This is too petty

After the success Newport Gwent Dragons enjoyed last season, after the marvellous way they recovered and won the admiration of so many we are being dragged down again.

What on earth is all this talk of boycotting the Dragons about? Allegations of Newport recruiting players with the promise of development contracts are flying around, meetings with other Gwent clubs who are seeking reassurance are arranged and Cross Keys say they will urge fans to boycott the Dragons if they are not satisfied.

It could be construed as here we go again off the field after the problems of a year ago. But this time there is a big difference - the Dragons have now risen above all that after a season of considerable rewards on and off the pitch.

The reasons for that have been well chronicled now, like the roaring team spirit and cameraderie that was set up.

So we can't afford to be affected by pettiness again, we've come too far to get bogged down in that anymore.

And it could be argued that few, if any, supporters from a particular Valley club watch the Dragons anyway, so on that basis they won't be missed.

The squad come from all parts, even more now that five of the defunct Warriors team have joined up, so they will neither know nor care about any fuss off the pitch.

Players down the years have naturally drifted to Rodney Parade, with some notable exceptions like the time when Pontypool were in the ascendancy, so if players end up at Newport again it won't be anything new.

Not that it's all one-way traffic, for no doubt even today some players with Newport are being tempted away and even approached so it's a two-way affair.

The point is it doesn't really matter, what does is that the Dragons continue to make strides. They are the team representing Gwent, they are flying the flag and they are the team we should all get behind as they strive to make another impression in the Celtic League and, even more important, in Europe as well.

We can't let anything stand in the way of their progress and we can't afford to be dragged down by threats of boycotts.

I've seen supporters increasingly wear the new Dragons jersey around town, so it's a case of onwards and upwards.

That is certainly the mood of the Celtic Warriors players who have joined. Even before they did they were aware of the more stable environment they were stepping into.

Some, like Ceri Sweeney and Jon Bryant, have spoken about the 'nightmare' of working under former Warriors benefactor Leighton Samuel and how much more secure and even family orientated the Dragons are.

They are also aware there is very little interference from the very top. They will find it a huge relief just to be able to play and get on with their own game.

Not that there can be any complacency either, and it is vital the new coach maintains the same kind of approach Ruddock adopted of knowing just when to be tough and when to relax.

How ironic it is that just when the Dragons are displaying the kind of strength in depth required at the highest level, they haven't got a coach.

As it is, left in a complete vacuum is the big Rhondda Valley area centred around Pontypridd which now doesn't have a top class side to support.

Disaffecting so many fans is something the WRU will need to address. But I wouldn't blame them so much as Llanelli and Cardiff who refused to combine with other teams, forcing the creation of five sides when there was insufficient money to support them.

But there is a top class side playing high quality rugby in Gwent which everyone in the game, and I mean everyone, should be thankful for and get behind.