Matthew Screech

A second-row stalwart of the Welsh regional game, Matthew Screech has long been a fixture in the engine room for the Dragons. Born on 24 October 1992, the Wales-qualified lock is valued for his robustness in the tight five and his reliability at the set-piece, where his work in the lineout and at the scrum gives his pack a dependable platform. Screech is a forward who thrives on the hard yards — the cleanout, the tackle, the carry into traffic — and his physical consistency has made him a trusted senior figure, including spells of leadership with the captaincy. Lineout organisation is a particular strength, and he combines the technical demands of the role with the durability to get through a full shift week after week. Now an experienced campaigner, he offers the kind of unflashy set-piece stability and grunt-work that every successful forward pack is built around, and his presence brings ballast and know-how to those developing alongside him in the second row.