Young Gun: Jack Dixon – Dragons and Wales U20s centre

If it wasn’t for an untimely foot injury, Jack Dixon, 19, could have been preparing for a trip to South Africa – as it is he can console himself with a journey to New Zealand.
The powerful inside centre has already made 25 Pro12 appearances for Newport Gwent Dragons and was the club’s youngest first-teamer, aged 16 and 313 days.
Last season he showed glimpses of his talent but this campaign represented his breakthrough and as the Dragons began the season with impressive wins over Ulster and the Scarlets, Dixon’s strength in defence and bull-dozing ball-carrying caught the eye.
Indeed, against the Scarlets he more than held his own against Wales duo Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies but in his next outing against Zebre, injury struck.
At that stage, Jamie Roberts was struggling with an ankle injury and Dixon, 18 at the time, was being lined up as a ready-made replacement.
It must have been even harder for Dixon to sit and watch as Davies went down injured and Cory Allen, Owen Williams and Ashley Beck all got a run out.
But having helped Wales U20s to the Junior World Championship final last year, he’s more than happy to give the tournament another bash this summer.
“It was frustrating because it just came at a bad time, I was going well, getting a good run in the team and I was really happy with how I was playing and the chances I was getting,” said Dixon.
“But that’s rugby, you have to expect injuries and you have to concentrate on getting fit.
“Obviously the dream is to play for Wales one day. I don’t know about if I’d have got the chance already but I know we’ve got some world class centres so it will be difficult.
“Everyone who played in the autumn and the Six Nations played well and deserves their chance but the season isn’t over for me, I’ll be off to New Zealand, delighted to get another go at the Junior World Championship.
“With a great squad last year we got to the final so we’ll go there confident we can go one better.”
Of the side that reached that final, Dixon’s Dragons’ teammate Hallam Amos and Scarlets scrum-half Rhodri Williams have already won senior caps while fly-half Sam Davies was named IRB Junior Player of the Year and has impressed with the Ospreys this season.
Williams and Allen – both expected to tour South Africa – are also recent alumni but what Dixon lacks in age, he makes up for in his bruising approach.
“I’m pretty settled at No.12, that’s where I’ve been playing most of my rugby at the Dragons,” he said. “My strength is probably my ball-carrying, I like the physical aspect of that but I’d also like to think that I’m fairly useful and can do a bit with ball in hand.
“I’ve worked my way back to fitness and into the Dragons side and I suppose on one hand I didn’t want the season to end.
“But the tour to New Zealand will keep me going. It was difficult to watch the Dragons while I was injured because after a good start, things just weren’t going so well for the Dragons.
“But I want to be part of turning things around next season. We’ve got some very good young players here and hopefully we can find the consistency.”