Hughes fresh and raring to go after injury lay-off (From South Wales Argus)

bet appleyard does not say more of the same again, after the dross of the irish game. dont care less if we win this or not its next season that is more important as we can not continue to come bottom or near bottom every year. things must change next year, but with no money in the welsh game its hard to see what we can do.,,,

our second team will do fine.

portforever wrote:
bet appleyard does not say more of the same again, after the dross of the irish game. dont care less if we win this or not its next season that is more important as we can not continue to come bottom or near bottom every year. things must change next year, but with no money in the welsh game its hard to see what we can do.,,,

Don't you follow what has been happening over the last few months? The Dragons have been working on getting the finances back in order and by all accounts have now done that to the extent they have agreed to increase the budget for players towards the 3.5. Million allowed for the Europe registered players and the front row and some second row players is a top priority to be built on. Try and win as many games as possible this season and plan next years campaign as a fresh challenge that's the priority now.

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

portforever wrote: bet appleyard does not say more of the same again, after the dross of the irish game. dont care less if we win this or not its next season that is more important as we can not continue to come bottom or near bottom every year. things must change next year, but with no money in the welsh game its hard to see what we can do.,,,

Don't you follow what has been happening over the last few months? The Dragons have been working on getting the finances back in order and by all accounts have now done that to the extent they have agreed to increase the budget for players towards the 3.5. Million allowed for the Europe registered players and the front row and some second row players is a top priority to be built on. Try and win as many games as possible this season and plan next years campaign as a fresh challenge that's the priority now.

point is there is no money in rugby in wales never has been and never will be without a big backer like some of the english teams enjoy.if you think we can compete at this level you are wrong and the exerdus will continue to france and england.we have had nearly ten years of regional rugby to plan and here we are a few points ahead of one of the mighty italian teams.

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

portforever wrote: bet appleyard does not say more of the same again, after the dross of the irish game. dont care less if we win this or not its next season that is more important as we can not continue to come bottom or near bottom every year. things must change next year, but with no money in the welsh game its hard to see what we can do.,,,

Don't you follow what has been happening over the last few months? The Dragons have been working on getting the finances back in order and by all accounts have now done that to the extent they have agreed to increase the budget for players towards the 3.5. Million allowed for the Europe registered players and the front row and some second row players is a top priority to be built on. Try and win as many games as possible this season and plan next years campaign as a fresh challenge that's the priority now.

Yes Robert, the finances may in place but who do you think is going to come to a club that is bottom of the heap? No players a the top of their game that is for sure. What the NGD's will get are wanna-be's, and has-beens who are looking to line their pension pockets. When the money runs out so will they. The money merry-go-round has to stop. Don't put the roof on before the foundations are in place. Build from the bottom and get the structure right.

You don't need to read between the lines to see what is happening to rugby in Wales, it is in it's death throws.

A couple of Grand Slams aginst fairly weak opposition has helped paper over the cracks. Then of ourse there was the marvellous World Cup, where we beat Samoa, Fiji,Namibia and Ireland (not exactly world beating).

The regional system is what no-one really wanted and once the money men turned their bcks there was only the downhill slope left.

Be honest, how many rugby supporters in "Gwent" want the Dragons, I doubt there are many, even those who support them would much rather an alternative. Newport, "Gwent" and the WRU have had a three way hate-hate relationship for many years so why do we keep up with this sham.

If the powers that be want rid of the Dragons then why not volunteer to go, poor the local resources into the Black and Ambers and cast our eyes over the Severn Bridge. It would requie a long term plan, it could take some years befor concrete results are achieved but I feel there is a rosier future there than the one we face at present.

By the way guys check your spelling as this site has no spell checking facility. The Dragons as a business is now as stable as any other rugby side in the UK not as rich but stable enough to go forward and build some sort of success. How are the Ospreys doing, or even the Blues and as far as the Scarlets how much more do they owe the WRU? One still plays in a soccer ground, even though there is some talk about them moving to a pure rugby ground, one on a mud bath and the other in its own stadium like the Dragons play in a famous rugby ground. The new stand has yet to be fully paid for but that's just like your mortgage due to be cleared over time but under control. New players are being sought for next season and until we see who we get let's not write off the potential gains we can get. ScumV on Sunday did a piece that concluded that four regions are a must, as Scotland went down to two and are suffering because of it. The Irish have four regions who pull in very good crowds every game so is about building good sides who win games to build better support and stop this gloom and doom view of Welsh rugby and of course getting the WRU to share the money they make from the Millenium stadium better and farer than they do at the moment instead of using it to set themselves up as those who paid for the stadium five years early while grass roots rugby went to the wall.

SWBorderer wrote:
You don't need to read between the lines to see what is happening to rugby in Wales, it is in it's death throws. A couple of Grand Slams aginst fairly weak opposition has helped paper over the cracks. Then of ourse there was the marvellous World Cup, where we beat Samoa, Fiji,Namibia and Ireland (not exactly world beating). The regional system is what no-one really wanted and once the money men turned their bcks there was only the downhill slope left. Be honest, how many rugby supporters in "Gwent" want the Dragons, I doubt there are many, even those who support them would much rather an alternative. Newport, "Gwent" and the WRU have had a three way hate-hate relationship for many years so why do we keep up with this sham. If the powers that be want rid of the Dragons then why not volunteer to go, poor the local resources into the Black and Ambers and cast our eyes over the Severn Bridge. It would requie a long term plan, it could take some years befor concrete results are achieved but I feel there is a rosier future there than the one we face at present.

i agree with most of what you say,long gone are the days of percy and co, sport is all about money and rugby is the same. wonder how many of the youger generation will be going to cardiff if they get in the prem league next year rather than watch us trying and failing to compete at this level.no suger daddy no winning team simple as that, toby be off asap and who could blame the guy,been ten years now since regions where bourght in and overall from a money point of view its been rubbish.robert is living in fantasy island if he thinks things are ok..all our better players are gone or going and why would any good player want to join a poor team,,,

Primises, promisssses or promises of new plaers or players ALWAYS gets muntioned, mentioned every year to get the Vineruble to by unto sooson tuckets for the nuxt sooson.
Dont wash anymore - Talk is cheap !! And the beer is if they sold it !!

You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

pooles wrote:
Primises, promisssses or promises of new plaers or players ALWAYS gets muntioned, mentioned every year to get the Vineruble to by unto sooson tuckets for the nuxt sooson.
Dont wash anymore - Talk is cheap !! And the beer is if they sold it !!

Looks like you've had one too many!.

We just need spell check apparently

SWBorderer wrote:
You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

The Irish provinces may be historical, but in rugby terms they are no older that the Welsh regions. Four sides were an amalgam of several rugby sides many of which still exist such as Becktive Rangers who always played Ebbw Vale before Wales played Ireland. There is a need for the WRU to get off thier collective backsides and show genuine support for four regional sides and match the efforts being put in by every region to grow the game and not try to kill it off.

so will look forward to a top 6 finish next season , if you believe some comments on this site only time will tell,,

pooles wrote:
Primises, promisssses or promises of new plaers or players ALWAYS gets muntioned, mentioned every year to get the Vineruble to by unto sooson tuckets for the nuxt sooson.
Dont wash anymore - Talk is cheap !! And the beer is if they sold it !!

Got 2 bee fare pooles i understand toatly wotchu sayin, and agreeee wiv evry word.
I pitty the fooool who dont use spellcheck
;-)

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

SWBorderer wrote:
You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

The Irish provinces may be historical, but in rugby terms they are no older that the Welsh regions. Four sides were an amalgam of several rugby sides many of which still exist such as Becktive Rangers who always played Ebbw Vale before Wales played Ireland. There is a need for the WRU to get off thier collective backsides and show genuine support for four regional sides and match the efforts being put in by every region to grow the game and not try to kill it off.

Just did some historical research about the Welsh regions (although they were called counties then and I think there is a reason for that as two current regional sides are from one county). The Dragons are a Monmouthshire side and the Scarlets a Carmarthenshire side. The Ospreys and the Blues are from Glamorgan, one east and one west. There was another regional side again from Glamorgan playing out of Pontypridd. So Welsh regional sides have always been loaded towards Glamorgan. Chepstow and Newport were founder members of the WRU so any talk about playing in the English set is alien to many who live in Gwent, and before any comments about the Oxford assizes meaning Monmouthshire is English and being the odd county, that was simply for the coverage of the courts when Monmouthshire was included in that court system. Perhaps if rather than using town names their old county names were used we would now have Monmouthshire, Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan but that would mean only one side rather than the two (three at the start) and how would that have been fair? The basis of regionalisation was in fairness based upon the old county side set up and with Glamorgan being split into two, Gamorgan and West Glamorgan it was fair to spread Glamorgan out into two regions, one East and one West and to not upset those in the northern area of Glamorgan the Pontypridd/Bridgend side was created from Pontpridd, Bridgend and Maesteg clubs. Bridgend now part of the Ospreys region and Pontypool part of the Blues patch. Gwent had three first class clubs, Newport, Ebbw Vale and Pontypool, not forgetting Cross Keys and Abertillerry in the old merit table era. So it can hardly be argued that the current regional set up has no historical significance.

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

SWBorderer wrote:
You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

The Irish provinces may be historical, but in rugby terms they are no older that the Welsh regions. Four sides were an amalgam of several rugby sides many of which still exist such as Becktive Rangers who always played Ebbw Vale before Wales played Ireland. There is a need for the WRU to get off thier collective backsides and show genuine support for four regional sides and match the efforts being put in by every region to grow the game and not try to kill it off.

Oops sorry meant PONTYPRIDD being part of the Blues, Appologies to any Pontypool supporters reading.

portforever wrote:

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

portforever wrote: bet appleyard does not say more of the same again, after the dross of the irish game. dont care less if we win this or not its next season that is more important as we can not continue to come bottom or near bottom every year. things must change next year, but with no money in the welsh game its hard to see what we can do.,,,

Don't you follow what has been happening over the last few months? The Dragons have been working on getting the finances back in order and by all accounts have now done that to the extent they have agreed to increase the budget for players towards the 3.5. Million allowed for the Europe registered players and the front row and some second row players is a top priority to be built on. Try and win as many games as possible this season and plan next years campaign as a fresh challenge that's the priority now.

point is there is no money in rugby in wales never has been and never will be without a big backer like some of the english teams enjoy.if you think we can compete at this level you are wrong and the exerdus will continue to france and england.we have had nearly ten years of regional rugby to plan and here we are a few points ahead of one of the mighty italian teams.

With the exception of course of Tony Brown who soon found his determination to innovate sadly out of step with those in the WRU.

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

SWBorderer wrote:
You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

The Irish provinces may be historical, but in rugby terms they are no older that the Welsh regions. Four sides were an amalgam of several rugby sides many of which still exist such as Becktive Rangers who always played Ebbw Vale before Wales played Ireland. There is a need for the WRU to get off thier collective backsides and show genuine support for four regional sides and match the efforts being put in by every region to grow the game and not try to kill it off.

What? Are you mad? Irish provinces long precede the Welsh 'regions'. Nice bit of Year Zero revisionism there RS. Not.

The People's Republic of Newp wrote:

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

SWBorderer wrote:
You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

The Irish provinces may be historical, but in rugby terms they are no older that the Welsh regions. Four sides were an amalgam of several rugby sides many of which still exist such as Becktive Rangers who always played Ebbw Vale before Wales played Ireland. There is a need for the WRU to get off thier collective backsides and show genuine support for four regional sides and match the efforts being put in by every region to grow the game and not try to kill it off.

What? Are you mad? Irish provinces long precede the Welsh 'regions'. Nice bit of Year Zero revisionism there RS. Not.

Irish provinces equal Welsh County sides or didn't you watch rugby then? There was a good county game for many years as a representative style game at several age groups, still friends with several quite good if now elderly players from some good clubs. Do you know any I wonder!

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

The People's Republic of Newp wrote:

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

SWBorderer wrote:
You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

The Irish provinces may be historical, but in rugby terms they are no older that the Welsh regions. Four sides were an amalgam of several rugby sides many of which still exist such as Becktive Rangers who always played Ebbw Vale before Wales played Ireland. There is a need for the WRU to get off thier collective backsides and show genuine support for four regional sides and match the efforts being put in by every region to grow the game and not try to kill it off.

What? Are you mad? Irish provinces long precede the Welsh 'regions'. Nice bit of Year Zero revisionism there RS. Not.

Irish provinces equal Welsh County sides or didn't you watch rugby then? There was a good county game for many years as a representative style game at several age groups, still friends with several quite good if now elderly players from some good clubs. Do you know any I wonder!

Invitational teams hardly comparable to the mainstay club game. Any attempt to draw parallels between the county teams and what we presently have in the form of regions is disingenuous.

That doesn't surprise me in the least from you though Robert, grand Dragons apologist that you are.

And I've been loathe to mention this but no more, given your willingness to berate and question the choices of all who disagree with you... I am sincerely suspicious of the motives of anyone who can switch loyalties as readily as you. Ebbw Vale supporter to Newport season ticket holder? Very, very peculiar.

I think RS of Caldicot is really DE of Rodney Parade, sat in the back of the stand on his MacBook trying to defend the indefencible (he doesn't have a home to go to).

My crystal ball tells me we are in for one hell of a hammering at Bayonne, followed by a generous helping of Bulls**t from the coaches. Argus headlines...'Next Week Will Be Better', but it won't!!!

Lets have some new signings NOW, lets see some light at the end of the tunnel, and lets get rid of those players etc. who don't figure in future plans.

Bye Bye DE and RB, bring on the Mighty Kingsley Jones, Saviour of the Human Race, Haleluliah a new Dragons team is born!!!

The People's Republic of Newp wrote:

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

The People's Republic of Newp wrote:

Robert Shillabeer wrote:

SWBorderer wrote:
You cannot hope to compare our set up with the Irish system, Ireland has four historic provinces and allegencies to that are deep seated. This so called "regional" system we have is not even based on regions.

I wish I could share your optimism Robert, but the sort of money required to pull this whole system together just isn't available, it's no good just one team doing well and sod the rest, the system will only work if all four teams are successfl and competative and I fear it is now too late to hope for that.

I look long term, and a successful team playing top flight rugby and based in East Wales will give aspiring players in that area the chance to progress. I cannot see that happening with anything that comes under the umbrella of a heavily West Wales biased WRU, that is why I say "Look to the East"

The Irish provinces may be historical, but in rugby terms they are no older that the Welsh regions. Four sides were an amalgam of several rugby sides many of which still exist such as Becktive Rangers who always played Ebbw Vale before Wales played Ireland. There is a need for the WRU to get off thier collective backsides and show genuine support for four regional sides and match the efforts being put in by every region to grow the game and not try to kill it off.

What? Are you mad? Irish provinces long precede the Welsh 'regions'. Nice bit of Year Zero revisionism there RS. Not.

Irish provinces equal Welsh County sides or didn't you watch rugby then? There was a good county game for many years as a representative style game at several age groups, still friends with several quite good if now elderly players from some good clubs. Do you know any I wonder!

Invitational teams hardly comparable to the mainstay club game. Any attempt to draw parallels between the county teams and what we presently have in the form of regions is disingenuous.

That doesn't surprise me in the least from you though Robert, grand Dragons apologist that you are.

And I've been loathe to mention this but no more, given your willingness to berate and question the choices of all who disagree with you... I am sincerely suspicious of the motives of anyone who can switch loyalties as readily as you. Ebbw Vale supporter to Newport season ticket holder? Very, very peculiar.

No I've been living in Caldicot or very near since 1963 so found travelling to Ebbw Vale rather hard as I couldn't drive until I was old enough together a licence. Then I got married and raised a couple of girls, the oldest liked following the County at Somerton Park so you see lost touch with Ebbw Vale RFC. I've been a Newport supporter and a Dragons supporter since 2003 so feel confident as a full blown supporter. CaptainB, can confirm I'm not DE in disguise, have my own hair and don't have a MacBook, an iPad yes but not a MacBook.

Robert Shillabeer wrote:
By the way guys check your spelling as this site has no spell checking facility. The Dragons as a business is now as stable as any other rugby side in the UK not as rich but stable enough to go forward and build some sort of success. How are the Ospreys doing, or even the Blues and as far as the Scarlets how much more do they owe the WRU? One still plays in a soccer ground, even though there is some talk about them moving to a pure rugby ground, one on a mud bath and the other in its own stadium like the Dragons play in a famous rugby ground. The new stand has yet to be fully paid for but that's just like your mortgage due to be cleared over time but under control. New players are being sought for next season and until we see who we get let's not write off the potential gains we can get. ScumV on Sunday did a piece that concluded that four regions are a must, as Scotland went down to two and are suffering because of it. The Irish have four regions who pull in very good crowds every game so is about building good sides who win games to build better support and stop this gloom and doom view of Welsh rugby and of course getting the WRU to share the money they make from the Millenium stadium better and farer than they do at the moment instead of using it to set themselves up as those who paid for the stadium five years early while grass roots rugby went to the wall.

Who needs spell check! I'm looking forward to watching 'Scum 5' . I didn't even see Scum 2,3 or 4 but I'm sure this movie will be far better than the entertainment being served up at local rugby grounds. I wish the Millenium Stadium was 'farer' away and maybe would would then have more money at the Dragons!!!!!!

'We would' even.