New Dragons recruit: 'The potential here is phenomenal'
Young centre Tom Griffiths is to join Dragons from English and European champions Saracens. Griffiths has agreed a deal to make the move to Rodney Parade and will link up with his new team-mates at Ystrad Mynach next Monday.
The hard-running midfielder – who stands at 6ft 2ins and weighs 102kg – joined the Saracens academy in 2015 before stepping up to the senior squad in 2017.
The 23-year-old made his debut in the English Premiership last season and helped Saracens Storm win the Premiership Rugby Shield.
“It’s an exciting time for me to join the Dragons,” said Griffiths. “I’ve spoken with Dean Ryan and the things he has said are really positive. I feel the potential here is phenomenal so hopefully good things are to come.
“There are some fantastic players here too so I’m looking forward to developing my game and taking the chance I have been given.”
Welsh-qualified Griffiths - who has also spent time on loan at Bedford Blues and London Scottish - joins fellow new recruits Sam Davies and Jack Cosgrove at the region.
Griffiths, who debuted in the Premiership off the bench in May against Worcester and featured in the Premiership Cup final versus Northampton, also made five appearances for London Scottish in the Championship last term. Prior to that, he appeared 17 times in the Championship for Bedford across two seasons.
Director of rugby Ryan said: “Tom is a talented young centre who has spent the last four seasons working on his game in the Saracens set-up and also getting valuable game time on loan at London Scottish and Bedford Blues.
“He is keen to now really prove himself, take on a new challenge, and excited by the opportunity at Dragons. We’re excited to see how Tom develops in our environment and look forward to him linking up with the squad.”
WATCH: Going Pro, the new RugbyPass documentary on the Saracens Women’s team
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Just seems odd, given the ab state of play at 10, that he was happy to leave and therefore probably wasn’t hearing the assurances he needed on his prospects but as you say, money talks.
While his endorsement is highly respected, McCall doesn’t get to pick the england players but I can tell you that beyond the smiths & Ford, Englands stocks are very thin.
Anyway, he will get his shot with Scotland and there is a potential path for him securing a regular squad place if he performs. Ironically his biggest competition for that place atm is another kiwi…
Edit: let’s say for a minute that Burke, improbable as that may sound, turns out to be the next Fin/DC/Wilko, who carries the can for that in NZ?
Go to commentsGreat writer, poor article. Leadership is everything in rugby, and Havilli is an outstanding leader. The Crusaders will flourish under Havilli, and that will be no coincidence. Had Havilli been at 12 for the world cup, NZ would have won. The J Barrett/R Ioane midfield partnership cost NZ the RWC. They are the worst All Black midfield of my half-century long lifetime. Havilli is a hugely underrated creator and makes all who play regularly with him shine in a way they never do when not being fed opportunities by him. He has been largely wasted by NZR, and it is a shame. Hopefully, he can make that clear in these last years of his career. Good luck David.
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