ROBIN DAVEY is a regular at Rodney Parade, acting as chief rugby writer for the South Wales Argus over the last 42 years before retiring in December. The Argus praised his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game saying he was irreplaceable and that they were ‘pretty sure we won’t see his like again’ but ... he’s back!
His retirement has allowed him to break free of the journalistic shackles and devote more time to his love for the Dragons!
WILL HARRIES intends turning his personal nightmare into a launchpad for the rest of the season - for the Dragons and for his own personal ambitions.
The 24-year-old wing damaged knee ligaments playing in the derby clash with the Ospreys last April and originally thought he would miss just a couple of months.
That would have enabled him to make the start of this season - but his hopes were dashed when he was told the injury would keep him out of action for eight months.
"I didn't think it was anything major, I'd never had an injury other than a minor pull in the whole of my career and in six years had never been out for more than a couple of weeks whereas pretty much everyone else I knew had suffered something major, so it shocked me when I was told," Harries recalled.
"There was no-one near me at the time, I tried to sidestep and it just went. It could have been a twist and a weakness in my leg, I'd had a couple of niggles, but at least it was at the end of the season so the first half of my absence was in the summer which meant only missed pre-season and September and October."
Harries made his first tentative steps back in the big time against Exeter in the Amlin Challenge Cup last month, then came his first major start, ironically against the Ospreys a fortnight ago.
"In my first game against Exeter I didn't get much ball. But I noticed someone coming at me to chop my legs and I did pause and think about it," he admitted.
"But you need that kind of thing for the mental side of it and after 20 minutes and then another 20 against the Scarlets then my first start against the Ospreys I didn't think about it so it all came naturally again."
Now that the psychological as well as physical barriers have been put behind him, Harries can concentrate on that double ambition of helping the Dragons climb the RaboDirect Pro 12 League table and impressing Wales coach Warren Gatland again.
Harries shot to the top after a brilliant individual performance against Saracens in the LV Cup (the Dragons face them again in a two weeks time) and he made the Wales squad for the summer tour to New Zealand.
He won his first cap as a replacement in the second Test and made his first start for Wales in the autumn international against Australia.
But since then he has fallen down the pecking order almost as fast as he climbed the ladder - something he wants to put right as soon as he can.
"The injury was bad for me, but on the other hand it was a good way to rest," said Harries as he sought to take the positives out of the situation. "People don't realise you have niggles, I couldn't run properly in training sometimes.
"It's hard not getting picked then because of your injury, but I looked on it as a positive because it's no good dwelling on what might have been. I don't work like that, getting down on things, but get my head on and start thinking about the good things that can come out of it. That's what you have to focus on.
"Now I want to be as sharp as I can be again and enjoy beating people and scoring tries. I want to be playing in a Dragons team playing well and winning games.
"Then the thoughts of Wales will surface again. The Six Nations is coming up and if I can impress again then who knows?
"I feel if I can achieve my first goal and put myself in the shop window again by playing well enough I'll be in contention. There are some good wingers around, but you've got to back yourself and if I play as well as I can then, as I say, who knows?
"I have definitely got to look on getting back for Wales as an aim, but first things first which is playing well for the Dragons.
"Prato is definitely a game we really want to win. This could be the game when I get the ball with a bit of space to show what I can do. It will be another game under my belt after coming back from the injury.
"We have got to get something out of it, get on a roll and win as many games as possible. We haven't had that cutting edge, now we need to get a move on."
If Harries can be a part of a winning Dragons team again he could be back on Wales coach Warren Gatland's radar, especially with Shane Williams no longer around on the international front.
