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!
DRAGONS prop Phil Price is a man on a mission - the talented young player is determined to improve his scrummaging prowess and gain a regular place in the starting line-up.
Price, Bridgend born and bred, joined the Dragons set-up via the Ospreys academy, home club Bridgend and then Bedwas so he's had a good grounding.
He made such an impression in his first full campaign that he was even mentioned as an up-and-comer by Wales coach Warren Gatland, but he is the first to admit that his form has suffered a bit this season.
He has lost his place as a regular starter and is now targeting that scrummaging area, though at only 23 he has a decade ahead of him as a prop, provided he steers clear of injuries.
"My game has come on in leaps and bounds, though as a player I feel I've got a long way to go because a prop doesn't begin to mature until he's 26 or 27 and all the props with the Dragons are pretty young," he said.
"But since the beginning of the season my scrummaging has dropped off a bit which is maybe why I haven't started so many games. I really need to focus on that because the rest of my game is coming on and I think I'm in a good position."
Phil began his rugby career in the backs when he was a pupil at Brynteg Comprehensive School, a full back initially. Then he moved to the back row and it wasn't until he was 15 that he made the move to the front row.
He obviously made a success of the transition because he was spotted by the Ospreys and he soon became a member of their Academy set-up as a 16-year-old.
From there it was onwards and upwards, playing for the Ospreys at under-18 level and then graduating into the Wales squad, playing for them at under 18s and under 19s level.
Better still was to come when he was selected for the Wales Under-20s squad for the World Cup in Belfast in 2008. He played his part in the side which finished fourth, losing to New Zealand and pipped at the post by Australia.
He became a part of the Ospreys Under-20 squad, but they didn't offer him a full contract so he went back to his roots and spent two years at Bridgend, but when they got relegated from the Premiership he moved to Bedwas where he came into the Dragons region.
He was soon drafted in and his full debut could hardly have been tougher for it was against Glasgow in the Heineken Cup. But it didn't go particularly well as he damaged a knee and faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
But he returned at the start of last season against the Scarlets, and he hasn't looked back since though he does admit the season has been a bit disappointing.
He adds, "We've got a run of home games now and we need to pick up a few wins. But if we had been a bit more clinical we would have won some more games.
"It's going to be quite hard for us to achieve a Heineken Cup place now. But that's definitely still a target and we've got to focus on that and try to get our basics right. If we do that the rest will start to flow like it did against Edinburgh, we just need to finish things off."
Price is glad he's made the move after his early beginnings a bit further down the M4. "I'm loving it here and I'm enjoying playing in front of this crowd," he said. "The spirit is great, that's what drives it and everyone looks out for one another."
He's ploughing a lone furrow as one of three brothers, Jonathan who is older playing in a band, though younger brother Christopher did play for the South Wales Police.
But middle brother Phil is determined to regain the regular slot he has lost with the Dragons, starting with that scrummaging improvement. And then maybe he will find himself back in the running for a place in Warren Gatland's Wales squad.
