Boss backing Owen to shine

Boss Dean Ryan believes now is the right time for Aneurin Owen to showcase his ability for Dragons.

Centre Owen made his full debut in the Guinness PRO14 clash with champions Leinster last week and impressed with an assured performance in midfield.

The 20-year-old – who became the 300th Dragon in the Heineken Champions Cup clash with Bordeaux-Begles in December – is given another start in the league encounter at Zebre later today (kick-off 5.15pm)

And Ryan feels the Dragons Academy graduate, who this week signed new terms at the region, is now in the right place to make a telling contribution in senior rugby.

“There are too many people that think development is about throwing the next big youngster in there,” said Ryan.

“If that’s a poor experience for them then that is not a good experience for them to learn from.

“Going into a space against really good sides can be quite restrictive for somebody who is just trying to find their way.

“It’s important when we do that they feel stable, they feel like they can come in and contribute and they are not in at the detriment of the side.

“Aneurin has built that consistency in training, has built that understanding and quite rightly deserved his chance.”

Owen has shone for Wales Under-20s in recent seasons and his step-up in recent months has attracted plenty of praise from pundits.

“We all knew he could bring a different development to our game in terms of passing, but it had to be right time,” added Ryan.

“There is no point just throwing another youngster in because we have too many stories of youngsters coming in and then being thrown back out again.

 “It’s about getting them in at the right time, making them understand how they can contribute.

“Like Ben (Carter) was able to come in, it wasn’t an accident, it wasn’t something we just needed.

“It was a six-month spread of consistently seeing him in training getting his job right - Aneurin is in that same space.”