THE Christmas period isn’t a time for excess when you are a professional rugby player but that’s a small price to pay when there are Welsh derbies coming up.

These are the biggest games of the season and one consolation of missing out against Pau last weekend with a calf problem is that I am fully fit for the Cardiff Blues game on Sunday and up for selection.

There’s then the Ospreys game on New Year’s Day and there are plenty of us fighting for places at the moment – we are on a good run and need to have a good festive period. I’m not complaining about our schedule, it’s just not quite holiday time for us!

It’s always a busy time of year for rugby players with an intense training period and quick turnarounds. Added to that I have to switch my playing hat for a coaching one with a big game with Newport at Cross Keys on Boxing Day.

That promises to be a great game with the side who wins at Pandy Park ending the year on top of the Principality Premiership.

We need to go there with a positive approach and maintain the great form that we have shown in the league in recent games and play our game, and not be drawn into theirs. Hopefully, the pitch won't dictator too much of the style of play and it will be a game worthy of the table leaders.

Back to the Dragons, we will train today, having Christmas Day off then have a team run on Boxing Day.

It’s nice to spend the festive period with friends and family but as a professional rugby player you get used to being the designated driver, acting as a butler to get others drinks and try your best not to over-indulge when it comes to food.

I can’t remember the last time I went out to properly celebrate on New Year’s Eve but this time a wedding party will mix it up a bit, even though I won't be able to be toasting Auld Lang Syne with a glass of anything alcoholic!

It was a really good job by the boys in France, coming away from Pau with a well-deserved bonus point win.

It could have been a daunting trip given that Pau had brought their superstars back in but they went over there with a positive attitude and the same approach that we did in Stade Francais last season.

The boys relished that underdogs tag, going over with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and I suppose the challenge is now to produce those performances when expectations are on us.

Jason Tovey bounced back with a man of the match performance, managing the game brilliantly from fly-half, and that shows great character. He is just one of a number of players who have put their hands up for selection – which is where we need to be as a squad.

Creating that strength in depth is something that we have talked about for a long time at the Dragons and soon with all injuries cleared we have that across the whole squad.

We are all being kept on our toes and boys are taking their chances when others are rotated or not-selected. Don’t perform and you won’t get picked.

Competition for places creates a winning team and has helped us enjoy our results in recent weeks.

We’ve talked about repeating last year’s effort by having a clean sweep in December and we are three quarters of the way there thanks to our league win against Munster and the European double. Now we have to finish what has been a positive 2015 in good style.

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I’ve previously asked Nick Crosswell and Adam Hughes a few questions about life as a rugby player and now is a good time to speak to our captain Rhys Thomas given that he used to play for Cardiff Blues.

Q: So Mr Thomas, you will be leading the boys out against your old club, where I'm sure you've had many fond memories and good experiences?

A: Well, as this interview is early on in the week and having had a big win in France I'm not sure if I'm playing yet.

Obviously if I'm selected and leading the boys there is always that special feeling playing against the Blues as I spent such a large part of my life there having made some lifelong friends and superb memories.

Q: After a long stint at the Blues you moved to Wasps and then the Dragons. How did you find your time across the border and how have you enjoyed your time here?

A: I've been very lucky to play at the clubs that I have. It was quite funny how I ended up at the Blues really, I played u21s at Newport and as the game went regional Mike Ruddock at the Dragons decided he didn't want to keep me for whatever reason.

I had a chance to play for Cardiff on loan at the end of that season. Cardiff was the team I supported as a child and having the chance to play for the Blues in regional rugby the year after was a dream come true.

Wasps was another big move at that stage of my career having been at the Blues for nine years. It just felt the right time with 13 out of the starting XV moving on at the Blues.

I felt that at that stage I didn't want to be in a developing team every week, I wanted to push on.

With family commitments it was tough balancing everything but I couldn't speak highly enough of the club, boys and culture and I am not surprised they are where they are today with Dai Young at the helm (although the budget is helping).

As for the dragons I can honestly say I've loved every minute of my time here, there is such a special feeling playing at Rodney Parade with our home support and doing the half lap before the game makes my hair stand on end even now writing this.

I think we've made huge strides on and off the field. When you look at all the youngsters we have mixed with a bit of experience everyone in the environment is extremely confident we are going to be consistently at the top end of the table in the near future.

Q: We are now seen as the senior or 'old boys' now with a few boys in the rugby world, what are your words of wisdom you'd pass on to the likes of youngsters coming through the region?

A: I don't think I'm qualified to give any wisdom but I'll try anyway.

The main one is always wash your shaker. The second bit of advice I would give to a younger player is to try and stay as emotionally level as you can, don't get too high when you win and too low when you lose.

Always try and put things into perspective otherwise it ends up taking the fun out of it plus you'll be a nightmare to live with.