Wainwright named Wales player of the year

Aaron Wainwright made his Wales debut against Argentina in 2018

Dragons number eight Aaron Wainwright has been named the Wales men's Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season by the Welsh Rugby Writers' Association (WRWA).

The men's award is named after Lloyd Lewis and previous winners include Sir Gareth Edwards, Barry John, JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, Jonathan Davies, Scott Gibbs, Ieuan Evans, Neil Jenkins, Rob Howley, Martyn Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny and Alun Wyn Jones. Flanker Jac Morgan was last year's victor.

"It's a great honour and a bit scary to be thrown in that mix of names," said Wainwright.

"It's surreal but hopefully I've got a couple of years left in me yet to keep going. Hopefully the best is still to come."

Welcome return

Aaron Wainwright has played 109 games for Dragons

Wainwright, 27, was presented with the award at his Whiteheads rugby club in Newport, with Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan and Wales assistant coach Howley in attendance.

Wainwright was a standout performer for Wales in a campaign where they reached the World Cup quarter-finals before defeat to Argentina.

That loss started a run of nine international losses, as Warren Gatland's side finished bottom of the Six Nations and dropped out of the top 10 of World Rugby's rankings for the first time, but Wainwright was one of the few shining lights.

The positive news for Dragons and Wales is Wainwright is on course to return earlier than expected this season from a hamstring injury suffered on his 50th Wales cap against Australia in July.

Wales' autumn campaign starts against Fiji on 10 November, before they face Australia seven days later and world champions South Africa on 23 November.

Dragons host Benetton on 19 October before travelling to face Connacht seven days later, with Wales head coach Gatland due to name his squad in between those games.

"I don't want to jinx anything and put a date on it but I hope to be back in the next couple of weeks hopefully," said Wainwright.

"The thing I'm sort of battling with at the moment, with it being my first big major injury and surgery, is having those conversations with the physios and trying to battle back and forth with them.

"They're the guys that dictate when I come back and who are in charge.

"An ideal scenario is I'd try and play for Dragons before anything else.

"I don't think I would be too comfortable to go straight back in and play international rugby, if selected."

One of the boys

Wainwright is sporting a new look having decided not to cut his beard until he returns to playing.

He has helped fill his time by continuing his assistant coaching role with Whiteheads, where he played his youth and early senior rugby.

They play in division four of Welsh rugby's pyramid and Wainwright helps out the senior and youth sides.

Training is on Tuesday and Thursday nights and Wainwright attends a weekend game if his playing schedule allows.

"Some of the guys I have coached over the last couple of years I have played with, so it's a good affiliation," said Wainwright.

"It's good just to come down and have a laugh with some of the boys and a bit of a chat with my mates.

"I enjoy seeing some of the younger guys and how they progress.

"If I can help contribute to that and give them bits of detail and different tips I've picked up over the years, then great.

"Sometimes I get lost and try and go too technical with them and it doesn't work.

"There are a load of guys that have been here for ages and trying to get them to do something different to they are used to is a bit of a challenge sometimes!"

Wainwright says Whitehead's players bring him back down to earth.

"It is surreal because sometimes I am lucky enough to be out there playing in a packed out Principality Stadium in front of 75,000 fans," said Wainwright.

"After I play the games I come back here and they're happy enough to get stuck into me as much as I am to get stuck into them at training or on a Saturday.

"So it's a good balance, it keeps you grounded.

"There is nothing better than walking through the clubhouse doors and straight away, them saying 'what on earth were you doing today?'."

Returning to his roots

Aaron Wainwright has done his level two coaching badges with the Welsh Rugby Union

Wainwright feels coaching has given him a greater understanding of what Dragons and Wales want from him as a player.

"Sometimes I'll look at things from a different perspective and think if I'm trying to implement something here, how would I go about doing that? " said Wainwright.

"When I go into the Dragons or Wales camp, I am thinking what are the coaches then trying to get out of us? Is there a way I can make that easier or is there something I can do different to help?

"So it's different looking at it from the other side of the coin."

Wainwright says a return to playing for Whiteheads when his professional days are over is a "goal of mine".

"You just have to look at Gavin Henson playing for Pencoed now," he added.

"Hopefully, I can do something like that, come back and play for a couple of games, which will be interesting.

"That would get a lot of the boys from school back together, which will be good."

Dragons and Wales fans will be hoping those days do not come any time soon.