MIKE Ruddock is on a winner with Wales before the ink has dried on his contract.

I'm not necessarily talking about his current Midas touch, glorious though his reign has been with Newport Gwent Dragons, but the way the cards have fallen for him with the Wales tour. At first sight it might be considered the absence of so many players would be a major blow to Ruddock at the very first hurdle.

Going on tour to Argentina and South Africa is formidable enough with a first choice squad, but when it is so weakened it becomes hugely difficult, almost impossible even.

But, ironically, therein lies the very advantage for Ruddock, a fraught situation which he can turn to his advantage.

He has done it before with the Dragons when out of the ashes of administration, redundancies and in-fighting he moulded a squad which not only challenged for the Celtic League title but went within a whisker of actually winning it.

Now with Wales he has the opportunity to start again, to build something when the foundations appear to be cracking at the very least.

He can turn the absence of so many leading players to his advantage by getting a group together in adversity once again and mould them into some kind of force.

Had he taken the full squad on tour to Argentina and South Africa, he would have been expected to deliver with victory in at least one of the three Tests, or at worst narrow defeats.

However, expectations won't be nearly as high now with so many players absent which is precisely where Ruddock can score.

As I've already said he has proved to be at his best when the going is tough, and he is just the man to develop players and bring the best out of others when nothing much is expected.

Referring to his time with the Dragons, there is at least a part of him which doesn't want to go at all.

He has described it as a great rugby experience and a great life experience, and ideally he would have liked another year with the Dragons to build on what he has started. To fail at the final hurdle was so disappointing, if failure is the right word after such a wonderful season.

But what a go they made of it at Lansdowne Road last Friday. At one stage the near unthinkable was on as the Dragons played out of their skin to lead a Leinster team including seven World Cup players 26-12.

They secured a bonus point with their fourth try after 27 unbelievable minutes, and at the same time Llanelli Scarlets were trailing Ulster at Stradey Park.

But suddenly it all went wrong from a Dragons point of view. Percy Montgomery broke a bone in his hand and couldn't make the second half, Steve Jones got yellow carded and a powerful Leinster side threw off all the problems that emerged during the week to step up a gear.

The Dragons lost their lead at about the same time as the Scarlets gained the initiative, and it went downhill from there.

But it was such a magnificent effort by the Dragons to go so close after so many problems that they have every reason to celebrate. Third place in the Celtic League is still some achievement after so many problems.

Jason Forster has won the player of the year award voted for by the fans, a worthy choice after another season of total commitment.

Gareth Baber must have been close after a marvellous season, but for me it's Percy Montgomery after a campaign which not only showed what a complete professional he is, but his commitment when he might have coasted a bit, his many match winning performances and even a recall for South Africa.

The fans have had their say, but having seen every Dragons game bar one post-World Cup I'm going to name my own award winners.

Player of the year: Percy Montgomery (enough said already); Most consistent player: Jason Forster and Gareth Baber, jointly, though Peter Sidoli has come up on the rails; Most promising player: Luke Charteris (a young giant regarded as a future Wales star); Most improved player: Nathan Brew (made great strides this season, now on the Wales tour); Clubman of the year: Jim 'My bark is worse than my bite' McCreedy (not for the first time, but continues to do a grand job in so many areas though working with a different coach every year).

But every single member of the Dragons party on and off the field has contributed to an unforgettable season which will live long in the memory.