12:10pm Thursday 26th January 2012
By Chris Kirwan
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons forward Jevon Groves believes he is reaping the benefits of quitting the sevens scene.
The 23-year-old captained Wales on the IRB Sevens circuit last season and skippered his country at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.
National head coach Warren Gatland highlighted the shortened game as a pathway to the seniors recently and his Six Nations training squad includes Alex Cuthbert, Lloyd Williams, Aaron Shingler and Harry Robinson who have all thrived in the format.
But Groves, from Llantrisant, believes he needed to step away from sevens to try and make the grade as a back five forward.
He made three LV= Cup appearances last season against Gloucester (twice) and Northampton and going toe-to-toe with big English forwards highlighted the need to bulk up.
He has piled on a stone and half thanks to hard graft in the gym with conditioning coach Alex Lawson and, though he is still lean for a regional forward at 16st 7lb, he believes it has paid off.
“Sevens brought me on as a player but it was always a balancing act,” said 6ft 4in Groves.
“I am not saying that being involved hindered me in the 15-man game but there was definitely a weight issue for me.
“Sevens is a totally different game, it is getting more and more physical but it is still down to the amount of running you do.
“I wanted to keep the fitness and mobility because it’s a massive part of my game but I also knew that I needed to get bigger to be a back five player in regional rugby.
“That showed in last year’s LV= Cup semi-final against Gloucester, there are some big guys out there and you just can’t match them in terms of physicality without having the weight behind you.
“I think that the hard work and tapering off the running has paid off and concentrating on 15s has allowed me to put on the weight and keep it there.”
Groves will start tomorrow’s LV= Cup clash against the Ospreys at Bridgend’s Brewery Field, his 16th Dragons appearance.
He will be playing as lock rather than in his favoured back row position but versatility has always been one of his strong points.
When he was with Wales Under-20s he slotted into the second row after finding Sam Warburton, Josh Turnbull and Justin Tipuric blocking his back row ambitions.
History is repeating with the Dragons boasting a wealth of talent vying for jerseys 6,7 and 8.
But the region has suffered a raft of injuries in the second row leaving Groves as cover for Adam Jones and Rob Sidoli, the only fit specialist locks.
“I will do anything to get onto the field,” he said.
“My preferred position is six but we have a really competitive back row with Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Lewis Evans.
“Versatility is massively important in the modern game and I think Lewis is a good example of that because he has been in great form at 6, 7, 8 and the second row and only just missed out on the Wales squad.
“I will slot in anywhere and will give lock my best shot. One of my main strengths is my lineout work but calling them will be a new challenge for me.
“I think tomorrow is a big opportunity for lots of us and all of the boys that haven’t been playing are chomping at the bit. Hopefully we can put on a show.”
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