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6 ft 5 inch, 113kg backrow giant wants to breathe fire for Dragons
There has been a great deal of activity from the South of Wales this Summer. None more so than from Dragons, where there have been a significant amount of transfer dealings going on from near the capital.
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One of the most notable signings that the Dragons have made is in the capture of 22-year-old Huw Taylor from Worcester Warriors in January. The back-row is just one of fourteen signings made by the club, who are searching for better fortune in the 2018-2019 season. The additions of players such as Richard Hibbard, Brandon Nansen and Ross Moriarty all signify the clubs intentions to make a statement in this year’s Pro 14.
The Dragons struggled to live up to the standards that Bernard Jackman had laid out for the team in the 2017-2018 season, with the side only managing two wins in the campaign. However there is a sense of positivity in the air, with the new signings adding some much-needed depth to the squad.
Continue reading below…
Taylor has made quite the name for himself over the past few seasons with Worcester Warriors. He had been involved with the men in blue and gold for over ten years. Due to his size, Taylor had previously played at lock. However his move to the back row has meant that he now has the ability to bring an added dimension of physicality to the pack.
We asked Huw a few questions before his debut season at the Dragons.
RugbyPass: How have you found life at Dragons since joining?
Huw Taylor: I’ve really enjoyed it so far, been a tough pre-season so far! But really excited for the season ahead.
What’s it like training with head coach Jackman? What has he tried to push for this season?
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HT: Yeah training has been really intense over pre-season, he (Jackman) demands very high standards and work rate from everyone in the team.
What player has impressed you the most since joining Dragons? What are the goals for the Dragons coming into the new season?
HT: All the lads have impressed me, with a great attitude and drive to achieve one common goal. And that is to get top 6 in the Pro 14. Hibbard has been very good at leading the boys so far and channelling everyone’s energy in the right direction.
How is training different from in England? (Worcester)
HT: There are long days, starting at 8 finishing at 4, but apart from that, it is relatively similar as both clubs are very professional with great facilities.
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The 113kg bruiser is no stranger to high-pressure games. Taylor played for the Red Rose at under-17, 18 and 20 level, scoring a try as they beat Ireland 45-21 in Manchester in the final of the Junior World Cup three years ago. It’s this kind of experience that will suit the Bridgnorth-born player well in the coming months. The Englishman will need to use every ounce of that experience to push his way into a competitive Dragons back-five, which will include Welsh Internationals Cory Hill and Ross Moriarty. In addition to this, Taylor will be playing with 21-year-old openside Aaron Wainwright who has impressed in the 16 games that he has played for the Dragons this year.
?? PLAYER SIGNING: Worcester Warriors' versatile forward Huw Taylor set to join @dragonsrugby!
Full story ——> https://t.co/mbWzFjMA13#WelcomeHuw pic.twitter.com/ABFs1p8q5C
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrugby) January 8, 2018
Another interesting side-story to this signing is that Taylor is Welsh-qualified, meaning that a move to the Dragons significantly increases his chances for a push at a spot in the Welsh back-row. Being 22, he is in prime position to aim for this, however he will need to cement a spot in an extremely competitive domestic team.
Dragons coach Bernard Jackman said: “We are delighted to be able to bring Huw to the Dragons next season.
“He is a valuable addition to our squad because of his versatility in that he can play lock or back-row and is an excellent lineout forward.
“He has strong leadership credentials despite his young age and we look forward to helping him realise his undoubted potential with us over the next two seasons.”
Only time will tell if Huw Taylor will succeed at Dragons. He now has all the tools at his disposal to make this a reality.
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
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