Hughes returns to former club

By Mark Stevens

Adam Hughes says he leaves Exeter Chiefs a better player after he today confirmed he has re-joined former club Newport-Gwent Dragons on a permanent deal.

Signed in the summer of 2014 by head coach Rob Baxter, the Welshman featured nine times for the Chiefs, scoring four tries in the process.

With game time somewhat limited for the 25-year-old at Sandy Park, Hughes returned to Rodney Parade earlier this season on an initial three-month loan deal.

Now, the Newport-born back has made the switch back to his hometown club a permanent one, inking a new deal that will take him through to 2018.

A graduate of the Dragons academy, Hughes has made 89 appearances for the Men of Gwent and has also played for Premiership sides Bedwas and Newport RFC, as well as having a short stint in the Championship with Bristol prior to his move to Devon.

Commenting on his switch, Hughes said: "I have to thank Exeter as they have made me a better player and have developed me over the last two years – I feel like I have come back a better more rounded player because of my experience there.

"Its great that I have signed a contract with the Dragons. When I came back here I was on loan originally, but it has been going really well and I feel like I have fully settled in with the squad.

"It is different here now compared to how it used to be, especially having the new training facility in Ystrad Mynach. We are a team on the up with all of the the players doing well and it's only going to get better once we are back up to full strength with the return of the injured players."