AS professional rugby players we all realise how lucky we are to do something we love for a job. However, there are quite a few things that make it tougher than it seems, with the worst being injury, or more specifically career-ending injury.

The news about our centre Ross Wardle putting his rugby career on hold because of a knee injury shows the downside.

Ross has been a big character at the Dragons since earning a contract thanks to his performances in the Principality Premiership with Bedwas in 2012.

He is a guy who didn't progress through the academy system but had to prove his mettle with quality performances in the Premiership and took his opportunity when it came.

Luckily Ross has been switched on and has another career lined up after combining his rugby in the early days at the Dragons with his masters degree at Cardiff University.

That must have been tough – I found it hard enough doing sports science, which isn't half as complex as pharmacy! – but he can now reap the rewards of that hard work.

But it's still sad to see him go because at just 25 he had a future ahead of him after bursting on the scene but has had to put the boots away when he had lots of years as a professional to come.

It's one of the real negatives about being a rugby player – we're really lucky to do what we do but you never know when it will be your last game.

The Dragons have lost another quality centre to injury after Pat Leach had to retire with a knee injury while Ashley Smith had to hang his boots up because of concussion.

It's important that we don't forget players when they have to retire prematurely and that's why it's been great for me to hold a joint beneficiary year with Ash.

We'd been playing together since we were 11 before he had to retire through injury. There seem to be more and more players suffering that plight and is always a thought at the back of your mind.

Sadly I won't be leading us out against the Scarlets this evening because of my cursed calf but my aim is to make sure I am in the mix for Edinburgh a week on Sunday.

If you can't train, you don't play and I need to make sure I get it right because back row has always been an area of strength at the Dragons and we have lot of players in good form.

We've got a strong team for tonight's Anglo-Welsh Cup game and that shows our intention of playing some good rugby to follow up our home wins against Brive and Connacht.

It's a delicate balance for the coaches of giving opportunities to players but also getting some consistency, although I do think they have got things just about spot-on in terms of managing players so far this season, especially managing some of the senior (older) guys.

It does tend to take a little longer to warm the body up in the morning, especially with an early start for weights leading into a lineout session – a can of WD40 almost seems necessary at times, especially when on a cold Ystrad Mynach pitch.

With my Newport RFC coaching hat on I know the importance of having a strong squad and trying to help keep everyone fresh to maintain standards.

Even with managing my calf injury (and managing the Lamb!), finding the time for the Black and Ambers is benefiting me in terms of my playing.

I think it has helped me understand things from both sides of the fence and it has been nice to enjoy a couple of wins with the boys following up on Neath by beating a good Llandovery side last weekend.

The similarities between Newport and the Dragons can be startling at times – earlier in the season we put in some good performances but couldn't quite get over the line.

This column was written before last night's game at Swansea but fingers crossed we've won a third on the spin to keep climbing the table with the aim of making the top half for the January split, which would be complemented by a home Dragons victory.