When revealing what he had planned to mark his retirement as a Bath player, the club’s legendary prop Gareth Chilcott declared: “I thought I would have a quiet pint…followed by about 17 noisy ones.”
It isn’t known if Nic Cudd went down the same road after he called time on his playing career on Sunday, but there are plenty out there who would be prepared to toast the 33-year-old former Dragon after his exit from the rugby-playing scene.
His final game came for Carmarthen Quins against Newport. A warrior of a player, there was no going gently into that good night for Cudd. “He was awesome,” reported Quins’ team manager Steffan Thomas of his last performance on a rugby pitch. “But then he always is.”
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Newport won 28-19 in west Wales. Cudd did an interview for S4C afterwards, when he confirmed the curtain had indeed fallen on his time on the pitch. There was barely a hint of self-congratulation from a player who has made a career out of putting the team first.
"It was my last game today, yes, “ said Cudd. “The youngsters can have a chance now.
"I am a bit disappointed with the result and the score. We made a lot of changes and I'm proud of the boys.
"I am happy to finish. I have played long enough and have had enough injuries. I am happy with what I've done and it's been nice to have had a year with Carmarthen Quins. They're great boys and there's a lot of talent there to carry on."
Maybe Cudd should have had a career in personal protection, for throughout his time in rugby he has seemed brave enough to take a bullet for others. Always first to put himself in harm’s way by contesting the ball on the floor no matter how many opposition forwards are thundering towards him, intent on smashing him out of the way, he established himself as a Dragons favourite during his eight-year career with the Rodney Parade team. Many regard the quiet man as a Dragons great, and you can read more about Cudd's story here.
Indeed, a 2020 online ballot to pick an Ultimate Dragons XV saw Cudd take the openside slot with 36 percent of the vote, winning the day ahead of Colin Charvis, Jason Forster, Richard Parks, Jamie Ringer and Ollie Griffiths.
Injuries had bedevilled his final years with the east Wales region, so it came as little surprise when he was released in May of that year. But the Carmarthenshire native joined Quins for this term and predictably went on to make a mark.
“He’s been fantastic,” said Steff Thomas. “What’s stopped him continuing is that he’s going to be an accountant and with all the work and examinations that go with it, plus juggling commitments with his family, he’d struggle to find the time for rugby. But we just want to thank him for his efforts for us.
“He’s a warrior of a player who puts his body on the line every week and the legacy he’s left in our squad in terms of standards is immense. Nic is a proper team man who’d do anything for his team-mates — as competitive as he is, he’s always been willing to help others, even those who play in the same position.
“The way he has gone about things has been superb. He’s one of the best team men you’ll come across.”
Cudd never played for Wales at senior level, but the player who operated in the same back row as Sam Warburton for Wales U18s leaves the game with something that is almost as priceless as a full cap, namely the respect of pretty much all who have played with and against him.
Ex-Dragons team-mate Hugh Gustafson took to Twitter to say: “Legend of a man. No matter the jersey @Nic_Cudd would ‘literally’ bleed for it. Well done on the career mate.”
The South Wales Argus’ Chris Kirwan, who covered pretty much every act of Cudd’s time with the Dragons, posted: “What a player. What a bloke. Don’t think I’ve seen tougher. Wonderful career @Nic_Cudd.”
It goes without saying every plaudit is richly deserved.
