Boss Dean Ryan believes Jack Dixon deserves wider recognition for his performances this season - as the centre prepare to hit the magical milestone of 150 games for the Men of Gwent.
Dixon will lead out of the team at Rodney Parade on Saturday evening against Gloucester (kick-off 8pm) and become only the tenth Dragon to reach the 150 mark.
The strong running midfielder became the youngest player to make a Welsh regional appearance when he came off the bench in the LV= Cup win away at Wasps in October 2011 – aged 16 years and 313 days.
Now over a decade later, the 27-year-old will no doubt be applauded by all four corners of Rodney Parade on a special night for the Newbridge man.
And Director of Rugby Ryan believes the centre – now in his 11th season – rightly deserves the acclaim.
“Jack’s performances have warranted notice from outside of the region and I think he has been fantastic,” said Ryan.
“It's been a long period where we have accommodated him at 13 because of his ability to defend in that space.
“But, with Aneurin Owen’s injury, he has gone back into feeling more comfortable around 12 and I thought his performance against the Bulls was international class. Against a difficult platform against the Sharks, he was also 100% defence.
“It’s his 150th game and he is probably the youngest man I have ever known to hit 150. He is real credit to himself, and his form has been as good as I could expect of him.
“People should look from outside the region and think about others - if they we're in a similar situation, could they maintain those levels of performance?”
Dixon has been competing with Jamie Roberts, Aneurin Owen and Ada Warren for a starting spot this season and Ryan believes he has continued to grow.
“We’ve got to get better and as a region we don’t often have competition - therefore sometimes we can see it as a nose put out a joint,” said Ryan.
“I think Jack has rose to the occasion. He took the information that's relevant to him, he didn't try and change his game, but I think he's grown.
“He talks more, is more assured in his game and he is a calming influence on a lot of people out there.
“You can learn off everybody that's around you, whether it's somebody who's got 100 caps internationally or somebody is coming in like an Aneurin and plays different at 12.
“Jack is still a young man and I think this is as well I have seen him play since I have been here.”
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It’s his 150th game and he is probably the youngest man I have ever known to hit 150. “He is real credit to himself, and his form has been as good as I could expect of him...
