AFTER getting a taste for professional rugby at the end of last season, Joe Westwood is flourishing from being one of just eight Dragons ever-presents in the first block of the United Rugby Championship.

The promising centre will make his sixth appearance of the campaign at Connacht when he wears the 13 jersey at the Sportsground (kick-off 7.35pm).

The 21-year-old from Blackwood joins wing Rio Dyer, centre Aneurin Owen, fly-half Lloyd Evans, scrum-halves Rhodri Williams and Dane Blacker, flanker/lock Shane Lewis-Hughes and second row forward Ben Carter in being in part of every matchday squad so far.

“Playing every week has been big for me, just the confidence it gives you and getting more comfortable in playing professional rugby,” said the former Wales Under-20s international, who scored his first Dragons try against Benetton last weekend.

“The more I've played, the more comfortable I'm around the boys. It's just enjoying playing and not putting any pressure on myself.

“I had a good pre-season, which is a big part of it. Over the last few years I haven’t really been able to do one, and being with the boys and around the other centres to learn off and try to improve each game has been important.”

DIRECT: Joe Westwood has run hard from midfield for the DragonsDIRECT: Joe Westwood has run hard from midfield for the Dragons (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

Westwood played fly-half and full-back at age-grade level, then made his first professional start as a winger against Ulster in Belfast.

Now he is battling Australian centre Harry Wilson for the 13 jersey, with Harri Ackerman poised to join the midfield tussle in the second block of the campaign after a broken leg suffered at the start of the year.

“I want to play 13. We have a lot of young centres here and I’m just trying to keep that jersey for as long as I can,” said Westwood, who starts alongside Owen.

“I like the defensive challenges of playing there. It is tough place to defend, but I enjoy that, and then you got the difference between ball playing and the physical side of the game. I enjoy both.

“I also enjoy playing against the top players. You can see where you are and really test yourself.

“I’m just trying to improve every game, rather than focusing too much on mistakes. To try and just keep on improving little areas all the time and not put too much pressure on myself.”

Westwood will be to the fore in Galway as the Dragons finish a first block of the URC that has provided plenty of encouraging performances but just one win against the Ospreys on opening weekend.

“They like to throw the ball around, like Benetton last week, and can go from anywhere so that is certainly something we’re aware of. We look forward the challenge,” said the centre.

“Performances are improving. We started the season really positively and obviously we haven’t had the results the last few games, but we are improving as a group.”