The ‘Cornish Barrel’ made the move to Wales in 2014 from last season’s double winning champions Exeter Chiefs and has become a stalwart for the Dragons over his 7 years with the region. Fairbrother made his Premiership debut for Exeter at the age of 18 but factors outside of rugby and a chat with former Wales, Exeter and Dragons prop Craig Mitchell lead him to pack up and head to South East Wales, where his mother was born and bred.
“I was in a weird stage of my life, things were going great at Exeter Chiefs and I had made my premiership debut at 18. But personal things were happening outside of rugby and I had an urge to move away from it all and fly the nest” he said.
“At the time I was living with Craig Mitchell and he’d mentioned the Dragons could be of interest, after speaking to his agent (who still manages me) I made the move and have never looked back!”
Fairbrother looked back into when he started rugby with local club Liskeard Looe and what made him fall in love with the game.
“I tried a few sports growing up, in the end I was good at running hard into people. I played my youth rugby at Liskeard Looe in Cornwall and have such good memories from my youth rugby, it was such a family club. We’d go on tours, travel all around Cornwall and made some lifetime friends that support me now as a professional. I always pop back in and have done a few presentations over the years but that club definitely made me fall in love with the game”.
In his seven year stay at Rodney Parade, Fairbrother has seen some difficult seasons, but he’s also been part of some memorable moments at the region.
“My first home game is always something I remember well. Home at Rodney parade vs Ospreys, fireworks, packed house, tv trucks everywhere. It was fantastic”.
“We’ve always played well in the Challenge Cup too and Stade Francais was an amazing win out there!”
The tighthead has also shared the field with a number of quality players at the Dragons.
“Over the years we’ve had some unbelievable players at the dragons, the likes of Toby Faletau, Thomas Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Andy Powell, Andrew Coombs, Gavin Henson, Richard Hibbard to name a few! Current welsh players like Elliot Dee, Cory Hill have all been fantastic to play with and against at times too!”.
The Dragons have long been the worst performing Welsh region but there has been a visible improvement this season and last both in performance and results and Fairbrother is excited by the direction the club is headed.
“In a profession like rugby you are based on success and wins. But the amount of work and change the club has gone through in the 7 years I’ve been there has been incredible. I think we are now at a stage where this club and region really means something to every player. We have a good group of internationals and a competitive level of senior regional players that aren’t far off international recognition”.
Dragons have always produced some talented academy graduates with the likes of Elliot Dee, Aaron Wainwright and a player who competes with Fairbrother for the no.3 shirt, Leon Brown all gaining Welsh caps. This season has been no different with plenty of youngsters being given oppurtunities, particularly lock Ben Carter and centre Aneurin Owen who have looked more than comfortable when called upon this year. Fairbrother heaped praise on the young players within the Dragons academy set up.
“Our academy boys coming through are some of the most exciting and the way some of them have stepped up this season to senior rugby is something to admire”
The Dragons revival has been hugely down to Director of Rugby, former England international Dean Ryan and Fairbrother highlighted how important Ryan has been.
“Dean is very important to everything that happens, he drives standards and wants players to constantly get better and be able to ask questions. He’s creating an environment where everyone is a part of something and bringing us all together. Dean is a good mix of old school hard nose at times, but also very approachable. The main thing is your getting better and working hard every single day”.
Fairbrother has become a favourite of the Hazell Terrace in his time at Rodney Parade and admits he is massively missing the Dragons faithful at games.
“The Dragons supporters are the heartbeat of this club, who have faced some pretty tough seasons over the years. The club has gone through so many changes, but one thing always remains and that’s the loyal, passionate supporters we have that want to see homegrown talent and success. The fans make Rodney parade the place it is and although it’s nice playing back at home it isn’t the same without our fans!”
During last years disrupted Six Nations campaign, the Welsh qualified prop was invited to train with the Wales squad as they prepared to face Scotland, a game which ended up being called off at the last minute due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Looking back at the experience, Fairbrother says how much he enjoyed the experience and how he’d still love to be able to pull on the red jersey in a competitive international game.
“I sort of took it for what it was and I was a spare number so the team could train and scrum. But throughout the day it went from one session to a full day. And at one point a chance of being involved to play against Scotland! which was crazy! I loved every minute of it and didn’t personally feel out of place, the boys were welcoming, and I received some kit”.
“I’m still hopeful, I feel I’ve really come into my own the past season or 2 and can put consistent performances together. I would love to play for Wales, to represent my mother’s family and the Dragons supporters would be unbelievable! And a true dream come true!”
The Dragons European season is over following being knocked out by Dan Biggar’s Northampton Saints. However, despite dominating the first half, largely down to Fairbrother and his fellow front rower’s superiority at scrum time, Northampton fought back to win 39-43.
“Such a frustrating loss! We were very confident as a team and a pack especially. We’ve had a real good run of form as a pack the last 3/4 games. I think we’ve really found our physicality and our set piece has improved so much”.
“We knew Saints would be physical, a typical English pack that use set piece for momentum and pens and across the squad have some dangerous players. I thought we smashed them to bits for 50 minutes and upfront put the squeeze on!”
Outside of rugby Fairbrother has struggled with his mental health but has learnt to look after his mental health just as he would do his physical health.
“The past 2 years have been pretty rough outside of rugby. I got married in 2019 and was divorced in 2020, things happened that really stripped my life back and made realise what’s important in my life. My daughter was a big factor and I now play and want to do well for her!”
We are very lucky individuals to still be paid and be able to train and work through COVID. It was the first lockdown that I really had to lean on my mother for help and my Daughter was my only motivation. I’ve realised mental health is a real thing and for most of the first lockdown I really didn’t look after myself or my mental health”.
Fairbrother will be looking to play a vital part in the new Rainbow Cup, which the Dragons kick off against the Scarlets at Rodney Parade next Sunday 25th April.
Haydn Evans 