Wainwright's Final Home Appearance for Dragons
Aaron Wainwright, the Wales back row, played his final home game for Dragons at Rodney Parade against Edinburgh on Saturday. Since his debut in 2017, the 28-year-old has made 137 appearances for the club. He will be joining Leicester Tigers for the 2026-27 season.
Despite Wainwright's farewell occasion, the Dragons were unable to secure a victory, losing 24-15 to Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship (URC), with Scottish international Duhan van der Merwe contributing significantly to Edinburgh's win.
Following the match, Dragons supporters were invited onto the pitch for a presentation honoring Wainwright's dedication and service to the club.
Wainwright Reflects on His Time at Dragons
"I think tonight summed it up really well. Seeing so many fans here and them being able to come out on the pitch afterwards just shows how tight this club is," Wainwright said.
"It was a special occasion for me tonight being my last home game here; I think going into next year, [there are] plenty of positives for the Dragons.
"Hopefully they keep the momentum going from what we've done this year because we've had some real good wins over the course of the season.
"Hopefully they can give the fans more to get behind next year."
Wainwright's Connection with Dragons Fans
Dragons have now suffered two consecutive losses, following a narrow defeat at Montpellier in the Challenge Cup semi-final the previous week. Nevertheless, Wainwright praised the unwavering support of Dragons fans throughout his nine years with the club.
Many supporters showed their admiration by dressing up as Wainwright, emulating his distinctive blonde mullet hairstyle.
"It was awesome having the fans on the pitch. Very hectic as well," Wainwright remarked.
"I spoke in the week about having that connection with the fans after the games. Even though we lost tonight, they were still in full voice and that's what it's been like over the course of my career here.
"No matter what the scorelines have been, no matter what peaks and troughs we've gone through, the fans are always here cheering us on and supporting us.
"So I can only thank them for sticking by us for so long. They've been awesome."
Upcoming Final Game and Move to Leicester Tigers
Wainwright is set to play his final game for Dragons on 16 May, the last weekend of the URC season, in a Welsh derby away to Scarlets before transferring to Leicester Tigers in the summer.
He will join fellow Welsh teammates Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake, who are also moving to the English Premiership, with the Ospreys duo transferring to Gloucester at the end of the season.
Wainwright's Ambitions at Leicester Tigers
"There is a load of history there at the club (Leicester) which was a major attraction for me. The way the Premiership is played week in, week out, the love of competition there," Wainwright said.
"Hopefully I can add to what they're already doing there at Leicester and it can help take my game to the next level.
"I'm really excited about getting started in this next chapter of my career."
Tributes from Dragons Head Coach
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia expressed his admiration for Wainwright and acknowledged Leicester Tigers' gain in acquiring him.
"He's a champion of a man. He's very unique, softly spoken. We're going to miss him," Tiatia said.
"We wish him all the best going to Leicester Tigers and they're very lucky to have got him."
