Samoan Nansen to leave the Dragons

SAMOAN international lock Brandon Nansen has announced he’s leaving the Dragons - just two years after being lauded one of the region’s ‘most significant acquisitions’ for the 2018/19 season.

The 26-year-old has been locked in negotiations with the Dragons over a fresh deal with the region, and despite Cory Hill’s move to the Blues, Nansen is now joining the Welsh international out of the exit door.

You can see all the players leaving the four Welsh regions this summer, here.

“Just like that my two years in Wales have come to an end,” he wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to everyone who welcomed me into the Dragons family.

“It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride. I’ve made some great memories and lifelong friends. Onto the next challenge.”

In the summer of 2018 when the Dragons signed the likes of Ross Moriarty, Richard Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Rhodri Williams and Jordan Williams, Nansen was hailed by then coach Bernard Jackman as the player to give his side a physical edge in the front-five.

Nansen arrived from Stade Francais with Jackman saying at the time: “This is one of our most significant acquisitions for next season.

“We’ve made no secret that we’ve been tracking a strong and aggressive ball carrying second row, so we’re delighted to confirm Brandon’s signing, as he fits the bill.

“I flew to Auckland two years ago to try and convince Brandon to come to France, but he was offered a Super Rugby contract with the Auckland Blues. We have stayed in contact and I am delighted to get him this time.”

But the Dragons saw precious little of his go-forward powers in the last two years with a catalogue of injuries blighting his time at Rodney Parade, as it did in the French capital.

He played just 12 games in his first season after rupturing his hamstring at the Scarlets in January, 2019, and last summer broke his arm in a pre-season friendly with the same Welsh region.

He returned to make just three games off the bench under new Dragons boss Dean Ryan totalling just 42 minutes.

The departures of Hill and Nansen leave the Dragons significantly light in the second-row department.

But the region are keeping tabs on Will Rowlands’ situation, at Wasps, having already secured the services of Leicester Tigers’ wing Jonah Holmes and fellow Welsh international Nick Tompkins, from Saracens on a season-long loan. And they are set to announce the arrival of Welsh-qualified lock Joe Maksymiw from Connacht in the