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]

Excellent suggestion LP.

[RiscaGame]

Friday's game should be interesting, as to what our attacking mindset will be. Games v Italians tend to be pretty dire affairs at home for us, as we are in a position of being favourites (recent Zebre games especially) and I don't think that tag ever sits well with us, bar in the Challenge Cup.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I do think there were positives to be taken from the Ospreys game. There was too much kicking for my liking, but both sides were guilty of that. I thought our defence was excellent, apart from a couple of missed tackles on Habberfield for Tipuric's try.

[LordDowlais]

The state of the pitch at RP is just one of a whole word of c0ckups that have been made within that setup. The whole thing stinks. What gets me the most is though, that things are being allowed to carry on this way. You keep harping on about Merthyr's new pitch, and how they got funding, Merthyr are not the only semi pro club to sort this aspect of their structure out, why don't you look at how Pontypridd managed to do it ?

If I were the WRU I would seriously be questioning why we should be nominating Newport Gwent Dragons as a representative of Welsh pro rugby in the Pro12.

The thing is, people like yourself seem unwilling to accept the fact that things could drastically change unless things improve. The WRU own RGC1404, it is a very real possibility that the WRU could decide to put their eggs into that basket and chose to put that team in the Pro12. This should be the reality, to both the fans and the cowboys running Newport Gwent Dragons.

Einstein's Theory of Insanity. Albert Einstein was quoted as saying: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This is what seems to be happening with your region. The more we put up with this failure, then the more insane we all are for just accepting it.

Dowlais, will you do me a favour? Post this as a new topic. It might be worth discussion and of interest to other posters. But we've got a game on Friday, and I'd rather get talking about that rather than how diabolical we are and how great it would be if we were shut down.

I don't think it would be great if you were shut down. I think it would be great if the people running the region finally showed some ambition and sorted things out.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

If we get a buyer, we'll be the new Merthyr, just you watch.

[LordDowlais]

If we get a buyer, we'll be the new Merthyr, just you watch.

I hope so.

I just fitted out our new second rowers flat. Nice guy from Namibia. Feckin huge as well 6 foot 10 inches. Perhaps you might be able to start signing better players as well if you get an owner with a bit of ambition.

[No 7&1/2]

You mean money rather than ambition.

[LordDowlais]

You mean money rather than ambition.

They both go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

If we get a buyer, we'll be the new Merthyr, just you watch.

I hope so.

I just fitted out our new second rowers flat. Nice guy from Namibia. Feckin huge as well 6 foot 10 inches. Perhaps you might be able to start signing better players as well if you get an owner with a bit of ambition.

We'll have to make do with Wales internationals and Super Rugby players until then.

[LordDowlais]

We'll have to make do with Wales internationals

We had one of those recently.

Super Rugby players until then.

Second rate one's that nobody else want's you mean.

[Guest]

You mean money rather than ambition.

They both go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.

Yes you can.  Kingsley Jones would like to win the league.  That's his ambition, and that of his players.  He does not have the money available to him to sign the players to realistically fulfill this ambition.  

I have an ambition of owning and running my own global corporation.  I do not currently have the start-up capital to allow me to do so.  But I do have the ambition.

The Ospreys have stated that that their ambition is to win the European Cup. However, they've also stated in past (both directly when questioned and through PRW) that they do not have the funding to attract the players to allow them to do so.

[No 7&1/2]

Course you can have one without the other; either way. What you're saying is that they need more money. Probably quite a lot more. Easy enough to do isn't it.

[LordDowlais]

You mean money rather than ambition.

They both go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.

Yes you can.  Kingsley Jones would like to win the league.  That's his ambition, and that of his players.  He does not have the money available to him to sign the players to realistically fulfill this ambition.  

I have an ambition of owning and running my own global corporation.  I do not currently have the start-up capital to allow me to do so.  But I do have the ambition.

It's not ambition if you do not do anything to strive to reach the goals that your ambition has set. So what you have, is pie in the sky.

Come on, why are people playing silly buggers here ?

Don't any of you even remember the days when you had the likes of Percy Montgomery and Bobby Skinstad, even in the old Newport days with players like Gary Teichmann. There is no ambition at Newport Gwent Dragons. They only needed to find another £25,000 a year to keep a local hero, yet they just let him go, where is the ambition in that ?

[LordDowlais]

Course you can have one without the other; either way. What you're saying is that they need more money. Probably quite a lot more. Easy enough to do isn't it.

Other regions are achieving a lot more. Why is that ?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

We'll have to make do with Wales internationals

We had one of those recently.

Super Rugby players until then.

Second rate one's that nobody else want's you mean.

Yes of course, the Scarlets and the Blues never really wanted to sign Rynard Landman from us.

Also, is it BOGOF on misplaced apostrophes today?

[LordDowlais]

Yes of course, the Scarlets and the Blues never really wanted to sign Rynard Landman from us

You found a gem there, Scarlets and Blues did not want him from the outset, they only wanted him when they saw how good he was whilst playing for you. In all fairness, either your scouts worked wonders, or you just fell lucky.

[No 7&1/2]

Countless reasons why some teams are better than others ld. Are you now accepting the money and ambition argument?

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Ed Jackson:

“It was frustrating to lose like we did against the Ospreys and the territory battle told in the second half.

“It was a disappointing result but wasn’t necessarily a bad performance. There were a couple of missed tackles for their try and apart from that there wasn’t much in it against one of the top teams in the league.”

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/14999526._Treviso_is_no_gimme__they_ll_be_targeting_us____number_eight_Jackson_in_warning_to_Dragons/

He's right.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Newport Gwent Dragons team to face Benetton Rugby Treviso

15 Carl Meyer, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Pat Howard, 10 Angus O’Brien, 9 Sarel Pretorius; 1 Phil Price, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Nick Crosswell, 5 Cory Hill, 6 Lewis Evans (c), 7 Ollie Griffiths, 8 Ed Jackson.

Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Sam Hobbs, Lloyd Fairbrother, Rynard Landman, Nic Cudd, Tavis Knoyle, Dorian Jones, Jack Dixon.

[RDW]

How has Sam Beard got on for you guys? I liked him as a player and was sad to see him go, although he was struggling for gametime at Edinburgh.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

He's been great for us. Makes the right decision more often than not, straightens the line when it's needed, good distributor. The problem is Kingsley Jones has this 'everyone wins a prize' policy of rotation, so Beard's out of the squad altogether having started against the Ospreys.

Beard's done a damn sight more than Tyler Morgan has this season, but he keeps his place.

[Guest]

Agree with LP, Beard has been a good signing. Also agree that the rotation policy means that form is not rewarded. And for those players that need a run of games to maintain form (not saying that Beard is one of these) then they struggle to be up to the task when rotated back in. Solid player is Beard IMO.

Both Morgan and Dixon for me have never really kicked on from their youthful promise. Hard with poor forwards, admittedly, but it hasn't stopped Amos and Hewitt shining. They get a lot of injuries too which doesn't bode well for their careers. Shame as Amos, Dixon, Morgan and Hewitt could be an excellent core of the Dragons back line.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

Both Morgan and Dixon for me have never really kicked on from their youthful promise.

There's still time for that to happen - but they do need to get a wriggle on.

[RiscaGame]

Our form centres are Beard and Warren, no doubt for me. I keep saying that.

Not a bad team. Would have definitely liked to have seen the front five we used v Cardiff Blues, because Treviso will be good at that facet. That said, the front five did well enough v Ospreys.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

This might interest you, Dowlais:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15004899.I_will_do_everything_I_can_to_help_Newport_Gwent_Dragons_thrive__pledges_Welsh_Rugby_Union_boss_Phillips/#comments-anchor

[LordDowlais]

This might interest you, Dowlais:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15004899.I_will_do_everything_I_can_to_help_Newport_Gwent_Dragons_thrive__pledges_Welsh_Rugby_Union_boss_Phillips/#comments-anchor

Yes, I read this in the WOL, it was part of the article where Peter Thomas was saying that regional rugby is in trouble and heading for a car crash. I suppose the cowboys in charge down there need all the help they can get.

[No 7&1/2]

Where does the money come from.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

'Former Wales captain Michael Owen says "mediocre" Newport Gwent Dragons should move elsewhere in Wales if any new investors want them to.

"Maybe someone would be willing to invest in a region elsewhere, like in Pontypridd or north Wales or something like that.

"If that is the case, they should take the region there, rather than try and force it to work somewhere it isn't working and have it like a franchise system."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38526171

[LordDowlais]

'Former Wales captain Michael Owen says "mediocre" Newport Gwent Dragons should move elsewhere in Wales if any new investors want them to.

Well at least I am not alone on this.

"Maybe someone would be willing to invest in a region elsewhere, like in Pontypridd or north Wales or something like that.

Why Pontypridd ? they had their chance and blew it. Also, there is not the population density there, if it were to go to the valleys, which I do not think it should, North Wales would be my choice, but if it did the obvious choice should be Merthyr Tydfil, a place that is on the up and a town that has a wealthy benefactor for the rugby.

Just add, I have read that article and what Michael Owen is saying 95% correct. The other 5% where he is wrong, is suggesting Pontypridd as an alternative.

[True Raven]

Because they're a bigger club with a bigger fanbase and history behind them.

[No 7&1/2]

Just buy success or try to then.

[No 7&1/2]

Generally.works!

[Guest]

'Former Wales captain Michael Owen says "mediocre" Newport Gwent Dragons should move elsewhere in Wales if any new investors want them to.

Well at least I am not alone on this.

"Maybe someone would be willing to invest in a region elsewhere, like in Pontypridd or north Wales or something like that.

Why Pontypridd ? they had their chance and blew it. Also, there is not the population density there, if it were to go to the valleys, which I do not think it should, North Wales would be my choice, but if it did the obvious choice should be Merthyr Tydfil, a place that is on the up and a town that has a wealthy benefactor for the rugby.

Just add, I have read that article and what Michael Owen is saying 95% correct. The other 5% where he is wrong, is suggesting Pontypridd as an alternative.

This demonstrates perfectly how your strange mind works LD. You say that it shouldn't go to Pontypridd as they do not have the population density then you say the obvious choice should be Merthyr which only has around 10k more population! Both are around 1/3rd of Newport's population (just Newport, not the whole Gwent area the Dragons cover). I get the desire to try something different but not in areas that are much poorer (in terms of the fans economically), have poorer transport networks and much smaller populations. And this has nothing to do with being a Dragons fan. I'm trying to be objective here. But I'd say the same if you suggested the Blues should leave Cardiff and locate to Brecon, or the Ospreys leave Swansea and locate at the top of the Neath valley.

[RiscaGame]

'Former Wales captain Michael Owen says "mediocre" Newport Gwent Dragons should move elsewhere in Wales if any new investors want them to.

Well at least I am not alone on this.

"Maybe someone would be willing to invest in a region elsewhere, like in Pontypridd or north Wales or something like that.

Why Pontypridd ? they had their chance and blew it. Also, there is not the population density there, if it were to go to the valleys, which I do not think it should, North Wales would be my choice, but if it did the obvious choice should be Merthyr Tydfil, a place that is on the up and a town that has a wealthy benefactor for the rugby.

Just add, I have read that article and what Michael Owen is saying 95% correct. The other 5% where he is wrong, is suggesting Pontypridd as an alternative.

This demonstrates perfectly how your strange mind works LD. You say that it shouldn't go to Pontypridd as they do not have the population density then you say the obvious choice should be Merthyr which only has around 10k more population! Both are around 1/3rd of Newport's population (just Newport, not the whole Gwent area the Dragons cover). I get the desire to try something different but not in areas that are much poorer (in terms of the fans economically), have poorer transport networks and much smaller populations. And this has nothing to do with being a Dragons fan. I'm trying to be objective here. But I'd say the same if you suggested the Blues should leave Cardiff and locate to Brecon, or the Ospreys leave Swansea and locate at the top of the Neath valley.

Exactly. Good post

This is what is frustrating about Dowlais, is I bet you I could find posts where he has tried arguing (ahem debating) similar before. The argument never changes either and he would have been told exactly the same things before. To the ignorant, things like transport links, population centres, hospitality etc don't matter.

[RiscaGame]

I wonder if the idiot (Michael Owen in this case) even bothered his backside complaining about the lack of ambition whilst he was there?

[GavinDragon]

You mean money rather than ambition.

They both go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.

LD. I have ambitions to start a multimillion pound business. Just need a 10k investment which I don't have at the moment. See? Doesn't matter how ambitious you are, if you don't have the money, you can't realise ambition.

[LordDowlais]

LD. I have ambitions to start a multimillion pound business. Just need a 10k investment which I don't have at the moment. See? Doesn't matter how ambitious you are, if you don't have the money, you can't realise ambition.

What you have is not ambition, it's delusions of grandeur. Ambition is having a goal and setting yourself to it.

[No 7&1/2]

Ambition is setting a goal within your financial limitations you mean? For instance given certain clubs finances wishing for more than 3rd from bottom is wishful thinking or having delusions of grandeur.

[LordDowlais]

This demonstrates perfectly how your strange mind works LD. You say that it shouldn't go to Pontypridd as they do not have the population density then you say the obvious choice should be Merthyr which only has around 10k more population! Both are around 1/3rd of Newport's population (just Newport, not the whole Gwent area the Dragons cover). I get the desire to try something different but not in areas that are much poorer (in terms of the fans economically), have poorer transport networks and much smaller populations. And this has nothing to do with being a Dragons fan. I'm trying to be objective here. But I'd say the same if you suggested the Blues should leave Cardiff and locate to Brecon, or the Ospreys leave Swansea and locate at the top of the Neath valley.

Population of Merthyr Tydfil is 58,800. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merthyr_Tydfil_County_Borough

Population of Pontypridd is is 32, 694. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontypridd

That is more than 10, 000 people. Add to that, towns like Aberdare are only about 6 miles away, Ebbw Vale is about 8 miles away not to mention numerous other valley twons like Tredegar, Rhumney and Pontypridd are in spitting distance a valleys region in Merthyr is quite doable.

Also your ignorance of anything north of the M4 is astounding. The transport links are more than adequate up here. We have two of Wales's main arteries in the A470 band the A465 running through Merthyr.

[No 7&1/2]

More to do with just wanting your team to get the benefit of regional backing really then.

[True Raven]

If a fourth region was in North Wales, Pontypridd or even Merthyr they would all struggle financially to keep up with the rest of the pack. If dragons have been a region for 13 years and are spending 1.5 million less than the other regions on salaries, then a new region will struggle even more without sponsorship, attendances etc. What is worrying is that there seems to be no interest from outside investors willing to pump money into the dragons and I fear what the WRU would do if they took over the club 100%

[True Raven]

This demonstrates perfectly how your strange mind works LD. You say that it shouldn't go to Pontypridd as they do not have the population density then you say the obvious choice should be Merthyr which only has around 10k more population! Both are around 1/3rd of Newport's population (just Newport, not the whole Gwent area the Dragons cover). I get the desire to try something different but not in areas that are much poorer (in terms of the fans economically), have poorer transport networks and much smaller populations. And this has nothing to do with being a Dragons fan. I'm trying to be objective here. But I'd say the same if you suggested the Blues should leave Cardiff and locate to Brecon, or the Ospreys leave Swansea and locate at the top of the Neath valley.

Population of Merthyr Tydfil is 58,800. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merthyr_Tydfil_County_Borough

Population of Pontypridd is is 32, 694. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontypridd

That is more than 10, 000 people. Add to that, towns like Aberdare are only about 6 miles away, Ebbw Vale is about 8 miles away not to mention numerous other valley twons like Tredegar, Rhumney and Pontypridd are in spitting distance a valleys region in Merthyr is quite doable.

Also your ignorance of anything north of the M4 is astounding. The transport links are more than adequate up here. We have two of Wales's main arteries in the A470 band the A465 running through Merthyr.

I work off the a470 and game day in Merthyr on a Friday night would cause the a470 to gridlock. It's bad enough now

[RiscaGame]

Transport links are not just limited to cars mind

I know Merthyr is this sprawling metropolis and all that, but it is not on the main commuting train line that runs through Wales, it does not have as good a bus link as Newport and if I was to be as daft as you, it doesn't have as big a Docks.

[LordDowlais]

Risca, I take it you have not been up to the valleys lately ? You can get a bus to Merthyr from any other town in the valleys. The train links all go to Pontypridd though which is only 10 mins away, but there are plenty of buses.

[LordDowlais]

I work off the a470 and game day in Merthyr on a Friday night would cause the a470 to gridlock. It's bad enough now

As apposed to the M4 at Tredegar park, or the Brynglas tunnels, or anywhere around Cardiff and Swansea ? It's the same anywhere in Wales.

[No 7&1/2]

You all need more ambition over there and get a load more roads.

[RiscaGame]

Risca, I take it you have not been up to the valleys lately ? You can get a bus to Merthyr from any other town in the valleys. The train links all go to Pontypridd though which is only 10 mins away, but there are plenty of buses.

Well that's me convinced then. Where's the petition I can sign to get Merthyr their team?

[LordDowlais]

Risca, I take it you have not been up to the valleys lately ? You can get a bus to Merthyr from any other town in the valleys. The train links all go to Pontypridd though which is only 10 mins away, but there are plenty of buses.

Well that's me convinced then. Where's the petition I can sign to get Merthyr their team?

I would not complain, but I really think it should be Nort Wales to get the first dibs on it.

[No 7&1/2]

No ambition. No roads.

[Guest]

This demonstrates perfectly how your strange mind works LD. You say that it shouldn't go to Pontypridd as they do not have the population density then you say the obvious choice should be Merthyr which only has around 10k more population! Both are around 1/3rd of Newport's population (just Newport, not the whole Gwent area the Dragons cover). I get the desire to try something different but not in areas that are much poorer (in terms of the fans economically), have poorer transport networks and much smaller populations. And this has nothing to do with being a Dragons fan. I'm trying to be objective here. But I'd say the same if you suggested the Blues should leave Cardiff and locate to Brecon, or the Ospreys leave Swansea and locate at the top of the Neath valley.

Population of Merthyr Tydfil is 58,800. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merthyr_Tydfil_County_Borough

Population of Pontypridd is is 32, 694. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontypridd

That is more than 10, 000 people. Add to that, towns like Aberdare are only about 6 miles away, Ebbw Vale is about 8 miles away not to mention numerous other valley twons like Tredegar, Rhumney and Pontypridd are in spitting distance a valleys region in Merthyr is quite doable.

Also your ignorance of anything north of the M4 is astounding. The transport links are more than adequate up here. We have two of Wales's main arteries in the A470 band the A465 running through Merthyr.

I was comparing Merthyr the town to Pontypridd the town, as a fair comparison. You're quoting the figures for the whole county borough of Merthyr vs Pontypridd the town which is a little unfair as a comparison.

Also, my ignorance?! I work in Pontyrpidd and quite often in Methyr! I go hiking in the Beacons at least once a month and get there via Merthyr. I know the routes and links very well thanks you.

[Sponsored content]