HAL Luscombe, the Newport Gwent Dragons threequarter, wants to experience more of that special taste - international rugby.

But Luscombe, just back from a month in his native South Africa after going on tour to Argentina and South Africa with Wales, insists his initial focus will be on playing for the Dragons again in a brand new set-up.

Nevertheless, if anyone had said at the back end of last season he would not only go on that tour and play in all three Tests - the only Dragon team member to do so - he might just have taken it.

"Gareth Thomas got injured, so I came in against the Barbarians and it went from there," said Luscombe.

"Argentina was my first start in a cap game and I got a try at the end, but I'd have taken the win instead of that so it was a mixed bag really.

"I'd never played in a game like that with 90 points scored, the openness of the game took everyone by surprise.

"The second Test went a lot better and then to play against my old country was amazing, as well as training at my old school, Bishops in Cape Town.

"Northern Transvaal and Pretoria (where the Test was played) is almost the heart of South African rugby and with my family there it was a good experience, though we got beaten quite convincingly.

"But it will be interesting when they come to Wales after a hard season. The aim will be to turn them over. "I learned a lot on tour about the level I've got to be at. I've got a taste for international rugby now and I don't want this to be a flash in the pan.

"But first I've got to go back to the Dragons and play as well as I can. I have to keep my place in the side because first and foremost I've got to perform for the Dragons or I've got no chance with Wales. The Dragons will be my focus now 100% on and off the field."

Luscombe met new coach Chris Anderson for the first time briefly yesterday, as well as his new teammates from the Celtic Warriors.

"Chris' name had been around and it's as much a challenge him as it is for us," he said. "But he brings a lot to the table. He's coached at the highest level with winning teams and I'm sure we can learn a lot from him.

"You've got to have a strong squad and the guys who have been recruited did fantastically well last season. The stronger the squad the better and the harder the guys will work."

Luscombe is still anxious to play at outside centre though he has been on the wing for the Dragons and Wales.

And he stresses that though he and other tourists have been away, they have all had special fitness programmes from Wales chief Andrew Hore.

"We had five days off, then went straight into it. We had special heart monitors and we log that into a computer to make sure we have done the work.

"We had five stretch sessions, four cardiac sessions and three gym, cycling and rowing. I had to travel 800 kilometres, seven hours driving, from my parents farm to the nearest gym in Cape Town to do it."