Dragons Centre Steff Hughes' tenure at Rodney Parade came to a "bittersweet" end against Benetton

Yesterday at 10:49 AM

By Harry Tovey

Steff Hughes' tenure at Rodney Parade came to a "bittersweet" end on Saturday evening, as the Dragons centre played his last game at Rodney Parade in a 31-21 defeat to Benetton Rugby. After a trip to Galway to play Connacht, Hughes will then ply his trade in Major League Rugby for Old Glory DC in Washington D.C. USA.

His time at the "Men of Gwent" came to a disappointing end as his side fell to their fourth successive defeat but this against a side that fielded 13-internationals.

"Not in terms of the result. Obviously, the love from the crowd was great. I've always loved playing here in front of the home support, so I'm really appreciative of that," Hughes said on his last appearance at Rodney Parade.

"The result is disappointing, lots of good in the game, but we were inaccurate at key times so that was frustrating but from a personal perspective, I'm privileged to have played here, and it is bittersweet to play my last game here. 

"We are definitely moving in the right direction, you can see the performances how we are competing against good teams consistently and that's not going to change overnight its a gradual improve and its definitely improving," Hughes on the start to the BKT United Rugby Championship for Dai Flanagan's men. 

"We just need to get a couple of results now to give us a bit more confidence to get us going. 

"I think it's important that we keep believing in what we are doing, because a lot of hard work has gone in and you've seen already when we played out in Leinster, we beat the Ospreys and the Sharks and Lions should've won those. 

"The growth in our game is definitely there we just need to do that next step." 

That next step is a trip to Galway to face Connacht who will be looking to improve on their 33-12 defeat to Leinster on Saturday evening. 

"On our day we can compete with anyone in our league, that's where the belief needs to be," Hughes said on the trip to the Dexcom Stadium.

"We need to look at this game and look at areas where we can learn quickly, especially our discipline giving teams easy opportunities in. 

"It's about emptying the tanks this week, giving everything out in Galway and go from there."

Hughes joined from the Scarlets back in 2022 and this followed being named as the Dragons captain for the 2023-24 season. On what he will miss about Rodney Parade, Hughes continued: "The people mostly, I've been lucky enough to play rugby a long time in Wales and when you leave the game, the only thing you are left with is memories. 

"Not specifically around where you played well or the results it's about the people you spent time with and for me that was a privilege as a lot of my best mates are here. 

"I've really enjoyed every aspect of it you know, my ten years at the Scarlets and my two years here and doing bits with the media. I've thrown myself into it, and you know I'm really privileged to have had the opportunity to have played for so long in Wales,"Hughes insisted. 

Hughes will now link up with head coach of the 'The Flags' and former Dragons defence coach, Simon Cross who guided his side to their second playoff last season. This comes as the 30-year-old is set to take up a player-coach role for Old Glory DC in the Nations capital. 

"I think its where I'm at the in my career and where my family is," Hughes on his move to America. 

"My son is one, so the opportunity came up and it just felt like the perfect opportunity for us to experience life completely different in Washington D.C. and everything that goes with that. 

"I've played Glasgow away many times, Ulster, Connacht, so it will be nice to play like Dallas away all that sort of stuff. 

"I'm just going to throw myself straight into it and really enjoy it," he added. 

Already plying their trade in Major League Rugby are both Kirby Myhill and Rob Evans at Miami Sharks and also former Dragons player, Huw Taylor running out for Seattle Wolves. 

"He's a man about town in Miami," he jokingly added on the former Welsh international, Rob Evans. 

"I'm looking forward to going out there and catching up with him, Huw Taylor is playing in Seattle. They speak about the life experiences and how brilliant it is so I'm really looking forward to getting out there and contributing as much as I can on and off the field," he concluded.

The post Dragons Centre Steff Hughes' tenure at Rodney Parade came to a "bittersweet" end against Benetton appeared first on Ruck.