Gwent Dragons 2015/16 thread

[PhilBB]

First topic message reminder :

I don't need to address anything, I am one fan with an opinion the same as you and any other fan.

Sure, but here I am trying to understand your opinion yet, sadly, you won't address a key element of it.

Previously you wrote: "Only sad, narrow minded parochial people stuck in the amateur era mindset would see gwent as something in direct competition to newport." so I wrote a detailed, honest and clear answer as to why that insult is misplaced.

It's misplaced because one club is carrying all of the risk but with only 50% ownership.

Do you think it fair that one club carries all of the financial risk, without total ownership, for a "Gwent" team? Sure, you don't need to address the question but, in all fairness, it will speak volumes if you don't address it.

[GavinDragon]

Where have you seen that Stone?

[mikey_dragon]

It hasn't cost us anything. We had already agreed to pay Faletau's wages up until the end of his contract, which he is fulfilling. We could have potentially gained £200K from the transfer fee, but it never materialised.

[Stone Motif]

Where have you seen that Stone?

Grauniad.

Whatever you think of Hazell, pretty sure his sums are a bit closer to the mark than Mikey's, or else he just did a very stupid thing in the national press.

[mikey_dragon]

Where have you seen that Stone?

Grauniad.

Whatever you think of Hazell, pretty sure his sums are a bit closer to the mark than Mikey's, or else he just did a very stupid thing in the national press.

Now that wouldn't be out of the ordinary would it.

[Stone Motif]

Where have you seen that Stone?

Grauniad.

Whatever you think of Hazell, pretty sure his sums are a bit closer to the mark than Mikey's, or else he just did a very stupid thing in the national press.

Now that wouldn't be out of the ordinary would it.

The WRU said absolutely nothing to refute those figures in their press release in response.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Just two examples out of the 17 then stone? And Scott is still expected to sign btw.

Let's not try to be clever by making out there aren't tiers of these contracts.  The nonsense around who is caught by Gatland 'so law is damming enough, without the fact that they just helped make the financially weakest pro team poorer by a six figure sum and one of their uber-rich English competitors better off by the same amount.

Sounds as if they helped do their best to help keep Faletau at the Dragons (the best option) but failed.

I heard their contribution to Faletau's NDC meant the offer was less than he's on now, which means they really, really didn't 'do their best' at all.

They scuppered a deal that suited the Dragons, Bath and Faletau himself, and didn't back up their 'keeping our star players in Wales' talk with action and hard cash.

[mikey_dragon]

Should probably change this thread title to rumour mill. There's a lot of rumour going around on it.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I got that on Twitter from Robin Davey, who still has very good contacts at the Dragons.

[mikey_dragon]

I hope for our sakes that it isn't true, as offering him a pay cut has really ballsed it up. Did they want him to leave for pastures new? My original point btw was that we didn't lose all that money, we didn't have it lose in the first place.

[mikey_dragon]

Our team is unveiled for Pau. Any idea if they're bringing the likes of Slade and Smith?

[GavinDragon]

not Smith

[munkian]

No Smith I dont think

[mikey_dragon]

Easy win for the Dregs then...

[munkian]

With our scintillating kick and sometimes chase game ?

[GavinDragon]

A side

Geraint Rhys Jones (Dragons), Elliot Frewen (Newport RFC), Aled Brew (Dragons), Barney Nightingale (Newport RFC/ Dragons Academy), Aaron Warren (Dragons), Arwel Robson (Newport RFC/ Dragons Academy), Charlie Davies (Dragons); Luke Garrett (Cross Keys/ Dragons), Hugh Gustafson © (Dragons), Leon Brown (Cross Keys/ Dragons Academy), Scott Andrews (Cross Keys/ Dragons), Adam Brown (Newport RFC), Luke Crocker (Ebbw Vale), Nic Cudd (Dragons), Harri Keddie (Ebbw Vale/ Dragons).

Replacements: Rhys Buckley (Dragons), Richard Cornock (Cross Keys), Alex Jeffries (Newport RFC/ Dragons Academy), Ashley Sweet (Ebbw Vale), Scott Matthews (Cross Keys), Owen Davies (Newport RFC/ Dragons), Connor Edwards (Dragons Academy).

[GavinDragon]

Carl Meyer, Tom Prydie, Adam Hughes, Adam Warren, Ashton Hewitt, Dorian Jones, Sarel Pretorius; Phil Price, Thomas Rhys Thomas ©, Brok Harris, Matthew Screech, Rynard Landman, Lewis Evans, Ollie Griffiths, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Lloyd Fairbrother, Shaun Knight, Cory Hill, Ed Jackson, Luc Jones, Jason Tovey, Ross Wardle.

[munkian]

Bit rough on Cudd after a great display last game.

What the hell is going on with Brew ?

[GavinDragon]

Obv not rated by Lyn Jones. Why the hell we signed him I will never know.

I know Angus is with the 7's but don't understand our approach to him either

[GavinDragon]

Really like that back row

[munkian]

Really like that back row

Yeah, definitely our strongest depth there.

I guess Brew's French experiment didn't do him any good.

[GavinDragon]

I look forward to watching the A side at Bedwas next Sat. Want to see how Arwel Robson gets on

[mikey_dragon]

A side

Geraint Rhys Jones (Dragons), Elliot Frewen (Newport RFC), Aled Brew (Dragons), Barney Nightingale (Newport RFC/ Dragons Academy), Aaron Warren (Dragons), Arwel Robson (Newport RFC/ Dragons Academy), Charlie Davies (Dragons); Luke Garrett (Cross Keys/ Dragons), Hugh Gustafson © (Dragons), Leon Brown (Cross Keys/ Dragons Academy), Scott Andrews (Cross Keys/ Dragons), Adam Brown (Newport RFC), Luke Crocker (Ebbw Vale), Nic Cudd (Dragons), Harri Keddie (Ebbw Vale/ Dragons).

Replacements: Rhys Buckley (Dragons), Richard Cornock (Cross Keys), Alex Jeffries (Newport RFC/ Dragons Academy), Ashley Sweet (Ebbw Vale), Scott Matthews (Cross Keys), Owen Davies (Newport RFC/ Dragons), Connor Edwards (Dragons Academy).

A few changes there, yet the 23 looks stronger on paper. Who are their opposition?

[Guest]

Happy enough with our team. I prefer Griffiths over Cudd in an attacking sense anyway

Pau: Romain Buros; Marika Vunibaka, Jale Vatubua, Watisoni Votu, Elijah Niko; Charly Malie, Samuel Marques; Chris King, Mehdi Boundjema, Euan Murray, Cameron Pierce, Claude Dry, Sean Dougall, Josefa Ulago Domolailai, Brice Monzeglio (capt).

Replacements: Thomas Bianchin, Julien Jacquot, Giorgi Natsarashvili, Daniel Ramsay, Loic Bernad, Thierry Lacrampe, Pierre Dupouy, Mosese Ratuvou.

Can't pretend to know many of them, bar Murray. Bit disappointed the Hazell faithful won't see Colin Slade who was available for selection (Conrad Smith wasn't).

Doncaster away then home, Mikey. Big task with their pack by the sounds.

[GavinDragon]

I am worried by Price vs Murray

[Cardiff Dave]

What a complete an utter feckin shambles the whole lot has been good old WRU royally screw things up again.

Love the cut of your jib.
It is a feckin shambles though isn't it. Welsh rugby just keeps on giving.

[bedfordwelsh]

What a complete an utter feckin shambles the whole lot has been good old WRU royally screw things up again.

Love the cut of your jib.
It is a feckin shambles though isn't it. Welsh rugby just keeps on giving.

It wouldn't be Welsh rugby if there wasn't some sort of fall out

[Steffan]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

[Cardiff Dave]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

[Steffan]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

[Cardiff Dave]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

[Steffan]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

[Cardiff Dave]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

Me too btw, but don't tell anybody FFS.

[mikey_dragon]

Watched the first half, but left just after the second half started. Sarel's score was a good'un from what I could see. 22 nil FT, maybe we could have got some more tries but ah well.

[Stone Motif]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

You're even sh1te at wind ups Steff. Stop embarrassing yourself.

[Cardiff Dave]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

You're even sh1te at wind ups Steff. Stop embarrassing yourself.

Cardiff and Ponty badges on the same jersey is the biggest wind though shewerly? Can't believe some suits came up with the idea as if it would help actually. Just causing more aggro and confusion on top of the existing aggro and confusion. Craziness.

[Stone Motif]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

You're even sh1te at wind ups Steff. Stop embarrassing yourself.

Cardiff and Ponty badges on the same jersey is the biggest wind though shewerly? Can't believe some suits came up with the idea as if it would help actually. Just causing more aggro and confusion on top of the existing aggro and confusion. Craziness.

Nah. 'One True Region' has to be king of the wind ups, surely?

[GavinDragon]

Don't know why it offends so many people. Cardiff happily being cardiff. We are a bit of a hybrid, Scarlets are the same scarlets as pre03.

Seems fairly accurate in terms of how regions were intended to be set up.

[Guest]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

You're even sh1te at wind ups Steff. Stop embarrassing yourself.

Could be worse. Could've done an Ashman's Shout like the one here

http://www.ponty.net/pontypridd-v-llanelli-matchday-magazine10/22993295/pontypridd_v_llanelli_(for_web).pdf

Hick hick hooray

[GavinDragon]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/14144530.Dragons_eyeing_Welsh_exiles_in_transfer_market/

who we thinking the exiles we are after are? The exiles in the Eng prem are:-

Dan George - Hooker - Worcester
Sam Lewis - Flanker - Worcester
Jean-Baptiste Bruzulier - Scrum Half - Worcester
Tomas Francis - TH Prop - Exeter
Adam Hughes - Centre - Exeter
Phil Dolman - Full Back/Centre - Exeter
Richard Hibbard - Hooker - Gloucester
Ross Moriarty - Back Row - Gloucester
James Hook - Outside Half - Gloucester
Steph Reynolds - Wing - Gloucester
Dominc Day - Lock - Bath
Rhys Priestland - Outside Half - Bath
Jonny Evans - Scrum Half - Bath
ROb McCusker - Back Row - London Irish
Darren Allinson - Scrum Half - London Irish
Andy Fenby - Wing - London Irish
Owen Evans - Prop - Quins
Adam Jones - Prop - Quins
Jamie Roberts - Centre - Quins
Rhys Gill - Prop - Saracens
Sion Bennett - Flanker - Saints
George North - Wing - Saints
Ed Shervington - Hooker  - Wasps
Bradley Davies - Lock - Wasps
Thomas Young - Flanker - Wasps
Eifion Lewis Roberts - Prop - Sale
George Nott - Lock - Sale
Jonathan Mills - Lock - Sale
Nick Macleod - Full Back - Sale
Owen Williams - Outside Half - Leicester
Jack Roberts - Centre - Leicester

In the championship we have

Marc Jones - Hooker - Bristol
Ian Evans - Lock - Bristol
Dwayne Peel - Scrum Half - Bristol
Gareth Maule - Centre - Bristol
Matthew Morgan - Outside Half/Full Back - Bristol
Gavin Henson - Outside Half/Centre - Bristol
Steffan Jones - Outside Half - Bedford
Rheon James - Centre - Cornish Pirates
Gavin Cattle - Scrum Half - Cornish Pirates
Tom Riley - Centre - Cornish Pirates
Will Griff John - Prop - Doncaster
Rhys Lawrence - Hooker - Ealing
Nathan Buck - Prop - Ealiing
Llewellyn Jones - Lock - Ealing
Carwyn Jones - Lock - Ealing
Alex Walker - Scrum Half - Ealing
Will Harries - Wing - Ealing
Lewis Robling - Outside Half - Jersey
Rory Bartle - Lock - London Scottish
Ben Calder - Scrum half - London Scottish
Dan Newton - Outside Half - London Scottish
Jason Harries - centre - London Scottish
Nathan Trevett - Prop - London Welsh
Darren Waters - Flanker - London Welsh
Kieren Murphy - No8 - London Welsh
Josh Davies - Scrum Half - London Welsh
Rob Lewis - Scrum Half - London Welsh
James Lewis - Centre - London Welsh
Nic Reynolds - Centre - London Welsh
Seb Jewell - Full Back - London Welsh
Martyn Thomas - Full Back - London Welsh
Simon Gardiner - Prop - Moseley
Rhys Williams - Centre - Moseley
Kyle Evans - Wing - Moseley
Ed Siggery - Flanker - Moseley
Darren Harris - Hooker - Rotherham
Will Owen - Centre - Rotherham
Ross Jones - Full Back - Rotherham
Jarad Williams - Lock - Yorkshire Carnegie

*those in bold used to play for the Dragons

Academy Players

Dan Thomas - Flanker - Gloucester
Josh Adams - Wing - Worcester
Callum Sheedy - Outside Half - Bristol
Curtis Matthews - Wing - Bristol

[GavinDragon]

There is also Darren Waters, Keiron Murphy and others at London Welsh

[Stone Motif]

Don't know why it offends so many people. Cardiff happily being cardiff. We are a bit of a hybrid, Scarlets are the same scarlets as pre03.

Seems fairly accurate in terms of how regions were intended to be set up.

It's wholly inaccurate given the ownership of the Ospreys.

How were regions intended to be set up?

[Stone Motif]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

You're even sh1te at wind ups Steff. Stop embarrassing yourself.

Could be worse. Could've done an Ashman's Shout like the one here

http://www.ponty.net/pontypridd-v-llanelli-matchday-magazine10/22993295/pontypridd_v_llanelli_(for_web).pdf

Hick hick hooray

Rogeresque

[Guest]

As much as it pains me to say it, it's realistically only the players that will not have to take a backwards step to join us. Sounds obvious, but we're always linked with EVERY Welsh player abroad when he becomes available (e.g. Charteris recently, Hook in the past, Lydiate, etc.) but I just can't see them swopping top clubs for us. And they never do, as history shows us.

So I think we have to discount players on that list like Hook, Hibbard, Fenby, Moriarty, Francis, Bradley Davies. What we're left with are players on the fringes of other teams or playing in the English 2nd tier. Most of which are probably no better than what we've got. I'd love to see the above come to the Dragons, plus the likes of Ian Evans (although I'm probably basing that on former glory). But I'm not sure we'd be improving that much with the rest on the list. Sadly.

[GavinDragon]

I think from that list there is very little that we can realisticaly sign which will significantly improve our first team.

Ian Evans maybe,
Henson if you could get him to play more than 10 games in a season and stop him trying to fight his teammates

There are plenty who would supplement our squad:-

Maule
Martyn Thomas
Will Harries
Lewis Roberts
Nick Macleod

Problem is they are probably on as much if not more than our starters and we just can't afford that size a wage bill.

It seems to me the only hope is to attract one of the bigger names on a NDC, but why would they want to join when they can go to another region?

[munkian]

I think from that list there is very little that we can realisticaly sign which will significantly improve our first team.

Ian Evans maybe,
Henson if you could get him to play more than 10 games in a season and stop him trying to fight his teammates

There are plenty who would supplement our squad:-

Maule
Martyn Thomas
Will Harries
Lewis Roberts
Nick Macleod

Problem is they are probably on as much if not more than our starters and we just can't afford that size a wage bill.

It seems to me the only hope is to attract one of the bigger names on a NDC, but why would they want to join when they can go to another region?

Gill ?

[GavinDragon]

Off to Cardiff.

[mikey_dragon]

Gavin, how certain are you that Gill is off to Cardiff? If true then good news for Wales but a shame for us as we really need a LH. I actually had no idea there that many Welsh playing rugby in England, and seeing as I can only see Bradley Davies playing for Cardiff if he returns then realistically we could get Tomas Francis (or maybe that's wishful thinking?), Morairty (more NDCs), Jonny Evans, Dom Day, Rhys Gill (even though he is perhaps set for Blues?), Lewis-Roberts, Owen Williams. Of the championship then I would only like to see Ian Evans, Matthew Morgan, Gavin Henson, Gareth Maule, Marc Jones, Kieran Murphy - I've mostly listed players who play in the position we need cover. Most of the guys I've left out are surplus to requirements. I've purposely left out the likes of Jamie Roberts because I can't see him turning out for another Welsh team.

[Cardiff Dave]

Don't know why it offends so many people. Cardiff happily being cardiff. We are a bit of a hybrid, Scarlets are the same scarlets as pre03.

Seems fairly accurate in terms of how regions were intended to be set up.

Nor me.

[Cardiff Dave]

Only decent thing the WRU have done so far this year

You gloating coz the region up the road from your region, has lost out from some transfer cash?

Yep

Ole you fibber.

On a serious note though I love watching the Aviva Premiership especially when Welsh players are involved in the game so looking forward to seeing Faletau run out for Bath. Just hope Halfpenny signs for Wasps

You're even sh1te at wind ups Steff. Stop embarrassing yourself.

Cardiff and Ponty badges on the same jersey is the biggest wind though shewerly? Can't believe some suits came up with the idea as if it would help actually. Just causing more aggro and confusion on top of the existing aggro and confusion. Craziness.

Nah. 'One True Region' has to be king of the wind ups, surely?

Oh aye.

[GavinDragon]

Don't know why it offends so many people. Cardiff happily being cardiff. We are a bit of a hybrid, Scarlets are the same scarlets as pre03.

Seems fairly accurate in terms of how regions were intended to be set up.

Nor me.

You should see the amount of ire it causes amongst a small section of blues fans when they are indeed referred to as the Blues on Twitter instead of Cardiff Blues.

The same fans also dislike the OTR slogan - can't think why

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