DAMIEN Hudd has been worth his weight in gold to Ebbw Vale since joining the club six years ago – but the Principality Premiership player of the year hopes shedding a few pounds will help the Steelmen defend their title.

The 35-year-old lock was named as the pick of the Premiership at the annual awards evening at Principality Stadium on Monday evening.

Hudd has been a talisman at Eugene Cross Park since joining from Brynmawr after the Steelmen's relegation from the top flight in 2010.

The abrasive forward led from the front while they won two Division One East and two Swalec Championship titles then helped them finish as Premiership runners-up on their return.

And Hudd was the man that lifted the trophy at Sardis Road a fortnight ago after Ebbw crushed Pontypridd to become champions and cap a remarkable return.

The forward, who was on a development contract at Eugene Cross Park when the club was professional in the pre-regional rugby days, has committed to leading the defence of the title and hopes that a change of lifestyle can help tip the scales in Ebbw's favour.

He said: "I dropped three and half stone since Christmas, so that should hopefully help me play again next year because I'm 35 now and couldn't really be playing rugby at 20 stone!

"Over the past few seasons I think I've become more of a mature player; I had a couple of red cards and yellows because of immaturity of playing lower-league rugby.

"I think I've grown as a captain as well – but it's easy being captain of a good team at a good club. The rest of the boys, the supporters and the staff make it an easy job.

"Six years as a captain at Ebbw Vale is a record that I'm proud of and long may it continue; even if someone offered me silly money to go elsewhere I see my career ending at Ebbw Vale then hopefully coaching here."

The Steelmen triumphed in one of the closest Premiership seasons for years with Cross Keys, Aberavon and Newport having fine campaigns as well as the trio that qualified for the play-offs.

Ebbw extended their season by winning 11 out of 12 games and then triumphed at Llandovery and Pontypridd, a feat that makes it all the sweeter to Hudd.

The lock said: "There was a different feeling around the club, the year before when we got to the final we were there just to enjoy the day. We finished second, had an amazing year and just enjoyed it.

"This year we didn't want to be there just to take part; we wanted to be champions. We had to go to Llandovery and Ponty to win so we had to do it the hardest way possible but that makes it even more satisfying."

Hudd still has targets providing motivation – notably the dream of a Principality Stadium Swalec Cup final – but 2015/16 will be hard to top.

"It's been fantastic," he said. "I'm getting to the end of my career and it's nice to pick up some trophies for the club. They are club awards – I wouldn't have won player of the year without my teammates.

"We've had a pretty good year with Ryan Gardner winning try of the year and Ronny Kynes winning top try scorer.

"We've had an amazing year considering where we were six years ago in Division One East going to sides you don't really want to be playing against. I don't think many sides thought that we would challenge like we have."