He went out on three loans from Exeter Chiefs to Moseley, Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion before signing an initial three-year deal at Rodney Parade. Lyn Jones, then the director of rugby at the Dragons, obviously liked what he saw.
It proved to be a very shrewd piece of business as Fairbrother went on to play 172 times before finally calling time on his career this summer due to injury. His Blaenavon-born mother also enabled him to play once for Wales in an uncapped match against the Barbarians at Principality Stadium.
He steps down from playing as the joint fifth most capped player in the club’s history alongside Jack Dixon and remains the most capped prop. The 32-year-old’s final appearance in the New Year’s Day clash with Scarlets.
“I’ve had to make the decision to step away from professional rugby and focus on my health, wellbeing, and family. It has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” said Fairbrother.
“But I’m stepping away as I don’t feel I can get back to being 100% fitness due to back issues. Carrying on would have been detrimental to my long-term health.”
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan described Fairbrother as “a wonderful servant for the Dragons”. He added he was “the Cornishman who became a true Man of Gwent”.
