Rhys Webb wants to follow his mate Aaron Ramsey in making 2016 the year of the dragon.
Wales scrum-half Webb watched Ramsey shine at the Euros in France, even though he was too jet-lagged to take up the Arsenal’s star offer of match tickets.
Now, Webb intends to spread the nation’s feelgood factor into the autumn Tests, exactly a year on from the injury that wrecked his World Cup dream.
“It was great for the football boys to achieve what they did in the Euros and it would be fantastic to now back that up with Wales and the Ospreys,” said Webb.
“I know Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies. They both messaged me when I got injured just before the World Cup and offered me tickets to go and watch their games.
“Just before we went on tour to New Zealand, the Wales football squad were also staying at the same hotel. So, we spoke to Aaron then and he offered us some tickets for the Euro games.
“But the jet-lag had killed me coming back from New Zealand, so I watched the games in my local pub and there was a brilliant atmosphere in there.
“Aaron’s a passionate rugby fan. I remember seeing him out in Ireland a couple of years ago. He loves it and is very supportive and that’s good to see.
“I think Aaron was a bit of a rugby No.10 himself once upon a time, down at the Newport Gwent Dragons.”
After missing out on the European Champions Cup qualification, Webb insists the Ospreys have to hit back this season.
“We have to get back in the top four – that’s a given. There’s no reason why we can’t go on and win the Challenge Cup as well.
“These are the standards we set ourselves as players and we want to be winners. We want to get the Ospreys back up to where we should be.
“That will require a lot of hard work, but I’m sure the boys will put that in now and throughout the season.
“It’s a strong squad now. Last season, we bloodied some youngsters – like Sam Underhill and Olly Cracknell – and it was good to give them the experience of playing.
“But they have come on leaps and bounds and with them now having a good pre-season – and the international boys coming back in – I think there will be a hell of a competition for places. That’s good.
“Last season was definitely a blip. We lost a lot of boys to the World Cup and we bloodied those youngsters.
“The Ospreys are used to finishing well inside the divide for Europe, within the Guinness Pro12, so now the boys want to start well.”
