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Dragons hunt for All Blacks
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| IN NEW ZEALAND: Paul Turner |
Newport Gwent Dragons coach Paul Turner is in New Zealand along with chief executive Gethin Jenkins stepping up their attempt to sign two former All Blacks.
Turner's priority is to find some big ball carrying tight forwards and it is believed he is looking for a hooker and a lock.
He is hoping to come to an agreement with two players who have won a few caps for New Zealand in the same way as Cardiff Blues pair Xavier Rush and Ben Blair and Ospreys back row forward Filo Tiatia.
Any deal which can be struck will be governed by money.
There is no an unlimited amount on the table but the Dragons will have the cash available after the departure of Michael Owen, Ceri Sweeney and Richard Mustoe, the on-loan winger, like Sweeney, joining the Blues. Turner has to persuade the New Zealanders to join the Dragons at a time of change, with work due to start on a £40m Rodney Parade ground redevelopment next March.
It is now thought neither the Dragons nor Newport will have to move away when the project starts.
The work is likely to be done in phases, though on that basis it may be difficult to complete it in the 18 months originally set aside.
And it is hard to see how Bristol, whose ground is also being redeveloped, could ground share at Rodney Parade, in their case having to shift from their headquarters.
The Dragons, and Newport, of course, already play at Rodney Parade and having three teams there would place a huge strain on the pitch and on fixture scheduling.
Meanwhile, the Dragons' outside half vacancy left by Sweeney could well be filled by Shaun Connor, the former Newport player who has been with the Ospreys since the inception of regional rugby.
The Dragons will have to rearrange their second league game with the Ospreys. Saturday's away game had to be called off because of the Ospreys' EDF Energy Cup semi-final, now the return on April 12 will also have to be rescheduled after the Ospreys beat Saracens to reach the final.
10:16am Tuesday 25th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: drgaonfan9900, newport on 11:29am Tue 25 Mar 08
Good to see some positives come from the dragons for a change shame about mustoe though would have been a good addition to the squad; i think an all black n.10 would be better than a hooker or lock.
Good to see some positives come from the dragons for a change shame about mustoe though would have been a good addition to the squad; i think an all black n.10 would be better than a hooker or lock.
Posted by: mrrugby, Wales on 12:55pm Tue 25 Mar 08
The hooker in question is believed to be 28 year old Tom Willis from the Waikato Chiefs, who played 5 tests for the All Blacks back in 2002.
The hooker in question is believed to be 28 year old Tom Willis from the Waikato Chiefs, who played 5 tests for the All Blacks back in 2002.
Posted by: rugbymad, pontypool on 12:57pm Tue 25 Mar 08
When this whole regional thing started the original idea was for the players in our premiership division to progress to there regional sides ,but has time has gone this idea has been forgotten by our regions and most importantly by the wru ,ALL regions are guilty of this where are our international players of tomorrow going to come from when our regions are branching out to the southern hempisphere which are costing the regions vast amount of money,sometimes money they have,ent got ,it really is time the wru stepped in and enforced the original concept of regional rugby and tamed this influx of foreign imports for the good of welsh rugby.
When this whole regional thing started the original idea was for the players in our premiership division to progress to there regional sides ,but has time has gone this idea has been forgotten by our regions and most importantly by the wru ,ALL regions are guilty of this where are our international players of tomorrow going to come from when our regions are branching out to the southern hempisphere which are costing the regions vast amount of money,sometimes money they have,ent got ,it really is time the wru stepped in and enforced the original concept of regional rugby and tamed this influx of foreign imports for the good of welsh rugby.
Posted by: mrrugby, Wales on 12:57pm Tue 25 Mar 08
28 year old Tom Willis from the Waikato Chiefs, who played 5 tests for the All Blacks in 2002 is the hooker in question.
28 year old Tom Willis from the Waikato Chiefs, who played 5 tests for the All Blacks in 2002 is the hooker in question.
Posted by: Gwent Dragon Fan, Torfaen on 1:20pm Tue 25 Mar 08
I would have thought they would target an experienced nz flyhalf to give a bit of direction, but the tip on shaun connor could be a good one as the ospreys now have hooky, henson (flyhalf/centre) and two emerging flyhalfs in owen and biggar. So shaun's days may be numbered there.
I would have thought they would target an experienced nz flyhalf to give a bit of direction, but the tip on shaun connor could be a good one as the ospreys now have hooky, henson (flyhalf/centre) and two emerging flyhalfs in owen and biggar. So shaun's days may be numbered there.
Posted by: Mr_T on 1:40pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Is anyone actually sucked in by this headline?? Two former all blacks, I think we have more chance of getting an audience with the Pope.....can you realistically see anyone of any note from NZ really signing for the Dragons??? Saddly we all know hand on heart...............
.
Is anyone actually sucked in by this headline?? Two former all blacks, I think we have more chance of getting an audience with the Pope.....can you realistically see anyone of any note from NZ really signing for the Dragons??? Saddly we all know hand on heart...............
.
Posted by: richardnewport, newport on 1:42pm Tue 25 Mar 08
how do people seem to know who it is? wheres the rumour saying its tom willis?
how do people seem to know who it is? wheres the rumour saying its tom willis?
Posted by: mrrugby, Wales on 1:53pm Tue 25 Mar 08
The identity of the lock is being kept under wraps from what I hear by the board
The identity of the lock is being kept under wraps from what I hear by the board
Posted by: drgaonfan9900, newport on 1:58pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Troy Flavell will be the lock, and Tom Willis or kevin mealamu
Troy Flavell will be the lock, and Tom Willis or kevin mealamu
Posted by: mrrugby, Wales on 2:01pm Tue 25 Mar 08
It's definately Willis, with one of a number of locks including Flavell and Rueben Thorne in the frame
It's definately Willis, with one of a number of locks including Flavell and Rueben Thorne in the frame
Posted by: drgaonfan9900, newport on 2:07pm Tue 25 Mar 08
thats a great capture tom willis forgotten number2 of the all blacks
thats a great capture tom willis forgotten number2 of the all blacks
Posted by: richardnewport, newport on 2:20pm Tue 25 Mar 08
flavell and thorne are going to japan!!
flavell and thorne are going to japan!!
Posted by: richardnewport, newport on 2:21pm Tue 25 Mar 08
but where does it say willis is the hooker?
but where does it say willis is the hooker?
Posted by: drgaonfan9900, newport on 2:30pm Tue 25 Mar 08
they arent going to japan the dragons have signed one
they arent going to japan the dragons have signed one
Posted by: drgaonfan9900, newport on 2:33pm Tue 25 Mar 08
tal selley will be coming with conner as well
tal selley will be coming with conner as well
Posted by: richardnewport, newport on 3:17pm Tue 25 Mar 08
[italic]'Crusaders legend Reuben Thorne is saying sayonara to Canterbury rugby after next year's Super 14 series.
The former All Blacks captain who took over Todd Blackadder's mantle as the heart and soul of the Crusaders has accepted a two-year contract with Japan's Yamaha club based in Iwata'
'Troy Flavell is set to see out his playing days in Japan at the conclusion of this year's Super 14 campaign.
New Zealand media revealed the 22-capped All Black and current Blues captain will return to Japan to see out his playing days after his New Zealand Rugby Union contract expires at the end of the season.' [/italic]
Read these a while ago, would love to see flavell but dont think it will happen.
'Crusaders legend Reuben Thorne is saying sayonara to Canterbury rugby after next year's Super 14 series.
The former All Blacks captain who took over Todd Blackadder's mantle as the heart and soul of the Crusaders has accepted a two-year contract with Japan's Yamaha club based in Iwata'
'Troy Flavell is set to see out his playing days in Japan at the conclusion of this year's Super 14 campaign.
New Zealand media revealed the 22-capped All Black and current Blues captain will return to Japan to see out his playing days after his New Zealand Rugby Union contract expires at the end of the season.'
Read these a while ago, would love to see flavell but dont think it will happen.
Posted by: Gwent Dragon Fan, Torfaen on 3:32pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Lets hope that wales' recent grand slam will entice some of those players to play in wales. I agree with gatland in that we need to be developing welsh talent in wales by cutting overseas players down, but at the dragons we dont really have any "star" overseas players, so hopefully the addition of one or two "star" nz players will benefit the youngsters in the squad, and indeed the academy that will filter through.
Lets hope that wales' recent grand slam will entice some of those players to play in wales. I agree with gatland in that we need to be developing welsh talent in wales by cutting overseas players down, but at the dragons we dont really have any "star" overseas players, so hopefully the addition of one or two "star" nz players will benefit the youngsters in the squad, and indeed the academy that will filter through.
Posted by: Brassneck, Newport on 3:37pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Wow, I can't wait to see these new forwards next season. Do they also play at 9 and 10?
Wow, I can't wait to see these new forwards next season. Do they also play at 9 and 10?
Posted by: DB, N*****t on 5:04pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Wow, I bet they'll be queuing up to buy their season tickets to watch Troy Flavell and Tom Willis!!
Wow, I bet they'll be queuing up to buy their season tickets to watch Troy Flavell and Tom Willis!!
Posted by: gwentman, newport on 7:21pm Tue 25 Mar 08
'Regional' rugby was introduced to concentrate and develop Welsh talent. Have we lost the plot?
'Regional' rugby was introduced to concentrate and develop Welsh talent. Have we lost the plot?
Posted by: Bela, Llandenny on 6:01pm Wed 26 Mar 08
[quote][bold]rugbymad[/bold] wrote:
When this whole regional thing started the original idea was for the players in our premiership division to progress to there regional sides ,but has time has gone this idea has been forgotten by our regions and most importantly by the wru ,ALL regions are guilty of this where are our international players of tomorrow going to come from when our regions are branching out to the southern hempisphere which are costing the regions vast amount of money,sometimes money they have,ent got ,it really is time the wru stepped in and enforced the original concept of regional rugby and tamed this influx of foreign imports for the good of welsh rugby.[/quote] Good post. A few top quality signings are fine if they boost the squad's strength and give a bit of 'box office' but increasingly the Welsh clubs/regions lokk like pension plans for ageing Kiwis etc. Flavell and Willis? No disrespect to either gentleman but this is not what was sold to the supporters in 2003. Flavell also comes with a reputaion as a trouble maker as well.
rugbymad wrote:
When this whole regional thing started the original idea was for the players in our premiership division to progress to there regional sides ,but has time has gone this idea has been forgotten by our regions and most importantly by the wru ,ALL regions are guilty of this where are our international players of tomorrow going to come from when our regions are branching out to the southern hempisphere which are costing the regions vast amount of money,sometimes money they have,ent got ,it really is time the wru stepped in and enforced the original concept of regional rugby and tamed this influx of foreign imports for the good of welsh rugby.
Good post. A few top quality signings are fine if they boost the squad's strength and give a bit of 'box office' but increasingly the Welsh clubs/regions lokk like pension plans for ageing Kiwis etc. Flavell and Willis? No disrespect to either gentleman but this is not what was sold to the supporters in 2003. Flavell also comes with a reputaion as a trouble maker as well.
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