DRAGONS new boy Steve Cummins has rejected the offer of an extra week of holiday to get stuck into pre-season from day one with his new teammates.
The 32-year-old lock is ready for a fresh challenge with the Rodney Parade club next week after moving from Pau in the Top 14.
The Australian, who is no stranger to Wales after 46 appearances for the Scarlets over three seasons, returned to Sydney after finishing in France.
His last game for Pau was as a replacement against Racing 92 in Paris on June 1 – the same day as the Dragons signed off in the United Rugby Championship.
The French club, potential opponents in the European Challenge Cup, brought their campaign to an end the following week when they beat Perpignan.
“The Dragons have a four-week holiday policy but finished the week before us,” said the 6ft 7ins forward to the Rosbifs Rugby podcast, which looks at the French game.
SIGNING: Steve Cummins, formerly of the Scarlets, is heading for the Dragons (Image: Huw Evans Agency)
“I will be at that three-week mark and they were pretty good about, they did say if I wanted an extra week I should let them know.
“But I think it's probably best to turn up on day one to meet the guys and try to make a good first impression.
“I will happily get back - I didn't play too much at the back-end of the season so I am not feeling too bad.”
Cummins will have to wait to get to know locks Ben Carter and Matthew Screech, who are on Wales duty in Australia along with Aaron Wainwright and Rio Dyer.
He is one of five new signings - a sixth, a deal for a Welsh-qualified fly-half, is yet to be rubber-stamped by the WRU - and will be joined in Ystrad Mynach by hooker Oli Burrows, lock/flanker Shane Lewis Hughes, number eight Solomone Funaki and centre/full-back Harry Wilson.
The Dragons have also bolstered their back room team with the most notable arrival being defence coach Filo Tiatia.
“I've had a good bit of dialogue [with the Dragons] and in their project they are at a point when they want to turn expectations and standards around, to try and build a winning culture,” said Cummins, who was at the Scarlets when Dragons boss Dai Flanagan was part of the coaching staff.
“It's an exciting time and there has been some really good recruitment. I am not really sure what to expect but I am excited to get my feet on the ground, meet everyone and hopefully be a part of something pretty special.”
The Dragons have so far confirmed one pre-season friendly against Bristol at Clifton RFC on September 6.
They get the URC under way with a home fixture against the Ospreys on Saturday, September 21.
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