HE SHOULD be captaining Cardiff University at the Millennium Stadium tonight but centre Ross Wardle is quite content to instead be basking in the glory of a first win in regional rugby.

The 21-year-old was a key figure in Newport Gwent Dragons’ 30-24 RaboDirect Pro12 win against Munster last Friday.

It was his fourth start on the spin – a surprisingly rapid rise given that he is combining his Dragons duties with the final year of his masters degree in pharmacy. In fact, it is an ascent that means he won’t be leading his fellow students out in the varsity match against their Swansea counterparts tonight with that honour instead falling to James Thomas, his Bedwas teammate and a product of the Dragons Academy.

“I don’t think it’s fair to let them do the training and all of the hard work then come in at the end,” said Wardle, who penned a full-time deal with the Dragons last month.

But his man of the match performance against Mun-ster showed why he will be sorely missed.

Wardle scored the late winner and was a constant threat throughout from outside centre, not bad considering a far from regulation build-up.

“I had a pharmacy exam on Thursday so couldn’t do the team run and I hadn’t played 13 for a number of weeks,” said the back, who had moved from wing to cover a midfield injury crisis.

“Even outside centre is a bit of a new position, I’d been a 12 all my life until this season.

“I didn’t really know the moves until we went on the pitch, but it went all right!

“It was my first home game for the Dragons and I was nervous because it was important to try and make an impression in front of a big crowd and show that I deserve to be here.

“The spirit was great and everybody dug deep to get the win with the crowd getting us across the line.

“It was my first win with the Dragons, the feeling afterwards was brilliant and will bring us together. We need to take that into our final game against Edin-burgh and then on to next season.”