By David Parsons
Taine Basham is all set to join the Dragons centurion club when his side hosts Montpellier in Round 1 of the EPCR Challenge Cup at Rodney Parade.
The Welsh international back row man made his debut six years ago when he faced the Scarlets against Scarlets in January 2018.
| Here is your line-up for the @ChallengeCup_ opener on soil against @MHR_officiel
Century for Basham
✨ Lloyd & Reed at half back
Reynz, Jumbo & Dmitri up front️ https://t.co/MhZ1fSgcsx#WeAreGwentRugby #DRAvMON pic.twitter.com/SIwmhKwi6M
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrfc) December 5, 2024
He has good memories of playing in Europe having notched a hat-trick against Castres Olympic in 2019.
“Being a Gwent boy, it will be a proud moment for me to get play my hundredth game for my local club. It’s weird because it feels like a long time ago that I made my debut,” said Basham.
“I made my debut in 2018 against Scarlets and since then I’ve just taken it game by game and the appearances started racking up.
“I’ve had a good rise going into the Welsh team. I haven’t been involved more recently, but I’m trying to fight my way back into that squad.
“I’ve got plenty of good memories and stuff that I look back on. We’ve had good times and there are a good bunch of lads here who all work hard for each other.”
Taine Basham will reach a century of Dragons games when the Welsh region take on Montpellier in the Challenge Cup at Rodney Parade tomorrow #ScrumV #BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/MGd2SX1SaR
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) December 5, 2024
There has never been a need or that hard work with the Dragons have slipped to the bottom of the BKT United Rugby Championship table last weekend with their defeat at the Arms Park to arch-rivals Cardiff Rugby.
“It’s a different tournament, different challenge. We can look forward to it as a sort of fresh start. With the URC, we’ve probably left two or three wins out there and that’s the most disappointing thing.
“Friday Night at Rodney Parade is something that the players have come to look forward to – especially when a French team comes to town. We’ve had some good results and good performances against them in the past, so I’m looking forward to it.
“It will be a big occasion with it being my 100th appearance and I’m hoping I’ll be able to run out with my little boy Tommy. That would make it an even more special moment for me.”
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