NEWPORT Gwent Dragons can really start to go places with a redeveloped ground and new training facilities says former favourite Percy Montgomery, back at Rodney Parade for the first time since leaving nearly three years ago.

Monty returns as a member of the Perpignan team who need to beat his former team today to clinch a place in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

Since ending his three-year spell with Newport and the Dragons, the full back's career has taken off for a second time, so much so that he is now South Africa's highest ever points scorer with 873 and has won more caps - 94 - than any other player.

And he was also the highest points scorer in the World Cup last year, topping the 100 mark and scoring 12 in the final to help the Springboks become world champions.

He often lamented the lack of proper training facilities while he was at Newport. Speaking at Perpignan's hotel on the outskirts of Newport yesterday, he said, "Developing the ground is a really positive move, we spoke about it often when I was here.

"You need that gym and you need the facilities to be top notch. It shows they are serious about getting up there.

"I spent hours practising at Rodney Parade, how can I forget the cabbage patch?" he added in a reference to the area where he and his former colleagues often had to train.

"But it's great to be back here, it's only for one night and I'll definitely come back in the future, it's only a couple of hours away by plane.

"I had a really good time here and the family were crying when we left. I was hoping to play in the first game against the Dragons in November, but I injured my knee in the World Cup final and couldn't play.

"The break probably did me good because it got my mind off the game, but it's fine now. I was struggling at first but I'm trying to get fit again, this will only be my fourth game."

Montgomery wanted to set up one more career move before finishing, and France was the choice after his previous spell in Wales.

"The move to Perpignan was set up before the World Cup, I wanted to do something different with a new challenge," he said.

"I said let's go somewhere where the sun sun shines!' This move can only benefit me and my family, it's a rich experience and I always wanted to play in France.

"I learnt a lot in Wales, now I'm in France, the language is a bit of a problem but I'm working on it. My teammates are pretty amazing and they've got their own special ways."

Montgomery recognises that the time he spent at Rodney Parade revitalised his career, got him back into the Springbok fold and also revolutionised his kicking style which he used so successfully in his second spell in international rugby.

"I had a proper pre-season here and was able to concentrate on my fitness with Mike Ruddock," he recalled.

"He brought in the rush defence and then there was the running over the dunes with Chris Anderson, there was a good team spirit with people like Fozzie (Jason Forster).

"They were a good bunch, we got stuck in and had a good year under Mike and though we lost him then to Wales it was good for him.

"With the kicking I shortened my run-up, then practised my timing and worked on my own style. Then Jake White called me and after setting up a meeting with my wife said he wanted me to come back and play in South Africa.

"I was laughing, but he explained what he wanted and convinced me. I said I'd love to go back and play there and it's been incredible since.

"Jake organised things on and off the field, it's been incredible and we had an awesome spirit, there were no big heads and everyone got on. There was also a good mix between young and old."