Aaron Wainwright has written a farewell message to Dragons supporters as he prepares to begin a new chapter in his rugby career with Leicester Tigers.
The back-row forward ended his nine-year spell at the region in May, having made 136 appearances since his debut in 2017. He became a fan favourite at Rodney Parade and is regarded as one of the Men of Gwent's modern-day greats.
He will play his club rugby in England from this season after agreeing a move to the Tigers, where he will join fellow Welsh internationals Tommy Reffell, Olly Cracknell and Gabriel Hamer-Webb.
Wainwright thanks fans and staff
Ahead of his move to the PREM Rugby side, Wainwright thanked those who supported him during his time with the Dragons, saying the fans made Rodney Parade "such a special place to play".
Taking to Instagram, the 28-year-old shared a selection of photos from his Dragons career and said he had "loved every minute" of his time with the region.
"Incredibly proud to have been able to represent the Dragons over the past 8/9 years," wrote Wainwright. "I'm grateful to have met so many amazing people along the way.
"All the staff, coaches and players, thank you for making it such an enjoyable journey, I've loved every minute.
"To the fans who stuck by [us] every week no matter the occasion, thank you for your support. You all made Rodney Parade such a special place to play."
New role at Whiteheads RFC
While Wainwright will now be based in the East Midlands, he will remain involved with the club where his journey first began.
Earlier this month, it was announced that the Wales international had been appointed as director of rugby at Newport community club Whiteheads RFC, where he started out as a youngster.
In the role, he will join the coaching team for the coming season, help develop the next generation of players, and support the club's long-term growth.
"Waino is staying," read a Whiteheads statement on social media. "Despite his move to Leicester Tigers, Waino will be staying on as part of the coaching team for the coming season. He'll also be involved with the next generations and building the club."
