WHAT started in the Anglo-Welsh Cup will end in the Rainbow Cup, two low-key games bookending a quite remarkable Dragons career.

Brok Harris, a lovely positive man who seemingly never likes to be celebrated, is signing off after seven terrific campaigns at Rodney Parade.

The South African will be badly, badly missed – the 36-year-old is still the Dragons’ best loosehead and has remained a massive influence off the pitch.

At times he has been taken for granted, given short-term deals and having to bide his time for renewals while more celebrated players were ticked off the list.

That led me to believe what I was told after the Dragons’ game against Glasgow at Cardiff City Stadium a fortnight ago when Harris’ wife and children were at the behind closed doors fixture.

It sure seemed like a farewell, a chance for them to see him in Dragons action one last time, but the region said they were in talks with the prop over fresh terms.

Whether that was true or whether I was fobbed off doesn’t matter, what matters is that Harris was top of the leavers list on Monday evening and that there is now a huge hole in the roster.

TENACIOUS: Brok Harris was a Dragons influence on and off the field

TENACIOUS: Brok Harris was a Dragons influence on and off the field

The answer to the question of who the greatest player I have seen at the Dragons is a simple one – Taulupe Faletau by a distance.

The question of who the greatest Dragons player I have seen is a more complicated one, and Harris would be on the shortlist. He ticks everything off with on-field quality, durability, professionalism and off-field influence thanks to his quiet leadership.

The South African was an inspired signing by Lyn Jones, arriving fresh from a Super Rugby campaign and then winning the Currie Cup with Western Province in November of 2014.

Work his way gently into European rugby before having a proper crack in the first full season? Not a chance.

He wore the 3 jersey at Harlequins on debut and started in 24 of 25 appearances, signalling what was to come.

IMPACT: Brok Harris settled quickly in his first Dragons campaign

IMPACT: Brok Harris settled quickly in his first Dragons campaign

The prop has racked up 142 appearances over seven seasons, an average of 20 games, but it hasn’t just been his durability that has impressed, it’s been the quality of those performances.

He is solid at the set piece and excellent around the field, rarely missing a tackle or being picked off at a ruck.

Harris might not quite be ‘The Beast’ with ball in hand but he has been a remarkable all-rounder with a tremendous engine.

All that after the emergence of Leon Brown led to him changing sides in 2017, going from tighthead to loosehead.

No doubt Harris’ diligence helped make the switch a success, he is terrific pro and has been a wonderful mentor for Brown and his fellow Wales front rower Elliot Dee.

The South African has been studying his coaching badges and some club will reap the rewards of those softly spoken pearls of wisdom.

CELEBRATION: The South African contingent of Sarel Pretorius, Rynard Landman, Carl Meyer and Brok Harris after the Dragons European win at Gloucester

CELEBRATION: The South African contingent of Sarel Pretorius, Rynard Landman, Carl Meyer and Brok Harris after the Dragons' European win at Gloucester

Harris is a Dragons legend and his departure leaves the region in a pickle; they simply won’t get a player of Harris’ quality for the money that they are prepared to pay.

Greg Bateman had a poor first season at Rodney Parade through a combination of injury misfortune and a lack of fitness. The 31-year-old needs a strong summer and to hit the ground running next season.

Josh Reynolds is a player of promise but the 22-year-old has made just four starts for the Dragons. The departure of Harris has moved him up the pecking order and means he has to be a proper first-teamer after his summer break.

If Aaron Jarvis had been earmarked to occasionally play loosehead as well as tighthead then the loss of Lloyd Fairbrother to a ruptured Achilles, likely to be for the rest of 2021, has thrown a spanner in the works.

The Dragons need another specialist number 1 and it will be a huge surprise if a new recruit can match what he has brought as a player and a pro.

That Harris is so hard to replace at the age of 36 goes to highlight how wonderful he has been, right up there with the greats.