Gwent Dragons 2013/14 thread

by Guest Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:24 pm

First topic message reminder :

A place for general Dragons chat, etc.

After renewing my season ticket recently, and with Lyn Jones being unveiled as the new DoR (yeah I know, some people thinks he's gash, but whatever), plus the training facilities at Ystrad Mynach, I feel a bit of a buzz and optimism around the Dragons. Saying that I do generally get a feeling of optimism pre season every year which usually goes by about mid October!

Just watched the Wales U20's get to the final of the Jnr World Championships and a couple of lads looked really good - Jack Dixon a rock in midfield, Hallam Amos an elusive runner at FB/wing and Ieuan Jones looking like a very good prospect at 8. Will be good to see how the go next season for the Dragons. I think their regional appearances have certainly helped them in this Jnr cup in terms of experience. Looking forward to seeing them play with the likes of Faletau, Coombes, Talei, T Rhys Thomas, etc. next season.

Anyone want to make a stab at our strongest matchday 15/23 for next season? Will have a stab myself after a bit of thought.

by munkian Fri May 16, 2014 4:00 pm

by dragon4life Fri May 16, 2014 4:05 pm

You'll find out soon enough

by Jhamer25 Fri May 16, 2014 5:51 pm

dragon4life wrote:You'll find out soon enough

I have a feeling it's Euan Murray?

If not, can you at least say if we will know him?

by Guest Fri May 16, 2014 7:32 pm

I actually thought we would be in for Murray, when I heard rumours of a 33 odd year old prop and then he was announced as available. Don't think it's him though. Would've been useless for us this season too, with the number of Sunday games we had

by dragon4life Fri May 16, 2014 11:32 pm

Its not Murray should be confirmed next week if all goes to plan with WRU approval

by bedfordwelsh Mon May 19, 2014 7:04 am

Is he well known will he actually improve our scrum?

by **George Carlin** Mon May 19, 2014 8:17 am

bedfordwelsh wrote:Is he well known will he actually improve our scrum?

Good question Bedford. He certainly should improve it from the Dragons' effort this season.

As a Scotland fan, Murray would always lift his game for internationals and put in a pile of defensive work. Scott Johnson was a big Euge fan and certainly when used as an impact sub in the last 20 minutes was often very effective. I think that he criticism now is that he doesn't usually lift himself to those heights for club games. With the emergence of Jon Welsh at Glasgow, the re-emergence of Geoff Cross at Edinburgh/Irish and WP Nel at Edinburgh becoming SQ quite soon, you shouldn't lose Murray during the international window and that would be a major plus to signing him. Subject to the number of Sunday games you have, obviously...

by munkian Mon May 19, 2014 10:23 am

"Regional Rugby Wales (RRW) on behalf of the Four Welsh Regions, the Cardiff Blues, Scarlets, Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons, is proud to invite members of the media to attend a press event to celebrate an exciting new initiative and partnership for regional rugby and its supporters in Wales.

Date: Monday 19th May 2014
Time: 12 noon
Location: Cardiff Arms Park, Westgate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1JA"

Something kicking off, hopefully good news

by XR Mon May 19, 2014 11:35 am

a new initative and partnership?

Can be anything from a new playing agreement to a covered sponsorship deal, tv rights or whatever.

by munkian Mon May 19, 2014 12:08 pm

That's what I reckon

Moffet is back in the country soon too, maybe we'll hear about the EGM

by GavinDragon Tue May 20, 2014 10:14 am

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11223620.Jevon_Groves_poised_for_Blues_after_Dragons_exit/

Jevon going back to KEEERRRDIIIIFFFFF

Not hit the heights for us so not too worried about this

by dragon4life Tue May 20, 2014 5:28 pm

Helped us against zebre Wink

by Guest Tue May 20, 2014 7:57 pm

Yeah he did. I'm more excited about seeing Scott Matthews featuring more though. I don't particularly rate Groves, but wish him all the best

by dragon4life Tue May 20, 2014 8:44 pm

And James Benjamin looks set to be a quality player as well

by GavinDragon Thu May 22, 2014 10:19 am

one less available excuse

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/11227742.Dragons_excited_by_Ystrad_Mynach_training_upgrade/

by munkian Thu May 22, 2014 12:04 pm

Very good news.

In bad new, Hallam Amos needs shoulder surgery and will be out of the SA

Could see Byrne starting for us

by dragon4life Thu May 22, 2014 4:54 pm

Anyone else heard the rubbish about euan murray coming to us?

by dragon999 Thu May 22, 2014 6:45 pm

dragon4life wrote:Anyone else heard the rubbish about euan murray coming to us?

you said it wasn't him d4l! - Who have you heard it is ?

by Guest Thu May 22, 2014 7:42 pm

I thought it was a bit of a tenuous link, but nothing more. Nobody of note has picked up on it.

by Jhamer25 Thu May 22, 2014 8:01 pm

Why would this be a bad thing?

by dragon4life Thu May 22, 2014 8:24 pm

The one robin davey told me is not him. He said that the player will either be confirmed this week or next, big signing NWQ. On another not Kingsley has quit Russia.

by bedfordwelsh Thu May 22, 2014 10:46 pm

dragon4life wrote:The one robin davey told me is not him. He said that the player will either be confirmed this week or next, big signing NWQ. On another not Kingsley has quit Russia.

Yeah I heard that as well, I hope its not to take up the role with Gloucester that he was rumoured with.

by dragon4life Fri May 23, 2014 8:38 am

I hope it's not

by munkian Fri May 23, 2014 11:09 am

Jhamer25 wrote:Why would this be a bad thing?

Because the bible basher doesn't play Sundays

by dragon4life Fri May 23, 2014 5:09 pm

Haha

by Jhamer25 Fri May 23, 2014 6:28 pm

dragon4life wrote:The one robin davey told me is not him. He said that the player will either be confirmed this week or next, big signing NWQ. On another not Kingsley has quit Russia.

I wish they would hurry up then, I think Murray would be a good signing but limited to only playing Fridays and Saturdays has had an affect on his carear. It's a shame because he is a talented tight head.

Is it CJ Van Der Linde?

by The Saint Sat May 24, 2014 12:04 am

Where's CJ been lately? Was he the one formerly with Leinster?

by Jhamer25 Sat May 24, 2014 5:12 pm

The Saint wrote:Where's CJ been lately? Was he the one formerly with Leinster?

Well he is the only 33 year old NWQ quality tight head prop i can think of that is out of contract. He was contracted with London Irish until the end of this season after moving there from the lions. That didn't work out due to injury then he went back to the Eastern Province kings. I think he is out of contract now as far as i know. Sooooooooo I put two and two together and thought of CJ Van der Linde (75 caps for South Africa, plays both sides of the scrum)

Your thinking of Heinke Van der Mewe

by dragon4life Tue May 27, 2014 2:42 pm

Coombs at 6, Prydie in neither squads? And Lewis Evans on bench for probables now

by dragon4life Tue May 27, 2014 2:46 pm

Chaparro in Argentina squad aswell

by bedfordwelsh Tue May 27, 2014 7:12 pm

dragon4life wrote:Coombs at 6, Prydie in neither squads? And Lewis Evans on bench for probables now

I wonder if Evans was called up after Jones went to Bristol and Davies out injured, no Amos either.

by Guest Tue May 27, 2014 7:33 pm

Annoys me somewhat that Turnbull is starting and also the possibles backrow is pretty dump (in my opinion). I worry he won't get a fair crack at the tour. Prydie is injured for this week

by bedfordwelsh Tue May 27, 2014 7:37 pm

I think Evans Faletau and Navidi would be a much more balanced back row than the one selected.

I will be pleasantly surprised if Evans does tour but hope he does.

by Guest Wed May 28, 2014 6:28 pm

Howley is such a BS'r

Wob wrote:"We have been impressed with Lewis and this is an opportunity for him after playing particularly well for the Dragons this season," said Rob Howley, who will be Evans' coach on Friday night. "He can cover across the back row, which gives you a little bit of flexibility.

So impressed, they didn't even name him as an option in the first instance.

by dragon4life Wed May 28, 2014 10:58 pm

I wonder if any of the Bristol new players have get out clauses for not getting promotion

by bedfordwelsh Thu May 29, 2014 7:18 am

dragon4life wrote:I wonder if any of the Bristol new players have get out clauses for not getting promotion

Hehe, could be few of the biggest wrongs moves of the year for Jones and Morgan.

by XR Thu May 29, 2014 9:49 am

I hope they do...

SAINT NICKY CAN RETURN TO THE BLUES

king

by munkian Thu May 29, 2014 9:52 am

I wonder if any of them had clauses in their contracts to jump ship if/When Brizzle don't get promoted ?

by Guest Thu May 29, 2014 8:00 pm

I'd love it. Wonder if Jughead will regret the move now. Guess the 200k will sweeten things a bit though

by munkian Fri May 30, 2014 10:00 am

Joking aside, hope his operation went well.

by Guest Fri May 30, 2014 7:25 pm

Oh yeah. I don't wish injury on him or anything, I just find it a bit funny that he and others have gone there probably expecting to play Premiership rugby and they might not get it.

by dragon4life Fri May 30, 2014 11:58 pm

No Prydie or Coombs in Wales squad. Won't Matthew Morgan get destroyed out there?

by dragon4life Sat May 31, 2014 8:09 pm

Anyone else think Owen Evans is very good in the loose and is ok a scrumaging when hes got a decent TH

by GavinDragon Sat May 31, 2014 9:22 pm

went to watch the youth playoff final today, Penalta Youth representing the region against Aberavon Quins of the Ospreys.

They won 31-0 in a very entertaining game, I have read since that they team have won 6 trophies this season and only conceded 5 tries all year.

Congrats to them! Hope we continue to build close relationships and progress those boys who are good enough into the regional set up

Jack Condy (Number 8) and Joseph Scrivens (10) joining Cross Keys and Bedwas respectively next year, ones to keep an eye out for

by bedfordwelsh Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:49 am

dragon4life wrote:No Prydie or Coombs in Wales squad. Won't Matthew Morgan get destroyed out there?

Coombs for me a the big surpise ommision form the squad, he's been a regular in the Welsh set up for the past 2 seasons now and was one of a very few players who competed well in the 1st half.

I am not surprised Evans is not there (though he should be) but like said am surprised about Coombs, would have taken him over Turnbull. Prydie wasn't involved at all on Friday because of injury I heard so maybe its worse than expected.

by dragon4life Sun Jun 01, 2014 12:11 pm

Coombs was one of the stand out player for possibles imo

by bedfordwelsh Sun Jun 01, 2014 12:23 pm

dragon4life wrote:Coombs was one of the stand out player for possibles imo

In the forwards only Rees and Coombs looked agressive and competitive, in the backs Davies, Allen and Shingler looked good.

Coombs must be the only one (injury aside) from the most recent squads we have seen to miss out.

by dragon4life Sun Jun 01, 2014 7:38 pm

A lot of dragons in the Wales u20 for opening match

by GavinDragon Sun Jun 01, 2014 9:44 pm

yes 9 oclock tomorrow eve on s4c

by XR Mon Jun 02, 2014 10:04 am

Coombes looked a bit slow on friday, faletau easily went passed him on the wing for one of the earlier tries. I guess that could be a reason for his omission as everywhere else he did a job. Maybe they feel they needed a faste 6 so opted for turnbull?

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