he starts his role at the region.
Dragons announced in February that former Wales international hooker Davies would be linking up with the coaching team.
After leaving his role as Scrum & Assistant Forwards Coach at Worcester to join the backroom staff at Rodney Parade, Davies is excited by what he will get to work with at Rodney Parade.
And he has already pinpointed Leon Brown as one player he hopes he can help continue to develop after the Newport-born prop had a big season in 2019/20 for Dragons.
“I’m looking forward to working with the front row, as I have a massive interest in that area and the scrum. I’m happy with what I am going to be working with,” said Davies, speaking during an appearance on Y Ty Rygbi on S4C.
“I’ve had my eyes on someone like Leon Brown - he’s a young prop that really stands out.
“It is nice to get a new challenge and work with new boys, someone like Jonah Holmes. I’ve seen him play and it’s an exciting prospect.
“We need to try and change the way people think about the Dragons.
“It’s a challenge but I will be working with a group of players that interest me and hopefully we will all grow."
Davies previously played for Dean Ryan at Gloucester and then joined the former England forward’s coaching team at Worcester.
And the 47-year-old, who won 39 caps, is looking forward to linking up with the Dragons Director of Rugby on the training pitch in Ystrad Mynach soon.
He said: “I worked in England with Dean and, of course, he’s a proud Englishman, I can’t put it any other way than that!
“I’d say that I’m Welsh to the core, so in terms of our relationship we’re completely different people but we get on well.
“Dean has settled in Welsh rugby and I think it’s been a good thing for him to leave England. I’d have to agree that it was good for me to leave Wales too, just concentrating on the rugby.
“It’s been good to get involved and we’ve had wellbeing meet-ups as a group and a few weeks ago had a social gathering over Zoom, the title of night was ‘Dragons Got Talent’.
“I was sat in my t-shirt in my house and everyone was having barbecues. There was over 50 of us. It is strange, but that is the times in which we are living.”
Watch the full episode of Y Ty Rygbi on BBC iPlayer by clicking HERE
I’m looking forward to working with the front row, as I have a massive interest in that area and the scrum. I’m happy with what I am going to be working with...
