WE’RE set for a hectic few months on the field and I’m also going to be kept busy off it by planning mine and Ashley Smith’s beneficiary year.

It’s something that Steve ‘Jabba’ Jones had and then Rod Snow before him so it’s a huge honour for us to be following in their footsteps.

It’s rare to have such a tribute for both of us at the age of 28 and it’s going to be particularly nice to celebrate Ash’s career throughout 2016 after he was forced to hang up his boots because of concussion.

I’ve known Ash since we were 10, playing for Newport High School Old Boys under-11s before we came through the academy together so makes the fact that we have continued to represent our home region for such a long period together makes the year extra special.

He advanced quicker than I did as a superstar outside half, coming through with Wales youth and when he made his first Celtic League start against the Scarlets in Septmeber 2006 I was on the bench.

Both of us have had our fair share of injuries, but with so many in such a short period of time, the game can take its toll on the body.

I remember seeing him in hospital straight after he broke his jaw playing against Bucharest at Rodney Parade last December and it wasn’t nice to see him in such a state, then a couple more head injuries added up.

Ash had two years left on his contract when he had to make the decision to hang up his boots. It’s a career that should have gone on for a fair few more years but with a young family he had no option but to listen to the specialists and he is trying to move on now.

He was a brilliant servant for the Dragons – no back has made more appearances for the region – and it will be great to celebrate that with him while also raising money for the Stay Strong For Ows campaign, the Matt Hampson Trust and the St David’s Foundation.

We’ve got an event at the Celtic Manor on March 5 and others at Rodney Parade, the Parkway, the Vale Resort and other venues, so I’ll keep you updated.

 

ON the pitch it was disappointing to lose last weekend but the performance was there against Glasgow side who are always strong, even in international periods.

We didn’t make the best of starts and made 43 tackles inside the first 15 minutes, which is a hell of a lot so it was a great effort to go into half-time level at 10-10.

We felt that we would be heading home with something to show for our efforts but just didn’t get the rub of the green, suffering from a few dubious decisions and one horror bounce.

The boys were gutted in the changing room afterwards and I’m told it was just flat after Leinster. There was a marked improvement in performance and plenty to take into tonight’s game against Treviso.

Our flight back to Bristol was an afternoon one so that at least gave us the opportunity to put our battered and bruised bodies through a good recovery session in the hotel spa.

Unfortunately the timing meant we landed back at the same time as Wales were kicking off against South Africa so it was quite a laugh watching the quarter-final on our phones and iPads. The Wales boys played well but it just goes to show that at that level one moment of genius makes all the difference.

Wales have had their injury problems this summer and we’ve also got a few walking wounded at the moment, which means I’m set to captain the side tonight.

Rhys Thomas has been frustrated by a foot injury, he’s chomping at the bit to get back out on the pitch and I’m sure it won’t be long.

In the mean time ‘TRT’ has remained his usual self, offering his pearls of wisdom in meetings and boosting morale.

I’m sure our supporters will be demanding a win tonight and we are determined to get back on track.

Key to doing that will be fronting up to Treviso’s pack and, although it’s a cliché, earning the right to go wide and get our backs across the line.