New Year, New Start, Newport

Hi all,

With a new hand clearing away a lot of dross, some exciting players and a vibrant citadel of support, this could be an excellent year for Newport. You need depth to top the table, more depth than they have. However, there is no reason that Newport cannot reach the heights they did in 2003 - 2005 and claim a playoff position.

Although they lack the reputation of other clubs, there are some serious players in this Newport side - Harries and Brew is a devastating wing pairing, while a backrow of Falatau, Lydiate and Morgan is amongst the best in the league. Their second row pairing is excellent while they possess an under rated gem in Jason Tovey, who continues to be overlooked internationally.

Former Wales U20's coach Darren Edwards has clearly got his eye on the future with several cherry picked youngsters set to wear Newport colours. It seems to be a longer term plan which will coincide nicely with the redevelopment of Rodney Parade, Newports home stadium. All in all, there appears to be real development afoot.

Their absence from Europe this season will serve as a boost, not a hindrance in my opinion. They are in a tournament that they can actually win. This is only going to bring in more crowds, give the players more confidence and make the men of Newport a seriously dangerous team to take on.

Famed for their vibrant home support, if they can maintain that and take some key scalps (especially early in the season when others are World Cup depleted) a playoff berth is a real real objective. Once there anything is possible especially with such strength at lock, backrow, winger and a little genius at half back pulling the strings.

A new coach, a new start, a new Newport!!

......Newport? Newport Gwent Dragons you mean?

Agree with the positive vibes coming out of the Dragons camp at the moment though, really hope they can kick on this season. The start is going to be all important for them though. Start this season how they finished the last and they could really get rolling and be difficult to stop I reckon. Fingers crossed for them anyway

Took me a while to work out that it was the Dragons he was talking about

Newport

Backrow of Faletau, Lydiate and Thomas you mean

Realistically Dragons are going to be one win from four after the first few games. I hope they push on a bit though and push for the playoffs this year.

Newport meanwhile will want to get their British and Irish Cup place back.

This "Newport" thing really get up my hooter.My first thought was why the hell are all these Dragons players turning out for the Black&Ambers?
Hope we go well.I feel that we will not be the lowest ranked Welsh team come the end of the season.

Ah lads, Dragons, Newport whatever its the same thing.

red_stag wrote:Ah lads, Dragons, Newport whatever its the same thing.

To a outsider it may well be but including place names when they formed the regions was a huge mistake and it's one that the WRU should have known would cause problems.

Yea but sure lets just call a spade a spade. Maybe its just my outside point of view but I see one true region and Cardiff, Llanelli and Newport.

ah Stag, you've done it now. may start!

The regions were stupid to put place names in their regional name to begin with. Tis why the Scarlets have dropped Llanelli from theirs and why the Blues and Dragons need to drop Cardiff and Newport from theirs.

If not for the simple fact to avoid confusion over which team is being discussed

Poor wum really Stag. I expect better.

Fantastic! Bravo, monsieur cerf, you sure know how to meet your obligations :applause:

Why would the Scarlets drop "Llanelli" from their title and then say on their website under the "Our History" section:

"The famous Scarlets shirt was worn for the first time in 1884 against an Irish XV who had stopped off in Llanelli having played Wales in Cardiff a few days earlier"

Its not a big deal.

Because they now represent more than just Llanelli Stag

Yes Dreamer, but they are basically just Llanelli RFC no?

Newport has a nice ring to it tho, dreamer, and Dragons could refer to the whole of Wales?

They are a region

Risca Rev wrote:Poor wum really Stag. I expect better.

You don't see them doing well next season?

Cymroglan wrote:They are a region

Wales isn't a region, it's a principality, surely?

Cymroglan wrote:They are a region

Yes, in name only, sure; but basically the same thing aye?

Lads its just a title. I don't get uppity if Munster is referred to as a region rather than a province.

The British and Irish Lions (formerly known as the British Isles and the British Lions) is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The Lions generally select international players; they can pick uncapped players available to one of the four Home Unions, but in recent years this has rarely occurred


If you read the above you will notice that the Lions were formerly known as the British Lions until somebody realised that Ireland was also involved so they decided to rename it The British and Irish Lions now you can compare that to Llanelli, People twigged that the Region covered a larger area than just Llanelli and that's why people prefer it to be called The Scarlets.

red_stag wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Poor wum really Stag. I expect better.

You don't see them doing well next season?

Who, Newport or the Dragons?

Cymro I agree that some Irish posters get hung up on the British and Irish thing. Being pedantic can often stand in the way of rugby discussion. We saw it with Lions tour and again on this thread.

Yes of course people do get worked up over things to me they are just the Lions.
Bit of advice for you though before you write a article do a bit of research first getting the title right is rather important.
http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/FixturesResults.aspx

Cymroglan wrote:Yes of course people do get worked up over things to me they are just the Lions.
Bit of advice for you though before you write a article do a bit of research first getting the title right is rather important.
http://www.blackandambers.co.uk/FixturesResults.aspx

It's a bet he's had with Aslongas. He's wumming.

And do you think I'm not lol Why do you think I quoted that Lions bit and he never picked up on the fact I talked about Llanelli

Fair enough Cymro. He's a rascal though, as is that skirt wearer Aslongas with his Prinicpality talk.

Cymroglan wrote:And do you think I'm not lol Why do you think I quoted that Lions bit and he never picked up on the fact I talked about Llanelli

The doubleWUM, ha, ha - lovng your work, sir. A very rare beast and often not used effectively - I tip my hat in your general direction!

Risca Rev wrote:Fair enough Cymro. He's a rascal though, as is that skirt wearer Aslongas with his Prinicpality talk.

Did you like that one, Rev? V disappointed you didn't rise to it tho! Tee, hee!

Dead funny.

red_stag wrote:Lads its just a title. I don't get uppity if Munster is referred to as a region rather than a province.

No, but you might be a bit peeved if Munster were referred to as Limerick.

Anyway, talking about the Dragons, I can't wait for the new season to start. At first glance, playing Munster and Leinster away is about the toughest start you can get, but on the other hand both will be missing far more first-choice players than we will, so it's better to be playing them early doors than at the end of the season when they'll be at full strength. Also, we're playing Munster at Musgrave Park, and if memory serves we've beaten them there in the past.

If we are to do well this coming season, we need to see an improvement in our away form. That's the key.

luckless_pedestrian wrote: No, but you might be a bit peeved if Munster were referred to as Limerick..

Nah, he'd be blydi delighted, as everyone knows MUNSTER = CORK !!

I've got a sneaky feeling that we may just beat Leinster away and possibly pick up a bonus point defeat against Munster.

I hope they use the Challenge Cup for development and try to field their best players in the Rabbo. If they do that they could well finish in the top 4 although I think thats just wishfull thinking on my part. 6th is probably more realistic.

I'm particularly looking forward to the Gustafson & Price rivalry at Loosehead, if Coombs can establish himself in the backrow, if Adam Hughes well get an oppertunity at Inside Centre this year and if Jonathon Evans can establish himself in front of Bedford as second scrum half. The biggest area I worry about is at 12/13 as I see that probably as our biggest weakness.

On a side note I've also heard that Morgan may be on his way. Him and Edwards go a way back so this move could be on the cards. Should create outstanding competition for Tovey at 10.

Tovey could play 15 then no?

I think Matthew Morgan would've been signed by now if anything was doing. It's been touted for a while.

Tovey would not go back to 15 though Stag.

He should. Wales need fullbacks badly. They dont lack for 10s.

Should Martyn Thomas stay fit, then he'll provide a real option for both Wales and Dragons at 15.

Fourteen reasons why Dragons will finish above Munster this year.

Rodney Parade is better than Thomond or Musgrave Park.
Even a bus pass carrier like John Hayes can still get a game for Munster.
Dynamism of Dragons backrow is much better.

Steffan Jones is a better talent than Danny Barnes etc.
Tackling flyhalfs are a rarity in Munster (whereas Jason 'Barbed Wire Shoulder' Tovey will always cut his man down).
Aled Brew is better than Doug Howlett.
Gavin Thomas is the best openside in our Hemisphere (not Warburton).

Inspirational halftime team talks from Paul Turner are no more for the Dragons.
Stags are rubbish animals, so by default Munster are a rubbish team.

All Munster do is kick the leather off the ball.

Basically Dragons are the future.
Even Gatland is starting to realise the Dragons are the future.
Referees are now wise to Munster's cheating.
Kingsley Jones' Russia will provide stronger opposition to the Dragons than Munster in a one off game.

This post says it all for me regarding regional rugby, it is hardly surprising attendances are poor maybe we should get rid of Gwent and call the whole old County, Newport, problem sorted.

Glamorganalun, you do realise that this article is written by an Irish poster, right? And if you read the posts, it is the dragons fans that are condemning him for calling us Newport. No Newport fans calling the dragons 'Newport' here, so I can't see why this post says anything about the state of regional rugby and the attendances? It just seems that an Irish poster got the name wrong (perhaps for a bit of fun to stir things up?!) and the dragons fans attempted to correct him!

Does it really matter if it's Newport or Gwent or Both?

What matters there is a great team coming together who like to play expansive attractive rugby and have a team full of players who are playing like they are enjoying themselves.
I've always thought the Dragons lagged behind the other 3 regions in terms of youth development, but there was some real talent on display last night. There Welsh academies are churning out young Welsh players, and we will soon have a log jam of talent trying to make the break through to regional level.
The first thing they need to do is tie down Lydiate, Faletau, Tovey, Setffen Jones and Aled Brew to long term deals and build a team around them.
I'd hate to see the Dragons wait until their final contract year and have the Ospreys or Blues, or some French club steal them away.

Alyn,

To a lot of people in Gwent then YES it does matter.

The whole thing of the Regions was set up wrong, if they want to be a true Gwent Region then they should now look to drop the Newport from the title.

As an Ebbw Boy who now follows his Region there are still friends and family who want step foot inside Dave to support Newport Gwent Dragons.

Some may say they are cutting thier noses off to spite their face etc but to the it is still Newport playing in Newport at Newports ground in predominently Newport Colours.

The Dragons themselves are trying to build bridges within Gwent and they are doing the right way ie my looking after the future youngsters.

I still think they could take some of the smaller Pro12 games (Aironi for eg) and certainly some of the LV Games around Gwent.
Also myabe why not have the away strip in the old Blue of Gwent as it use to be

I agree with Bedford, and I'm actually from Newport. My fellow Newport mates want 'newport' dropped too, but funnily enough the lads from outside Newport who go to the games with us are not too bothered! Odd. Actually, I think this describes the situation well. There will always be those from
Newport who want to keep Newport in the title, and those (like my crowd) who have bought into regional rugby and want the name dropped. Similarly? Loads outside Newport will want it dropped for obviously reasons, while some who have already been going years may not be that bothered any more (as in the case of some of our crowd).

For me, it makes no sense for teams like Cross Keys, Pontypool, Ebbw Vale and Newport to be feeding upwards into a team called, erm... Newport! If only for the confusion factor! We have a bit of an advantage over other regions in that 'Gwent', although now not officially a place since the county was split into unitary authorities (Newport, Blaenau Gwent, etc.), still does describe the collection of county boroughs in SE Wales that the club covers. Therefore, 'Gwent' is the best location identifier available to us so we should use it. Just 'Dragons' could be anyone in any part of the world, so that's not enough IMO.

Gwent Dragons would be fine with me.

Why is Gwent Dragons ok but Newport Dragons isn't?

Surely 'The Dragons' is the easiest solution.

Gwent Dragons, or just Dragons would represent the whole regions,a nd either would be fine imo.

Newport Dragons would just be...Newport, hence not representitive of all the fans who don't live there.

red_stag wrote:Why is Gwent Dragons ok but Newport Dragons isn't?

Surely 'The Dragons' is the easiest solution.

RS,

Dragons would be ok but they are a Gwent Region so Gwent (Not Newport) Dragons would be best IMO.

Stag, Gwent is a collection of towns and a city that the rugby team now covers. Newport is only one of those areas, and is also one of the feeder clubs. As Newport RFC exists elsewhere then it gets confusing, and also does not describe the input of other clubs in Gwent.

It would be like calling Munster 'Cork Munster' when Munster rugby is much more than just Cork.

I can see the ease of just calling us 'Dragons' but, just personal opinion, but I think all teams should have something that says where they're from and who they represent. Dragons could relate to anyone in the world. Most other teams in the world with names still have their place name in the title: Leicester Tigers, Wellington Hurricanes, Western Stormers, etc. They may be shortened by fans and media for ease of use, but they're still officially in the clubs titles so that they do not lose their identity.

As I said, Gwent actually describes the area that the region represents (even though it is technically an old name) like the provinces of Ireland, so lets use it. Other regions in Wales do not have this luxury.

Its only a name

I'd still support them if it was the Ebbw/Cross Keys/Ponty Dragons

Playing different grounds would make no sense whats so ever, they've just spent a fortune making a modern rugby ground.

Newport has better infrastructure than any of the clubs covered and better facilities.

NO it's not only a name as proved with the Blues Region when the WRU just expected Ponty fans to follow them.

Would Bath fans still follow a combined a West Country team if they played predominently at kingsholm in Gloucester colours. I doubt it

Yes Newport has the infastructure and I agree the big games should be played there but surely a Pro12 against Aironi or LV Cup could be played around Gwent.