Newport Gwent Dragons 2016/17 thread

[Luckless Pedestrian]

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as no one else has set one up, I thought I'd start a 2016/17 season thread for the mighty Dragons.

The Dragons website doesn't have a straightforward list of the squad members, so the best I can do is a link to the page:

http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Teams/Squad/Dragons

Fri, 05 Aug 2016      Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404 Parc Erias, Colwyn Bay F
Fri, 12 Aug 2016        Cardiff Blues Rodney Parade, Newport F
Sat, 20 Aug 2016        Ealing Trailfinders CCBC Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach F
Fri, 26 Aug 2016        Exeter Chiefs Rodney Parade, Newport F

Fri, 02 Sep 2016        Ulster Kingspan Stadium, Belfast GP12 BBC N Ireland
Fri, 09 Sep 2016        Zebre Rugby Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sat, 17 Sep 2016               Munster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 Sky Sports
Fri, 23 Sep 2016        Benetton Rugby Treviso Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso GP12
Fri, 30 Sep 2016        Glasgow Warriors Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 BBC Two Wales

Sat, 08 Oct 2016        Scarlets Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli GP12 S4C
Sat, 29 Oct 2016        Ospreys Liberty Stadium, Swansea GP12 S4C, Sky Sports

Fri, 04 Nov 2016        Connacht Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sat, 12 Nov 2016        Leicester Tigers Welford Road, Leicester AWC
Fri, 18 Nov 2016         Scarlets Rodney Parade, Newport AWC
Sun, 27 Nov 2016        Edinburgh Rugby Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 S4C

Sat, 03 Dec 2016        Leinster Royal Dublin Society, Dublin GP12 S4C
Mon, 26 Dec 2016        Cardiff Blues Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff GP12 BBC Two Wales

Sun, 01 Jan 2017        Ospreys Rodney Parade, Newport GP12 BBC Two Wales
Fri, 06 Jan 2017      Benetton Rugby Treviso Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
Sun, 29 Jan 2017        Newcastle Falcons Rodney Parade, Newport AWC

Sat, 04 Feb 2017        Gloucester Rugby Kingsholm, Gloucester AWC
10/11/12 Feb 2017        Munster Thomond Park, Limerick GP12
17/18/19 Feb 2017        Connacht The Sportsground, Galway GP12
24/25/26 Feb 2017        Leinster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

3/4/5 Mar 2017             Glasgow Warriors Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow GP12
24/25/26 Mar 2017        Ulster Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

7/8/9 Apr 2017      Zebre Rugby Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma GP12
Sat, 15 Apr 2017      Scarlets Rodney Parade, Newport GP12
28/29/30 Apr 2017        Edinburgh Rugby Murrayfield, Edinburgh GP12

Sat, 06 May 2017        Cardiff Blues Rodney Parade, Newport GP12

[Guest]

Perhaps the WRU need to over fund us? No, seriously! Perhaps double our funding for x number of years to see if we can retain players, bring in some better coaches and ideas, bring in some quality signings, climb the table and therefore become a more attractive prospect for players to join, bring fans back and in turn new investment into the region, so that we can sustain ourselves a bit better at those new dizzying heights. Why not?!

It helps no-one that we have a dud region going nowhere. The players want to leave ASAP. We need to make it more attractive for them to stay. Money, crowds, coaching, winning games, table position, silverware (a stretch too far perhaps), etc. are the things that'll attract and keep them. Without them we've got nothing. I know people will point to the region's board as being the ones who should do that. But..... whatever. It just doesn't happen. And we haven't even got relegation to help sort the wheat from the chaff and let someone threaten our position, thus kicking our board up the backside!

[Stone Motif]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/14895746.Teenage_Dragons_prospect_Talbot_Davies_loving_life_as_a_student_of_the_game/

Speaking of nepotism, did I just read that TGFHTCOOTGVSDW is actually shacked up at Dave Parade?

[Guest]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/14895746.Teenage_Dragons_prospect_Talbot_Davies_loving_life_as_a_student_of_the_game/

Speaking of nepotism, did I just read that TGFHTCOOTGVSDW is actually shacked up at Dave Parade?

Must be in that house thing near the back/side entrance to RP, where the youth players have always lived. Sort of down the side of the clubhouse. I remember when Brew and a few others were in there a few years back. Looks like a student hovel from the outside. I doubt it's much different inside either!

[Cardiff Dave]

So what's the latest with Not-Newport?
Any news?

[GavinDragon]

Yea, pie man is rumoured to have had his fill with you kardiffians and his heading east to invest in a proper region

[ScarletSpiderman]

Robin Davey tweeted, "Rynard Landman to stay with NG Dragons, compromise reached. Never met with the Scarlets though he did with Cdf Blues, but staying put". Sounds like a good case of agent work going on.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'll wait until it's official!

[dragon4life]

Good too see Leon Brown getting a start with a near first choice team around him, interesting to see how he goes

[mikey_dragon]

I'll wait until it's official!

For what; the Landman rumour or the Pieman rumour?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Dobbin Davey saying Landman's staying.

[GavinDragon]

Dragonlife. I think he will show up well in the loose. Thankfully, he is up against Dillon Evans in the scrum, so shouldn't struggle too badly.

[GavinDragon]

I also think he has news about investment.

[munkian]

I also think he has news about investment.

Brown ?

[GavinDragon]

I have no idea as to the nature, but Dobin seems quite confident that there is movement. He would usually be the first one to say if nothing was going on.

[RiscaGame]

TonduTurk on twitter reckoned Landman has signed for them. Though he did say Dragons captain Rynard Landman, so obviously not that informed.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Dragons: Carl Meyer; Pat Howard, Sam Beard, Adam Warren, Ashton Hewitt; Angus O'Brien, Sarel Pretorius; Sam Hobbs, Rhys Buckley, Leon Brown, Nick Crosswell, Rynard Landman, Harrison Keddie, Ollie Griffiths, Ed Jackson.

Replacements: Thomas Rhys Thomas, Thomas Davies, Brok Harris, Matthew Screech, Nic Cudd, Tavis Knoyle, Arwel Robson, Tyler Morgan.

Scarlets: Tom Williams; Richard Smith, Ioan Nicholas, Gareth Owen (capt), Corey Baldwin; Dan Jones, Aled Davies; Dylan Evans, Dafydd Hughes, Nicky Thomas, Tadhg Beirne, Rynier Bernardo, Jack Condy, Joshua Macleod, Morgan Allen.

Replacements: Taylor Davies, Luke Garret, Simon Gardiner, Ben Thompson, Tom Phillips, Declan Smith, Jack Maynard, Billy McBryde.


There's a lot of pressure on us to win now, seeing as our side is not far off first choice and theirs definitely isn't.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

TonduTurk on twitter reckoned Landman has signed for them. Though he did say Dragons captain Rynard Landman, so obviously not that informed.

That's not the first tweet I've seen contradicting him.

[Stone Motif]

I also think he has news about investment.

Probably caught on to the Hayley Parsons non-starter.

[Stone Motif]

There's a lot of pressure on us to win now, seeing as our side is not far off first choice and theirs definitely isn't.

A man shaming of Swansea/Krasnodar proportions surely awaits

[GavinDragon]

I also think he has news about investment.

Probably caught on to the Hayley Parsons non-starter.

That is news to me. Were there rumours that we had approached her?

[Stone Motif]

I also think he has news about investment.

Probably caught on to the Hayley Parsons non-starter.

That is news to me. Were there rumours that we had approached her?

We did approach her.

[dragon4life]

How did Brown go at TH?

[Cardiff Dave]

Yea, pie man is rumoured to have had his fill with you kardiffians and his heading east to invest in a proper region

Sounds like a win, win to me.
As it happens, was led to believe that Pies was planning to up sticks when the return to CAP was announced following the CCS fiasco. Things have changed by the look of it.

[GavinDragon]

How did Brown go at TH?

While I wasn't paying particular attention to the scrums, I don't recall him being penalised or going backwards. Got injured in second half I thnk

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Interesting stuff:

The Opta stats have number eight Ed Jackson in second in the Pro12 ball carrying chart behind Connacht's Bundee Aki (104 to 119) while the tackling tallies feature Lewis Evans in second (107) and Cudd in fourth (102) behind leader Sean Reidy of Munster (112).

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/14934570.Buoyant_Dragons_hope_Pro12_away_record_goes_down_in_flames_at_Leinster/

[GavinDragon]

Davey tweeting that Ross Moriarty has met with Kingsley

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'll believe it when I see it!

[GavinDragon]

I believe he has met. He will never sign though

[dragon999]

I believe he has met. He will never sign though

Maybe not, but something is going on & every revolution has to start somewhere - remember Peter Rogers?

[GavinDragon]

TBH, given where we have been for 5 years, just to be linked and talking to such a player is a positive step. Davey seems certain that things are moving on the investment front. Can't imagine we will hear anything until end of the season though.

[Cardiff Dave]

TBH, given where we have been for 5 years, just to be linked and talking to such a player is a positive step. Davey seems certain that things are moving on the investment front. Can't imagine we will hear anything until end of the season though.

Good show, but what's the catch?
Will Dave be bulldozed and replaced with a memorial garden, for example?

[GavinDragon]

TBH, given where we have been for 5 years, just to be linked and talking to such a player is a positive step. Davey seems certain that things are moving on the investment front. Can't imagine we will hear anything until end of the season though.

Good show, but what's the catch?
Will Dave be bulldozed and replaced with a memorial garden, for example?

I have no details, and haven't heard any, just positive murmurs coming out from different sources. And no, I imagine, as was announced. NRFC will retain ownership of RP and the Dragons sign a long term lease to rent, run and maintain the ground. Everyone is a winner: NRFC get long term financial security & Dragons, under new ownership and with more ££, can go about developing a rugby team which people around Gwent (and beyond) want to support.

[munkian]

Rumours of Admiral being involved have any legs ?

[GavinDragon]

Heard it from a few different people, but not from anyone official. I have been told, again not by anyone "in the know", that their sponsorship of Wales is up at the end of this year, so who knows.

It really does depend on any investors motivation, doesn't it. If they are looking for a return, then there is seriously no point in looking at us. If they have an interest in rugby in the area and, as I do, see a sleeping giant, and they have seriously deep pockets, then why shouldn't they invest?

[GavinDragon]

And just to qualify my statement, we have been s*&t for how many years now? I mean really pants, bottom three with little or no hopes of improvement for 6-7 years.

YET, we still manage to bring around 4k through the door each week (not a million miles from our financially supported brethren to the west) despite this and having 0 "stars".

We manage to unearth a gem from the region every couple of years. Faletau & Amos, but also Lydiate before him. Next ones being Hewitt, Griffiths and Dee and beyond that we have Max Williams, so the raw materials are there for a successful rugby side for sure. Who wouldn't want to be the businessperson responsible for giving us the nudge in the right direction to really build on those foundations?

[munkian]

Heard it from a few different people, but not from anyone official. I have been told, again not by anyone "in the know", that their sponsorship of Wales is up at the end of this year, so who knows.

It really does depend on any investors motivation, doesn't it. If they are looking for a return, then there is seriously no point in looking at us. If they have an interest in rugby in the area and, as I do, see a sleeping giant, and they have seriously deep pockets, then why shouldn't they invest?

How long are we tied to BT for ?

[munkian]

Heard it from a few different people, but not from anyone official. I have been told, again not by anyone "in the know", that their sponsorship of Wales is up at the end of this year, so who knows.

It really does depend on any investors motivation, doesn't it. If they are looking for a return, then there is seriously no point in looking at us. If they have an interest in rugby in the area and, as I do, see a sleeping giant, and they have seriously deep pockets, then why shouldn't they invest?

Agreed, other region's fans laugh about how much of a sh*thole Newport is yet only manage a few thousand more fans themselves.

[GavinDragon]

Heard it from a few different people, but not from anyone official. I have been told, again not by anyone "in the know", that their sponsorship of Wales is up at the end of this year, so who knows.

It really does depend on any investors motivation, doesn't it. If they are looking for a return, then there is seriously no point in looking at us. If they have an interest in rugby in the area and, as I do, see a sleeping giant, and they have seriously deep pockets, then why shouldn't they invest?

How long are we tied to BT for ?

Not sure, but that is a shirt sponsor only. Admiral Dragons? lol or the Admiral's Newport Gwent Dragons

[GavinDragon]

Admiral Rodney's Parade?

[munkian]

Newport Admirals.

[GavinDragon]

[GavinDragon]

Although that would be quite a coup for NRFC if they could land a sponsor like Admiral at WP level ;-)

[GavinDragon]

Gwent Admirals.

Fixed that for you

[GavinDragon]

http://www.dragonssupportersclub.com/player-of-the-month

Fans can vote for player of the month

[Stone Motif]

Although that would be quite a coup for NRFC if they could land a sponsor like Admiral at WP level ;-)

What if that were the price of their investment? Worth swallowing a few mouthfuls of your own sick for, no?

[GavinDragon]

If that were the price id wish them good luck and go back to doing what I did pre regions, support only Wales.

[Stone Motif]

Ideology vs successful rugby team. I know what I'd prefer, and incidentally what the best option for retaining pro rugby in this part of the world is.

[Cardiff Dave]

If that were the price id wish them good luck and go back to doing what I did pre regions, support only Wales.

Newport is part of Wales though mun.

[Cardiff Dave]

And just to qualify my statement, we have been s*&t for how many years now? I mean really pants, bottom three with little or no hopes of improvement for 6-7 years.

YET, we still manage to bring around 4k through the door each week (not a million miles from our financially supported brethren to the west) despite this and having 0 "stars".

We manage to unearth a gem from the region every couple of years. Faletau & Amos, but also Lydiate before him. Next ones being Hewitt, Griffiths and Dee and beyond that we have Max Williams, so the raw materials are there for a successful rugby side for sure. Who wouldn't want to be the businessperson responsible for giving us the nudge in the right direction to really build on those foundations?

More than 10, shewerly? 11 even. Snow and Forster were stars back then too.

[Cardiff Dave]

Heard it from a few different people, but not from anyone official. I have been told, again not by anyone "in the know", that their sponsorship of Wales is up at the end of this year, so who knows.

It really does depend on any investors motivation, doesn't it. If they are looking for a return, then there is seriously no point in looking at us. If they have an interest in rugby in the area and, as I do, see a sleeping giant, and they have seriously deep pockets, then why shouldn't they invest?

Agreed, other region's fans laugh about how much of a sh*thole Newport is yet only manage a few thousand more fans themselves.

Numbers, numbers. Sure Cardiff v Os filled CCS once with numbers.

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