DRAGONS lock Steve Cummins believes ‘the sky is the limit’ for Wales international Ben Carter – but the experienced Aussie hasn’t just arrived to be a mentor.
The 32-year-old from Sydney is one of six signings made by the Rodney Parade club for the upcoming season, which gets under way with a United Rugby Championship derby against the Ospreys on September 21.
At 6ft 7ins, Cummins adds serious heft to the boilerhouse as well as knowledge from a well-travelled career that has featured spells at Melbourne Rebels in his native Australia, Eastern Province Kings in South Africa, Pau in France and the Scarlets in west Wales.
He will be tasked with passing on gems to the other second rowers on the books.
Carter and Matthew Screech started in Wales’ summer Test against South Africa with George Nott, Joe Davies and the up-and-coming Barny Langton-Cryer and Nick Thomas as other contenders.
Cummins is happy to share his knowledge but arrives with a hunger to rack up the games and leave the other locks learning on the training paddock.
“If there’s any way that I can pass on some knowledge then great but I am really excited about competing with and against the others in the squad,” he said.
“I want to be involved on matchdays, that’s my main focus, but I also know that I have a role to play in being that experienced player with a bit of leadership.
“It’s super exciting to see the potential of somebody like Ben Carter, the sky is the limit for somebody like him and he can be around for a long time.
“If there are little lessons that I can pass on, or just different ways of looking at things, to help that will be great.
“Guys might not take everything up but they could get one thing that works for them from five or 10 bits of advice.”
Cummins also recognises the need to share the load between the locks.
“The front five is always attritional and having depth is always a good thing to allow for injuries, travel and the challenge of going up against big European and South African packs,” he said.
Cummins has a wealth of experience but is still learning at 32 and has profited from working with another new addition.
Former All Blacks and Ospreys back rower Filo Tiatia has settled in after arriving to be defence coach and Dai Flanagan’s right-hand man.
“He’s very knowledgeable and has a big presence. He commands respect and when he speaks people listen,” said Cummins, who played under Flanagan at the Scarlets.
“That goes a long way because in pre-season they have brought in some new structures and ways of looking at things, so having someone like him is a really good way of helping deliver that.
“He’s a big specimen but he’s very switched on and is intelligent, always working behind the scenes to get the best out of people and improve the programme.”
The Dragons play the first of three friendlies a week on Saturday when they host Hartpury University RFC of the English Championship at Rodney Parade.
That is followed by Friday night trips to the Premiership pair of Bristol and Bath before the Ospreys opener to kick off a vital first block of the URC.
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