Amos decision on where he plays next may define future for Dragons
TURN back the clock two years and Hallam Amos could not have sent out a clearer message to would-be suitors if he’d phoned each and every one of them up and shouted “go away” down the line.
It was the autumn of 2016 and Colin Charvis had speculated on television that the Dragons youngster’s Wales prospects might be better served elsewhere.
Did Amos do as so many thought he might?
No, he did not.
Instead, the former Monmouth School pupil showed admirable loyalty to the region in which he had been raised.
The Dragons had made him captain for a game back then and he declared: “I’m happy, I’ve grown up here, it’s my hometown club and I am pleased to be playing here and captaining this weekend. The captain doesn’t run off, does he?” And he didn’t run off.
But next summer Amos is out of contract again and the probability is there will be interest in him once more. How will he react this time?
Well, a club or region can’t rely on the loyalty card indefinitely and in some cases nor are they able to rely on cash to retain an exceptional individual, especially when the team of which that chap is a part are under-performing.
Careers are short and for all the talk of a three-year road-map for success at Rodney Parade, there is never any certainty in sport and certainly no guarantees that the Dragons are poised for a dramatic upturn.
Amos spoke publicly just days ago and his interview with the South Wales Argus struck a markedly different tone from the one he gave two years earlier.
“I want to see progress, I have been here eight years with the senior squad and was with the academy. It’s about time that we started seeing some progress,” he said.
“It has been frustrating and we can’t use the excuses that we are young or that we haven’t got the players any more.
“We have five forwards and Tyler Morgan in the Wales squad while Ollie Griffiths could have – should have – been in there.
“We have international class across the team now, so it comes down to us. We have the players, we have the plans in place and we just have to start winning.”
Those words should worry all at the Dragons, their Welsh Rugby Union owners included.
For Amos is a gem of a player. Yes, Elliot Dee is in the Wales setup and, yes, the chances are he is going to play a lot of rugby for Wales in the coming years.
Yes, Ollie Griffiths is a terrific forward prospect and, yes, Cory Hill has led the national team and is rapidly establishing himself with Wales
But Amos is an individual who has a transformative effect on the Dragons side when he plays.
Of course, they are not turned into the Barbarians circa 1973 but he lifts the standard no end and provides a dash of class that any side would welcome.
When he played against the Ospreys in Swansea last autumn, he made 176 metres with ball in hand from 16 runs, two of which were clean breaks.
His eye for a gap and appreciation of space gave the Dragons an extra dimension and pretty much every one of his 16 passes and two offloads were accurate and skilfully delivered.
Also, his ability is only half the story.
Lose Amos and the Dragons