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Dragons lock down one of Wales most promising backrows in 3 year deal

By RugbyPass
Harrison Keddie

Dragons have announced that back row Harri Keddie has signed a new deal keeping him at the Welsh region for the next three seasons.

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The versatile back row has made 25 appearances for the Dragons since his debut in 2016 against Zebre Rugby. Prior to that time, he was included in the Dragons squad for the Premiership Singha Sevens Tournament, in which he made a huge impact in aiding the side to win the title, scoring the winning try in the final against Wasps.

The Dragons academy product has also made big strides in the Wales U20s set up and impressed spectators with his ball carrying skills during the Grand Slam campaign in 2016.

Additionally, Keddie has made appearances for Principality Premiership side Ebbw Vale performing well for them in the final against Pontypridd RFC, where the Steelmen were crowned 2015/16 Principality Premiership Champions.

The talented youngster said: “Growing up I had always wanted to play for the Dragons as it is my home region, so it means a lot to me to have been given the opportunity to stay here for the next 3 years as I feel the club is going in the right direction both on and off the field.

“I have enjoyed my time here so far under Bernard and to be given this opportunity is a great privilege to me and I look forward to doing so for the next few years.

“It is really exciting times at the Dragons and I wanted to be a part of that.”

The 21-year-old suffered a shoulder injury during the Dragons victory over Connacht in September, in the GUINNESS PRO14 competition and is keen to get back into the starting line-up once he returns to full fitness; “Once I am back fit I hope to earn my place in the team again, playing some good rugby and being part of a successful Dragons team.”

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Dragons Head Coach, Bernard Jackman added: “Harrison was one of our stand out performers in the early part of the season until he unfortunately picked up his shoulder injury. He has been incredibly diligent with his rehab and he will come back available for selection over the coming weeks.

“For him to commit to us for at least the next three seasons is a huge boost for the region.”

After signing the new contract, Keddie has picked out Caerleon RFC to receive a cash donation through the Dragons Pathway Recognition Award scheme. This scheme seeks to recognise the club or school that played a vital role in the player’s development to become a professional. Before Christmas Leon Brown presented a £500 cheque to St Joseph’s RC High School.

Keddie joins Joe Davies, Jack Dixon and James Benjamin as well as Welsh Internationals Leon Brown, Elliot Dee, Ollie Griffiths and Cory Hill in extending his stay with the Dragons, who also welcome newcomers Ross Moriarty, Richard Hibbard, Rhodri Williams, Jordan Williams, Rhodri Davies and Huw Taylor next season.

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Jon 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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