Newport Gwent Dragons 2016/17 thread

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu 12 Jan 2017, 2:18 pm

First topic message reminder :

I understand that some players haven't had a break for a while, but still, either it's a must-win game (with a bonus point) or it isn't.

by Guest Thu 02 Mar 2017, 9:01 pm

Oh great, Lord Dowlais is allowed to post on the boards again. True Raven: cracking poster. Lord Dowlais: so full of hate. Laugh

by LordDowlais Thu 02 Mar 2017, 9:08 pm

Griff wrote:Oh great, Lord Dowlais is allowed to post on the boards again. True Raven: cracking poster. Lord Dowlais: so full of hate.

I have always been allowed to post here. Just took some time away from this place because of members like you.

It's about time you realised how serious the situation is with NGD. Getting a cricket score put on you at home in your latest home game, matches getting called off early because of the state of your playing surface, owners with no ambition what so ever, and now you are all hoping on an organisation you have slagged off for years to come along and save your blushes.

Does this sound like the makings of a proper professional run outfit ?

For the record, I do not hate NGD, I am a supporter of all Welsh rugby, what I am a hater of is though, is failure, and constant failure, now who would you attribute this to in Welsh pro rugby ? Rob Howely and ........ ?

by Guest Thu 02 Mar 2017, 9:24 pm

Anyhoo, in response to the rumours and news: I'm going to go out on a limb here and be really honest. I was a Newport RFC fan prior to supporting the Dragons. I bought into the regional concept and stopped following Newport RFC (apart from on the news). I've been to the odd NRFC game, but very few. I actually fell out with a couple of lads over the switch to the Dragons, lads who still to this day only watch Newport in the Welsh Prem and wouldn't come along to the Dragons. And I've no issue with it, but just giving some background.

I could see that reducing the pro teams down to 4 or 5 sides that sat at a tier above the 10 or so existing clubs could work in terms of concentrating talent, being more competitive, etc. I never once believed it would lead to bigger crowds of joined up fans from the combined clubs, and so it has proven to be. But I was always behind the concept. Until, that is, about 6 or 7 years ago. It became clear that, at least in the Dragons region, it is nigh on impossible to attract the sort of investment needed to top up the WRU funding (which doesn't amount to a huge amount when you take out the TV money and competition money that a club would receive anyway if it was not first put through the WRU accounts) when you have no assets to secure the investment against. At least, not to an amount that will allow you to be competitive. For whatever reason, and I don't want this to be a point of argument, the Dragons find themselves in a different position to other regions in terms of owning stadia, having a 50% sleeping partner, etc. It's happened, it's history, so let's move on. But it does mean that we've struggled financially. But in the last few years, for me personally, I've really struggled to enjoy the Dragons and be a fan. My attendance has slipped. My enthusiasm has slipped. I've even turned to mocking my own team on here and in public, when previously I'd defend them to the max.

So, while this news of the WRU apparently taking over would definitely have been met with derision from me a few years back, today I'm actually quite open to it as I'm sick to death of the rot. I was only saying to a few friends on the weekend (after the Leinster debacle) that I wish they'd just wind us up. And I meant it. If the WRU chief is to be believed then he still wants there for be a pro rugby presence in Gwent (rather than closing us and moving us somewhere else) so, in light of the last few years of abject sh*te, I'm happy to see what happens and where it goes. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And if they do shut us down and move us elsewhere, then again I'm beyond caring. Which is quite sad I suppose, but there you go.

Wales

by Stone Motif Thu 02 Mar 2017, 9:59 pm

LordDowlais wrote:
Griff wrote:Oh great, Lord Dowlais is allowed to post on the boards again. True Raven: cracking poster. Lord Dowlais: so full of hate.

I have always been allowed to post here. Just took some time away from this place because of members like you.

It's about time you realised how serious the situation is with NGD. Getting a cricket score put on you at home in your latest home game, matches getting called off early because of the state of your playing surface, owners with no ambition what so ever, and now you are all hoping on an organisation you have slagged off for years to come along and save your blushes.

Does this sound like the makings of a proper professional run outfit ?

For the record, I do not hate NGD, I am a supporter of all Welsh rugby, what I am a hater of is though, is failure, and constant failure, now who would you attribute this to in Welsh pro rugby ? Rob Howely and ........ ?

The narrative will go like this. Team Wales are about to do a decade in the doldrums, in large part due to the unending torrent of sh1t that is probably now running Cardiff Airport into the ground. The WRU are going to be desperate to be seen to do something to look like they are addressing the rot in the national team, without the actual power to do anything tangible, because they can't sack Gatland, nor take the money back Roger have to Barclay's to invest in the game.

Nor can they get back the years of denuding the grassroots that was Roger's other festering legacy. The players simply are not there to turn the regions or Team Wales around. Look at some of the clownshoes we have stinking up the current XXIII.

So, desperate to react to the baying of the brains trust that is the rugby mad Welsh public - and I can think of no better example than a certain carpet fetishist that has suddenly resurfaced to do his mouth-breathing Andy Bowell impression and showing his complete non grasp of the subject matter - the WRU will either a) Warrior the Dragons lively and move it to North Wales, this creating a worse team with poorer resources on every front or b) create a new union-owned entity based on a long lease giving control of Dave Parade.

A. Is plain thick - development teams do not work without a certain level of quality coaching and senior players which 'North Wales' will be able to afford even less than the NGD, and B. Is increasing union control at a time when the rest of Celtic Rugby is waking up to the fact it needs private ownership and investment fast. Either way, bad times.

by True Raven Thu 02 Mar 2017, 10:04 pm

[quote="LordDowlais"]

True Raven wrote:Would NDC be ripped up and that pot be evenly distributed between four regions to increase funding to the dragons

I doubt that would happen, to do this they would have to re-house the DC players evenly into the four teams, and when you consider the team they were taking up the DC offer was part of the selling point, a lot of currently DC players would not be happy, it could cause another exodus.

Why would they rehouse the players?? They would no longer be contracted to the WRU and 100% owned by the regions and the extra money the regions would receive could cover the increased salaries (albeit the Ospreys would likely struggle)

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 03 Mar 2017, 10:25 am

LordDowlais wrote:
True Raven wrote:Or do they feel the Dragons are the place for young Welsh talent to get game time at a professional level and turn them into a development region

Sadly, at the moment, this is the only future for pro rugby in Newport.

LordDowlais wrote:Never mind. You will still have a region to support. It will just be in the Welsh capital and your team will be wearing blue, or pink.

Just get behind the team and support your region. Like I was told to do.

'Sadly' my @rse. You might as well have posted 'SCHADENFREUDE' in giant letters.

by LordDowlais Fri 03 Mar 2017, 12:35 pm

LP, you do this all the time. Please stop misquoting my posts. You have architected two of my posts to make me look as if I am contradicting myself.

The second part of what you have quoted was aimed at stone motif for his Merthyr pork jibe. You know this, so why do it ?

I do feel sad for the genuine supporters of NGD. They have been sold short by a shambolic management team.

Why build a nice new stand, when other area's of RP needed the money more ? I will tell you why, it is because somebody could have their ego massaged by having it named after them. The money spent on the Bisley stand would have been much better spent refurbishing the Hazell stand and more importantly that massive roof that allows all the rain to fall onto the pitch and sorting out the playing surface. NGD were not filling out RP, what were they thinking putting a new stand there ?

Secondly, any decent players you get either leave or are constantly injured, what is going on there ? I honestly beleive Martyn Hazell and all his hangers on do not care anymore, and are quite happy to let the region rot, whilst they maintain their status in Welsh rugby.

Hopefully though, the WRU will save the region. But how will the fans who have slagged that organisation off for years feel when they are being run by the WRU ? Will it turn fans away ?

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 03 Mar 2017, 12:46 pm

I haven't misquoted you. Those are your own words.

As for the takeover, we don't know what form it'll take yet - it might be that it won't be total union ownership. But I just want us not to be an embarrassment any more.

by LordDowlais Fri 03 Mar 2017, 12:53 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I haven't misquoted you. Those are your own words.

Yes you have. Look, come on, there is no need for this.

You have taken two separate posts and managed them into your own devices. Yes they are my words, but you have quoted them out of context. Come on, lets not do this.

I would genuinely be very happy to see NGD thrive under the WRU ownership. But they need to kick the whole management team that is in there now OUT. Also, I would re-name the terraces out of spite for the complete and utter contempt they have shown towards the region over the past few years.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 03 Mar 2017, 12:57 pm

I really haven't. If I'd got your words wrong, that would be misquoting.

I think the WRU owes us, actually. It shouldn't be that the one region it has a 50% stake in has been the worst almost every season since the regions came into existence. If Hazell and Godfrey have allowed the Dragons to rot, then so has the union.

by Guest Fri 03 Mar 2017, 3:04 pm

LordDowlais wrote:
Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I haven't misquoted you. Those are your own words.

Yes you have. Look, come on, there is no need for this.

You have taken two separate posts and managed them into your own devices. Yes they are my words, but you have quoted them out of context. Come on, lets not do this.

I would genuinely be very happy to see NGD thrive under the WRU ownership. But they need to kick the whole management team that is in there now OUT. Also, I would re-name the terraces out of spite for the complete and utter contempt they have shown towards the region over the past few years.

Why would the WRU be able to rename the stands? The stadium is nothing to do with the Dragons. They just use it for free. If the WRU buy the Dragons they are not buying Newport RFC/Newport Rugby Ltd. They are different entities.

by Guest Fri 03 Mar 2017, 3:08 pm

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I really haven't. If I'd got your words wrong, that would be misquoting.

I think the WRU owes us, actually. It shouldn't be that the one region it has a 50% stake in has been the worst almost every season since the regions came into existence. If Hazell and Godfrey have allowed the Dragons to rot, then so has the union.

I agree with this, LP. Everyone has a go at us for rubbishing the WRU in the past, but what have they done with their 50%? It would be like me coming in on 50% of your business, Lord Dowlais, and having absolutely no involvement, no investment, no expertise, no ideas, nothing for the last 10 years! You'd ask the question, LD - what are you contributing to your 50% of the partnership, Griff? Where have you been, Griff? I know I'd be asking those questions.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 03 Mar 2017, 3:36 pm

It's quite something, really: for years, people have been criticising the Dragons, saying they need to sort themselves out, they're all over the shop, couldn't organise a p!ss-up in a brasserie; and yet the WRU, as part owners, have managed to escape any of the blame for it.

by LordDowlais Fri 03 Mar 2017, 4:37 pm

Well why hasn't the management at NGD ever asked these questions ?

I also thought that the WRU were just supposed to be silent partners and only purchased the 50% stake to actually stop the region going under in the first place. Wasn't the deal to just let Martyn Hazell to keep making all the decisions and the WRU were not allowed to interfere as it would not have been fair on the other regions. I thought this was all agreed from the outset.

I thought that the WRU were not welcome to interfere with the running of the region.

by Guest Fri 03 Mar 2017, 5:00 pm

LordDowlais wrote:Well why hasn't the management at NGD ever asked these questions ?

I also thought that the WRU were just supposed to be silent partners and only purchased the 50% stake to actually stop the region going under in the first place. Wasn't the deal to just let Martyn Hazell to keep making all the decisions and the WRU were not allowed to interfere as it would not have been fair on the other regions. I thought this was all agreed from the outset.

I thought that the WRU were not welcome to interfere with the running of the region.

It wasn't to stop the region going under, at least not in a business sense. It was to stop Newport being standalone like Cardiff and Llanelli. But what's the point in having 50% ownership if that 50% won't or doesn't contribute anything? So from the Newport side they've needed to shoulder 100% of the responsibility, 100% of the risk for only 50% of the control. I imagine it's difficult to get investors when you have to admit to them that there's a 50% sleeping partner who also happens to be the national governing body of the sport.

by Steffan Fri 03 Mar 2017, 5:02 pm

I read the article in Fails Online but can't be bothered to look for it again. When is this takeover happening then? By the start of next season?

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri 03 Mar 2017, 5:12 pm

'The pace of talks has increased since the turn of the year and a deal could be struck in the coming weeks.

'The full form of the governing body's involvement at Rodney Parade – whether attracting fresh owners to take the reins, taking over completely themselves or working alongside investors – is yet to be rubber-stamped.'

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/15126715.WRU_closing_in_on_Dragons_takeover/

by mikey_dragon Fri 03 Mar 2017, 8:42 pm

Griff wrote:
Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I really haven't. If I'd got your words wrong, that would be misquoting.

I think the WRU owes us, actually. It shouldn't be that the one region it has a 50% stake in has been the worst almost every season since the regions came into existence. If Hazell and Godfrey have allowed the Dragons to rot, then so has the union.

I agree with this, LP. Everyone has a go at us for rubbishing the WRU in the past, but what have they done with their 50%? It would be like me coming in on 50% of your business, Lord Dowlais, and having absolutely no involvement, no investment, no expertise, no ideas, nothing for the last 10 years! You'd ask the question, LD - what are you contributing to your 50% of the partnership, Griff? Where have you been, Griff? I know I'd be asking those questions.

Yeah come on Griff. Them folk up the Gurnos need their carpets fit ASAP.

by GavinDragon Fri 03 Mar 2017, 10:53 pm

There is a consortium of private investors also interested...apparently. But, like savvy investors, they want WRU involvement to limit their risk as they would not be investing in a fixed asset.

Rumours are Blues and Scarlets also want WRU involvement.

by Cardiff Dave Sat 04 Mar 2017, 8:07 am

Do these "investors" intend to eventually "property develop" Rodders then? Is that the plan?

by GavinDragon Sat 04 Mar 2017, 9:36 am

Cardiff Dave wrote:Do these "investors" intend to eventually "property develop" Rodders then? Is that the plan?

I doubt, as I imagine NRFC will continue to own it, Dragons just long term lease the ground. Providing security for NRFC's future.

by carpet baboon Sat 04 Mar 2017, 9:45 am

GavinDragon wrote:There is a consortium of private investors also interested...apparently. But, like savvy investors, they want WRU involvement to limit their risk as they would not be investing in a fixed asset.

Rumours are Blues and Scarlets also want WRU involvement.

But if the WRU take a stake in the blues will Phillbb's head explode?

by GavinDragon Sat 04 Mar 2017, 9:50 am

TBH I couldn't care less about the team to the west of us.

I am also reserving judgement on the WRU ownership until we know the full consequences of their taking us over.

Rumours are that the budget will immediately increase by about a £1m. We have been linked with Kirchner, Ian Evans and Henson, who would all improve the squad in my opinion.

My concern is that we lose our good Gwent youngsters to rival regions, but then we do that now anyway....

by Cardiff Dave Sat 04 Mar 2017, 12:00 pm

carpet baboon wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:There is a consortium of private investors also interested...apparently. But, like savvy investors, they want WRU involvement to limit their risk as they would not be investing in a fixed asset.

Rumours are Blues and Scarlets also want WRU involvement.

But if the WRU take a stake in the blues will Phillbb's head explode?

Being a Cardiff supporter, i'd wager his head has had cause to explode multiple times over the years.
Mine has. Still bits missing as a matter of fact, wibble.

by Cardiff Dave Sat 04 Mar 2017, 12:03 pm

GavinDragon wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:Do these "investors" intend to eventually "property develop" Rodders then? Is that the plan?

I doubt, as I imagine NRFC will continue to own it, Dragons just long term lease the ground. Providing security for NRFC's future.

New pitch then?

by Stone Motif Sat 04 Mar 2017, 12:16 pm

GavinDragon wrote:There is a consortium of private investors also interested...apparently. But, like savvy investors, they want WRU involvement to limit their risk as they would not be investing in a fixed asset.

Rumours are Blues and Scarlets also want WRU involvement.

Don't believe everything Davey tweets FFS

by Guest Sat 04 Mar 2017, 1:24 pm

Cardiff Dave wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:Do these "investors" intend to eventually "property develop" Rodders then? Is that the plan?

I doubt, as I imagine NRFC will continue to own it, Dragons just long term lease the ground. Providing security for NRFC's future.

New pitch then?

Yeah, I'd start with the pitch before players.

by LordDowlais Sat 04 Mar 2017, 2:45 pm

Griff wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:Do these "investors" intend to eventually "property develop" Rodders then? Is that the plan?

I doubt, as I imagine NRFC will continue to own it, Dragons just long term lease the ground. Providing security for NRFC's future.

New pitch then?

Yeah, I'd start with the pitch before players.

The new pitch should have come before the new stand.

by Stone Motif Sat 04 Mar 2017, 2:51 pm

LordDowlais wrote:
Griff wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:Do these "investors" intend to eventually "property develop" Rodders then? Is that the plan?

I doubt, as I imagine NRFC will continue to own it, Dragons just long term lease the ground. Providing security for NRFC's future.

New pitch then?

Yeah, I'd start with the pitch before players.

The new pitch should have come before the new stand.

Wrong as usual

by Guest Sat 04 Mar 2017, 3:48 pm

The pitch wasn't a problem when the new stand was built. Newport County football came along after the stand. A few years after I think. That is when the pitch problems started, I.e. 3 sides using it and virtually no recovery time between games.

by Stone Motif Sat 04 Mar 2017, 4:59 pm

Griff wrote:The pitch wasn't a problem when the new stand was built. Newport County football came along after the stand. A few years after I think. That is when the pitch problems started, I.e. 3 sides using it and virtually no recovery time between games.

Exactly

by LordDowlais Mon 06 Mar 2017, 8:03 am

Griff wrote:The pitch wasn't a problem when the new stand was built. Newport County football came along after the stand. A few years after I think. That is when the pitch problems started, I.e. 3 sides using it and virtually no recovery time between games.

Bollox.

I remember a NGD v Cardiff Blues game getting called off a few years back because the pitch was like a reservoir that was before the stand was built and before Newport FC played there. I always remember Newport playing in a mud bath pre regionalism as well.

Rodney parade has always had trouble with it's drainage, and its because of that huge roof over the Hazel Terrace that directs rainwater onto the playing surface instead of away from it. That should have been rectified before you built a nice new fancy stand that you did not need.

by Stone Motif Mon 06 Mar 2017, 8:51 am

LordDowlais wrote:
Griff wrote:The pitch wasn't a problem when the new stand was built. Newport County football came along after the stand. A few years after I think. That is when the pitch problems started, I.e. 3 sides using it and virtually no recovery time between games.

Bollox.

I remember a NGD v Cardiff Blues game getting called off a few years back because the pitch was like a reservoir that was before the stand was built and before Newport FC played there. I always remember Newport playing in a mud bath pre regionalism as well.

Rodney parade has always had trouble with it's drainage, and its because of that huge roof over the Hazel Terrace that directs rainwater onto the playing surface instead of away from it. That should have been rectified before you built a nice new fancy stand that you did not need.

Yeah, that game v Blues where roads were shut all over Newport (and Gwent, so as not to leave anyone out) because the weather was so biblical.

We can add architecture and geography to the list of things Lord Bowell is an expert in.

by Guest Mon 06 Mar 2017, 9:26 am

LordDowlais wrote:
Griff wrote:The pitch wasn't a problem when the new stand was built. Newport County football came along after the stand. A few years after I think. That is when the pitch problems started, I.e. 3 sides using it and virtually no recovery time between games.

Bollox.

I remember a NGD v Cardiff Blues game getting called off a few years back because the pitch was like a reservoir that was before the stand was built and before Newport FC played there. I always remember Newport playing in a mud bath pre regionalism as well.

Rodney parade has always had trouble with it's drainage, and its because of that huge roof over the Hazel Terrace that directs rainwater onto the playing surface instead of away from it. That should have been rectified before you built a nice new fancy stand that you did not need.

Of course there's been games called off in the past. We've had a snow covered pitch and frozen ground on occasion too. But that is not uncommon to sports pitches up and down the country in winter. No, the frequency of these issues only increased when 3 teams started playing on it. Remember, this pitch has been used since the 1900s. But only recently has it had the same sort of usage and, as such, only recently have we had to throw down so much sand on top and struggle to get any grass coverage. It's really not that difficult to understand: 1 club using it (i.e. Newport RFC pre-2003) = only extreme weather causing issues; 2 teams using it = a bit more of a challenge as it's used every weekend; 3 teams using it = only a few weeks in summer when it's not being used but during the season sometimes it's used twice a week, sometimes 3 times per week. It's therefore the usage causing the problems.

by LordDowlais Mon 06 Mar 2017, 9:38 am

Griff wrote: It's really not that difficult to understand: 1 club using it (i.e. Newport RFC pre-2003) = only extreme weather causing issues; 2 teams using it = a bit more of a challenge as it's used every weekend; 3 teams using it = only a few weeks in summer when it's not being used but during the season sometimes it's used twice a week, sometimes 3 times per week. It's therefore the usage causing the problems.

Yes I understand that. But that is just adding to the problems. There has always been a problem with the playing surface at RP, you cannot deny this, it has been a problem since I started supporting Welsh rugby, and the problem was always when we have bad weather, which is more often than not in this part of the world. It has always emanated from the Hazell stand, I have been there and seen it for myself. This is not an issue that is privy to RP, a lot of grounds have problems like this, it's just most teams, even the semi pro one's try and fix it.

When we have bad weather here in Wales, at RP the water starts pooling right in front of the Hazell stand, and it then spreads all over the pitch and ends up down behind the goal line infront of the boxes. It's because of the roof over the Hazell stand and the amount of water it collects in the bad weather, it is a very large surface area and the gutters and storm drains cannot cope with it. This should have been the first thing to be re-vamped before any nice new shiny stands were built with a name attached to it.

by Cardiff Dave Mon 06 Mar 2017, 9:51 am

I was there mun and the Bisley stand is in the photo I believe.
Our Nige was loving it, doing his thing, prancing and paddling about.

"Flooding hits Newport and stops Cardiff rugby match"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15601676

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 06 Mar 2017, 10:09 am

GavinDragon wrote:TBH I couldn't care less about the team to the west of us.

I am also reserving judgement on the WRU ownership until we know the full consequences of their taking us over.

Rumours are that the budget will immediately increase by about a £1m. We have been linked with Kirchner, Ian Evans and Henson, who would all improve the squad in my opinion.

Three bad signings, in my book.

by Guest Mon 06 Mar 2017, 10:28 am

Cardiff Dave wrote:I was there mun and the Bisley stand is in the photo I believe.
Our Nige was loving it, doing his thing, prancing and paddling about.

"Flooding hits Newport and stops Cardiff rugby match"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15601676

Love it. So nowhere near the Hazell Stand then LD (see pic)!

by Guest Mon 06 Mar 2017, 10:35 am

LordDowlais wrote:
Griff wrote: It's really not that difficult to understand: 1 club using it (i.e. Newport RFC pre-2003) = only extreme weather causing issues; 2 teams using it = a bit more of a challenge as it's used every weekend; 3 teams using it = only a few weeks in summer when it's not being used but during the season sometimes it's used twice a week, sometimes 3 times per week. It's therefore the usage causing the problems.

Yes I understand that. But that is just adding to the problems. There has always been a problem with the playing surface at RP, you cannot deny this, it has been a problem since I started supporting Welsh rugby, and the problem was always when we have bad weather, which is more often than not in this part of the world. It has always emanated from the Hazell stand, I have been there and seen it for myself. This is not an issue that is privy to RP, a lot of grounds have problems like this, it's just most teams, even the semi pro one's try and fix it.

When we have bad weather here in Wales, at RP the water starts pooling right in front of the Hazell stand, and it then spreads all over the pitch and ends up down behind the goal line infront of the boxes. It's because of the roof over the Hazell stand and the amount of water it collects in the bad weather, it is a very large surface area and the gutters and storm drains cannot cope with it. This should have been the first thing to be re-vamped before any nice new shiny stands were built with a name attached to it.

There has not 'always been a problem with the playing surface'. When I first started supporting regularly and attending every game (so around 1997) the surface was absolutely fine the vast majority of the time. Stop with the wild generalisations. I've been on the pitch a number of times and recall it being lush and green. Got a picture of me and Rod Snow somewhere. His last game I think.

There you go again (2nd point highlighted above). Accusing us of not trying to fix it. In the past few years we've spent hundreds of thousands on drainage works (2 or 3 lots of it); we've moved the pitch 10 metres (as part of the new stand development); the surface has been improved with an FA grant; we've spent money on some machine to suck out water when there's a freak downpour. How is that not 'trying to fix it'? You wonder why you annoy so many people on here. The reason is your constant fake news, like some Daily mail reporter.

by Guest Mon 06 Mar 2017, 10:37 am

Cardiff Dave wrote:I was there mun and the Bisley stand is in the photo I believe.
Our Nige was loving it, doing his thing, prancing and paddling about.

"Flooding hits Newport and stops Cardiff rugby match"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15601676

If I remember rightly some homes had to be evacuated and the fire brigade were involved. So I'm not sure many pitches would have coped.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 06 Mar 2017, 10:43 am

Griff wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:I was there mun and the Bisley stand is in the photo I believe.
Our Nige was loving it, doing his thing, prancing and paddling about.

"Flooding hits Newport and stops Cardiff rugby match"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15601676

If I remember rightly some homes had to be evacuated and the fire brigade were involved. So I'm not sure many pitches would have coped.

There was standing water on the roads and pavements on the way to the ground. It was a flash flood.

by munkian Mon 06 Mar 2017, 10:56 am

The problem has also be exacerbated by the building of houses on the river bank.

by Cardiff Dave Mon 06 Mar 2017, 10:59 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
Griff wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:I was there mun and the Bisley stand is in the photo I believe.
Our Nige was loving it, doing his thing, prancing and paddling about.

"Flooding hits Newport and stops Cardiff rugby match"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-15601676

If I remember rightly some homes had to be evacuated and the fire brigade were involved. So I'm not sure many pitches would have coped.

There was standing water on the roads and pavements on the way to the ground. It was a flash flood.

Aye. On our way from the train station, we witnessed a car conk out attempting to speed through a massive puddle several inches deep. Dumb feck.

by munkian Mon 06 Mar 2017, 11:00 am

The council also need to sort out the surrounding drainage in the area, it all backs up so even if the pitch is working as designed there is no where for the water to go.

by Cardiff Dave Mon 06 Mar 2017, 11:01 am

Blue Dragons, anybody?

by munkian Mon 06 Mar 2017, 11:02 am

Cardiff Dave wrote:Blue Dragons, anybody?

It would be worth it just to see PhillBB's meltdown.

by LordDowlais Mon 06 Mar 2017, 11:03 am

munkian wrote:The problem has also be exacerbated by the building of houses on the river bank.

I supposed that does not help.

by Luckless Pedestrian Mon 06 Mar 2017, 11:05 am

My understanding is that there used to be a problem with the angle of the pitch, meaning that if there was heavy rain, it would pool at the corner of the Hazell and North terraces. In attempting to fix that a few summers ago, they overcompensated and now it's more likely to pool in the corner of the Hazell stand and the changing rooms (genius!).

by munkian Mon 06 Mar 2017, 11:06 am

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:
munkian wrote:The problem has also be exacerbated by the building of houses on the river bank.

My understanding is that there used to be a problem with the angle of the pitch, meaning that if there was heavy rain, it would pool at the corner of the Hazell and North terraces. In attempting to fix that a few summers ago, they overcompensated and now it's more likely to pool in the corner of the Hazell stand and the changing rooms (genius!). But I've also heard that the new houses between the ground and the river have had a negative effect and have left the water with nowhere to go.

EDIT: Munkian beat me to it!

Spot on.

by LordDowlais Mon 06 Mar 2017, 11:11 am

Griff wrote:There has not 'always been a problem with the playing surface'. When I first started supporting regularly and attending every game (so around 1997) the surface was absolutely fine the vast majority of the time. Stop with the wild generalisations. I've been on the pitch a number of times and recall it being lush and green. Got a picture of me and Rod Snow somewhere. His last game I think.

There you go again (2nd point highlighted above). Accusing us of not trying to fix it. In the past few years we've spent hundreds of thousands on drainage works (2 or 3 lots of it); we've moved the pitch 10 metres (as part of the new stand development); the surface has been improved with an FA grant; we've spent money on some machine to suck out water when there's a freak downpour. How is that not 'trying to fix it'? You wonder why you annoy so many people on here. The reason is your constant fake news, like some Daily mail reporter.

Fake news. Grow up. Rolling Eyes

Of course there will be times when the weather is not a problem. It's when it is a problem you need to be ready for it. Obviously the plebs running the show are again showing their ineptitude by doing everything bar fixing the problem. I have watched numerous games over the last 20+ years where the pitch has been like a swamp. It's just that 10+ years ago it was the norm. Now everybody else is moving on, and sorting out these issues, who ever is running things at RP seems to be doing everything yet not fixing it.

That sums up the whole set-up down there. Hopefully the WRU will get it right and stop the region embarrassing Welsh rugby even more than Howely is. We can all but dream.

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