Next Season - The Dragons?

By Zippy
August 28 2006

A preview of the hopes for the Newport Gwent Dragons in the upcoming season in the Celtic League, Anglo-Welsh Cup and European Shield, for details read on.

Dragons
Coach: Paul Turner
Captain: Kevin Morgan

In: Matt Jess (Cornish Pirates), Joe Bearman (Cornish Pirates), Aled Brew (season-long loan from Ospreys), Shane Stewart (Ulster), Nic Fitisemanu (Nottingham), Ben Daley (Viadana), Alix Walker (from academy), Paul Bunce (fitness coach), Byron Haywood (academy fitness coach), Paul Emerick (Overmach Parma), Mike Hercus (Scarlets), Lee Harrison (Glasgow), Colin Charvis (unattached)

Out: Haldane Luscombe (Harlequins), Shawn van Rensburg (Celtic Crusaders), Jon Bryant (Sale), Ben Breeze (Exeter), Steve Winn (Cornish Pirates), Rhys Oakley (released, Leeds), Sione Tuipulotu (released), Chris Davies (released), Richard Bryan (Leeds), Jason Forster (Doncaster), Chris Anthony (retired), Will Kershaw-Naylor (released), Ricky Williams (Swansea RFC), Richard Payne (Swansea RFC), Ben Thomson (released), Andrew Brown (released), Dan Griffiths (released), Richard Dale (released), Ryan Campbell (fitness coach), Leigh Hinton (left by mutual agreement, Leeds)

First choice XV:

1. Black 2. S Jones 3. R Thomas 4. Gough 5. Charteris 6. Charvis 7. Ringer 8. Owen 9. Cooper 10. Hercus 11. Wyatt 12. Stewart 13. N Brew 14. A Brew 15. K Morgan

Zippy View:

Not looking great for the Dragons from many a perspective, the new shirt is starting to evolve back into a Newport shirt and the influence of Hazell grows stronger.

From a playing perspective Kev Morgan seems a good choice of captain, we've all read how he spoke from the heart to the players after the loss to Parma last season.

They have lost last seasons talisman Fozzy Forster but have brought in Colin Charvis and hope the move will galvinise the old legs into action.

A full strength starting XV isn't bad but they are going to get hit hard by having very little depth, they do not have many international players so could pick up some wins when certain international players might be being rested.

Zippy Prediction:

A long way behind the rest of the Welsh regions, will have to play above themselves in the Celtic League to get a Heineken Cup playoff. Will get little change in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, they could get something from the season in the European Shield but will need to avoid the big English sides.