New-look Dragons must get better - Young

Wales flanker Thomas Young played for Gloucester and Wasps in England

Thomas Young has embraced the pressure of helping the new-look Dragons turn around their fortunes.

The 33-year-old flanker has moved from Cardiff as part of a substantial recruitment drive by the Rodney Parade team after a nightmare 2024-25 season.

Filo Tiatia's men finished bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) after losing 17 straight games following their opening weekend win against the Ospreys.

"With the signings that have been made and the boys that were already the core here, as a region we have to get better," said Young.

"That point has been put across to us quite hard over pre-season and it's up to us as players to make sure we go out and do that."

Changing the record

The Dragons finished 20 points behind 15th-placed Zebre while they also failed to qualify in the Challenge Cup after a solitary success at Newcastle.

"You play rugby to win and that's definitely our intention, we know that we have got to improve," said Young.

"That's what pre-season is about, to make sure we improve so that we go out there for the first game and build on what the boys did last year. We've got to get better."

Dragons last avoided being Wales' bottom team in 2020, when the Ospreys had that tag.

There have been plenty of false dawns at Rodney Parade but Young and co. are determined to change the record.

"It's got to turn at some point," he said.

"The squad is completely different with a lot of new signings, who have been brought in for a reason.

"We will soon find out, but it's up to us in the off season to make sure we are on the same page and pushing each other forward, because we should be doing a lot better."

Hunting a starting spot

Thomas Young made 14 appearances for Cardiff in 2024-25

Young came through the ranks at Cardiff and then, after spells in England with Gloucester and Wasps, returned to the Arms Park in 2022 to play for his father Dai.

The flanker made 14 appearances last season under Matt Sherratt but eight of those outings were off the bench.

Young hopes to lose his tag as an impact sub and earn the number seven jersey when the URC gets under way against Ulster in Belfast on 26 September.

"I didn't play as much as I wanted to last year but I still enjoyed it," said Young.

"I was involved a fair bit, I only missed the first few games through injury but after that was fit and available.

"Everyone wants to start but I got seen as something different last year. That was a role I enjoyed but I've come here and want to be starting."

Young wants to be in the starting side after effectively swapping clubs with fellow dynamic back-rower Taine Basham.

However, he will also be a mentor for young forwards and will soon be joined at training by open-side Harry Beddall, a summer signing from Leicester who is fresh from captaining Wales at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

"I've seen what he has done with the 20s and it's exciting to work with someone like that," said Young.

"He is well thought of and hopefully I can also learn stuff off him - as much as I can help him, he can help me.

"His legs might be fresher but I'd like to think I'll push him as much as he pushes me."