Wales international Dan Baker has had an 11th-hour change of heart about joining Merthyr and is moving to Aberavon instead.
The three-cap player was all set to commit to the Ironmen, only for him to review matters before putting pen to paper and decide to link with the Wizards after his departure from the Dragons.
“I saw the story in the press about me, Tavis Knoyle and Josh Lewis going to Merthyr,” said Baker.
“I was going there but I’ve signed for Aberavon.
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“Why did I change my mind? I’ve worked with their coach Jason Hyatt before and I like the way he coaches and I like him as a person. He’s honest, positive and enthusiastic.
“Also, Aberavon’s only 10 minutes down the road from where I live, not 40 minutes.
“And I like them as a club. I played for them when I was with the Ospreys and I thoroughly enjoyed being there. I know a lot of the boys, like Joe Thomas, Rhodri Hughes and Sam Williams, so I’m looking forward to linking up with those and others and enjoying my rugby again.”
Baker could prove a significant pick-up for the Wizards.
He showed when he started for the Dragons against Ulster earlier this year that he could still operate at a high level, with his 14 carries on the night seeing five defenders beaten and 67 metres made for his side. There were also 12 tackles and no misses. Afterwards, Sean Holley mentioned him in the same sentence as Scott Quinnell — "bustling with quite quick feet".
For sure, the 6ft 2in, 17st 13lb No. 8 remains a hard man to stop and someone who is almost guaranteed to give a team go-forward.
But the Dragons opted not to retain him.
“They have a lot of players in their back row, and they’re all quality,” said Baker.
“When I went there, their director of rugby Dean Ryan actually told me they were signing me as I offered something different.
“But then I hardly played.
“I only had two starts in the year and a half I was there. I thought I did well in those games.
“I played against Ulster earlier this year and thought it went well. I had the in-house Dragons man-of-the-match award but the following game I played just 10 minutes against Munster in a game we lost by more than 60 points. It’s hard to change a game in 10 minutes.
“I obviously didn’t fit the way Dean and the Dragons wanted to play. I was told I needed to get fitter and faster. Dean is entitled to his opinion, but my carries were pretty decent and that’s what I base my game on. I’ll always do my best to record high tackle counts and when I played against Ulster in my only start of the season I didn’t miss anything in defence.”
“I don’t know if they didn’t like me or the way I played.”
Despite looking forward to playing for Aberavon, Baker is less than impressed that he is leaving professional rugby. “I’m gutted because I’m only 29 and a lot of people I know tell me I can still do a job.
“But it’s the way things go.
“I’m just grateful to Aberavon for showing an interest.
“I haven’t decided what I’ll do alongside the rugby. I signed when I came out of school, so I know nothing different. All I know is rugby. It’ll be something new and different; hopefully, I’ll like it.” You can read more about Baker here.
Baker isn’t the only Wales international to released by the Dragons this summer, with Adam Warren also departing. “I feel sorry for him,” said Baker.
“He’s an outstanding player and an outstanding bloke, and then he gets s**t on.”
You can read how Adam Warren was cast aside by the Dragons at the last minute here.
But at least there’s an opportunity waiting for Baker. “I’m going to stay fit and I’ll try to be faster,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ll change too much at this stage, but I will try to improve. I’d like to think I can carry the ball — I’ve played that way for a long time and it did get me a few Wales caps.”
He has no doubt about his best coach at regional level. “Steve Tandy was excellent,” he said.
“Allen Clarke was also good.
“With Tandy, what I liked most was his honesty. He was always truthful and told boys as it was but he also tried hard to help you. I played a lot under him and enjoyed it. We had an identity and knew how to play.”
It’s too soon for Baker to be leaving the pay-for-play scene, but he feels he’ll enjoy playing for Aberavon and there’s every chance he’ll be proved right.
