My Life in Rugby: Leigh Hinton – former Dragons and Leeds full-back

My one season at Newport Gwent Dragons was tough but, looking back, it was the best thing that happened in my career. It made me a better player in the long run.
With my Welsh routes as well, it was the most difficult year of my career – it just didn’t work out. I was well aware I wouldn’t get too many opportunities, but it was still frustrating.
Perhaps a few difficult relationships off the field with the guys coaching didn’t help either. Generally it is hard for players when they are not getting selected. There are not many guys who don’t play who get on well with the coaches.
I had always wanted to give playing in Wales a crack. There were quite a few rumours flying around at the time of the move. I spoke to a few clubs and Glasgow was one of them, but I was delighted to end up in Newport.
My old man is a Welshman and so he is mad on rugby – with those Welsh roots the game was always going to be forced upon me.
The first time I played was at secondary school, aged 11. The school sport was rugby and everyone played it.
After university I still had no real intention to play professional rugby. I played for some clubs on the weekend and, after a year out, I came back and fell into it really.
I enjoyed my time at Orrell and Bedford immensely. If you are in a good team and you are kicking goals, you will get a few points. I was playing on the wing or at full-back so I got a fair few tries and kicked the goals as well.
The Dragons was very difficult, but I was pleased to land on my feet at Leeds and get back to scoring points as soon as possible.
It is good to know that you can still do what you thought you could do. I got lots of games and inevitably, started to find some form.
Stuart Lancaster managed to get us back in the Premiership. He is a great guy and is doing a top job with England.
Relegation the following year was tough, though. We were playing on a much lower budget than every other Premiership team and didn’t have a world-class squad.
We managed to enjoy ourselves, but we were just a bit short. We certainly developed as players, though – it made us tougher and I loved it at Leeds.
That was followed by a good year at the Rugby Lions in rugby terms, but there were many issues off the pitch and at the end of that season we went into liquidation. That was tough to take because the club had offered me a lot.
I’m working at Big Red Management now. I look after a number of players, some of whom I have played with or against.
It is a really difficult time when you retire, whether you are a top international or just a club player. There are only so many jobs in coaching.
I always wanted to do something within the game and thankfully I have landed on my feet.
That’s the beauty of rugby – you are plunged into a group of 30 or 40 guys and the relationships you build will never be broken.
Those relationships are what you play for and the memories you cherish.