STALWART Nic Cudd may have played his last game for the Dragons after rupturing ligaments in his left knee just months before his contract expires.

The 30-year-old openside suffered the injury in training last week and is now set for a length spell on the sidelines after undergoing an operation.

That raises the possibility of the popular Cudd having played his last game for the Rodney Parade region as his current deal runs out this summer.

The west Walian arrived from Llanelli in 2012 and has racked up 130 appearances, a tally that puts him third on the list of back row forwards behind Lewis Evans (224) and Jamie Ringer (140).

It is the third time that Cudd has ruptured knee ligaments.

The back rower damaged his left leg at the start of his career when coming through the ranks at the Scarlets and suffered a blow to his right leg in a friendly against Glasgow in 2017 that meant he sat out all of last season.

Cudd now faces another operation on his left knee and more rehab, with the Dragons having a duty of care towards the affable openside even if he isn’t under contract.

“Unfortunately Nic ruptured the ACL in his left knee during training,” read a club statement.

“He is being reviewed in London today (Monday) and has an operation booked in later this month with consultant knee surgeon Andy Williams.”

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Meanwhile, Samoa lock Brandon Nansen is targeting a return against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on March 23.

The forward suffered a hamstring injury in the January loss at the Scarlets and is back running in training.