Bedford released and Downes set to step up

10:00am Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Chris Kirwan

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have released scrum-half Joe Bedford and are poised to give a chance to Rhys Downes.

Newport’s Downes trained with the Dragons last summer and is set to act as cover for the first choice pair of Wayne and Jonathan Evans.

Bedwas’ Liam Davies, who has the Scarlets, Ospreys and Brive on his rugby CV, has played seven times for the region this season but the Dragons are keen to have a close look at Downes and will turn to him as their third scrum-half.

The 22-year-old signed for the Black and Ambers last summer from Pontypridd and looks set to get a chance to add to the nine regional appearances he made for Cardiff Blues.

That is because the Dragons granted Bedford an early release from his contract so that he could return to his native Yorkshire.

He has signed for Doncaster, who are propping up the English Championship, where he will link up with former Wales assistant coach Clive Griffiths, ex-Dragons Rhys Buckley and Royce Cadman and former Pontypool lock Sam Pailor.

The 28-year-old scrum-half did not feature at Rodney Parade this season after having a shoulder operation in the summer.

Bedford, who battled Dragons head coach Darren Edwards for the number nine jersey when with Leeds, made 21 appearances for the region last term and captained the side in the LV= Cup.

“We wish Joe all the best and thank him for his efforts for the region,” said director of rugby Robert Beale.

“We will keep an eye on the scrum-halves at all of our Premiership clubs and if we need to cover it will be from there.”

Head coach Edwards paid tribute to Bedford for helping in the development of Wales Under-20s scrum-half Jonathan Evans, who has made 15 appearances in a bright first half of the season.

“Joe did a solid job for us last season and made plenty of appearances, but was also given the task of acting as a mentor for Jon,” he said. “I am pleased that Jon is now featuring in a major way for us and I am sure that he has plenty of good things to say about Joe and the way that he has helped in his development.”

Comments(13)

Warbles says...
10:17am Wed 2 Jan 13

Have they seen Downes playing for Newport? Very sorry, but nowhere near regional standard.

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kalwales@hotmail.com says...
12:48pm Wed 2 Jan 13

now now Warbles the Region know what they are doing and im sure they have made the decision for Rugby Reasons and the for the future of the region.

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let em swing says...
2:49pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Is it me or is are they just weakening this team week on week, a means to an end to lose regional statusas it wont be worth watching, the board can spill the beans, this is starting to smell.

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portforever says...
2:57pm Wed 2 Jan 13

go get dwane peel from sale,he is in the wildeness there anyway, if you dont ask you will never know..

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Robert Shillabeer says...
3:00pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Bedford hasn't played so far this season and has wanted to go home for sometime it seems so he is off the wage bill and for the rest of the season the Dragons are using local guys as back up. Even if Downes doesn't play the situation remains as it was but will cost less so why worry about it.

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the-dragons says...
5:31pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Well said rob

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pooles says...
7:31pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Yer, lets have a drink to that -- O we cant because there are no MONEY MAKING bars open and the ones that are open have run of of the liquid GOLD again !!

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Robert Shillabeer says...
8:11pm Wed 2 Jan 13

pooles wrote:
Yer, lets have a drink to that -- O we cant because there are no MONEY MAKING bars open and the ones that are open have run of of the liquid GOLD again !!
Dry out day today, perhaps tomoz if I feel in the mood. But, there was plenty of beer in the club house before and after the game. Preferred watching the rugby than drinking or queuing to get some. And if they sold out you didn't need to queue anyway so more rugby watching no problem enough time after the game for any NYE partying I would have thought.

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Leeroy231 says...
8:12pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Totally agree with pooles comment, if they cant get basic things right off the field i.e being able to get a drink when you want one instead of standing in the Que for most of the game then something is drastically wrong. Been to many local grounds, scarlets, blues, ospreys and they all got it nailed. Simple equation for the people at RP, sell beer=profit simples.

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pooles says...
8:22pm Wed 2 Jan 13

Didn't want a beer before or after game, wanted to watch a game of rugby with a pint during game - while the club takes and makes money -- all helps trying to secure the region- not too much to ask,, although yes it apparently is..... And didn't que, walked to the NAC where they were glad to take our money !!! Poor state of affairs....

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Robert Shillabeer says...
12:11am Thu 3 Jan 13

Think you will find the licence is held by Rodney Parade Limited not the Dragons anyway so the cash goes not to the Dragons but to the whole.

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Testedontimes says...
8:12am Thu 3 Jan 13

Robert, I have to agree with the others that post about the state of play with the bars at RP, I went to get a beer on Monday, walked down from the stand saw how long the queue was and went to the clubhouse, when I returned the queues had hardly moved, if I was a traveling fan, I would never go back if I had to wait that long to get a drink, so it will have an impact on the revenue that the dragons receive. And let's not pretend that this is the first instance of this, whenever we have a biggish game the bars suffer and it needs sorting. Why can't they get their own backpacks, like they have for the Heineken cup games?

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Robert Shillabeer says...
10:34am Thu 3 Jan 13

Testedontimes wrote:
Robert, I have to agree with the others that post about the state of play with the bars at RP, I went to get a beer on Monday, walked down from the stand saw how long the queue was and went to the clubhouse, when I returned the queues had hardly moved, if I was a traveling fan, I would never go back if I had to wait that long to get a drink, so it will have an impact on the revenue that the dragons receive. And let's not pretend that this is the first instance of this, whenever we have a biggish game the bars suffer and it needs sorting. Why can't they get their own backpacks, like they have for the Heineken cup games?
That's controlled by the brewery as they own the backpack kits and I don't think they do them. Perhaps Doug Jones the brewery rep could help on that topic he's usually very helpful, Newport Rugby should ask, Worthington are the clubs sponsor after all.

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