IT was apt that Lyn Jones’ Newport Gwent Dragons went on their travels to hold their jersey launch at Caldicot Castle yesterday.

Most adopt the moniker ‘Dragons’, the French and English tend to go with ‘Newport’ but the new director of rugby is a fan of using ‘Gwent’.

Jones’ choice is sure to rub some up the wrong way – the name has since the region’s inception.

But this summer has been a key one for the direction of the Rodney Parade outfit.

There have been personnel changes among the playing squad and the coaching staff while a new chief executive is on his way.

It would be a notable appointment if, as expected, Gareth Davies gets the nod for that job.

There seems to have been a reaction to mutterings of a possible Welsh Rugby Union cull that were triggered by Roger Lewis’ interview in the Sunday Times.

It appears that the WRU chief executive has sparked some action out east, traditionally the fourth region out of four.

They know they had to get their house in order and to have some clarity in what they are trying to achieve.

There have always been two options, either go down the super club route and simply embrace Newport, or try to involve the whole region.

Yesterday was a step towards the latter.

The Dragons stepped away from Rodney Parade to launch their new jerseys in Caldicot – and unveiled an away kit in the colours of Monmouthshire.

Players were mingling with youngsters, taking part in activities and even dominating the queue for a go at archery, while Jones was a supreme showman when acting as MC.

It was a successful event and made you wonder why it has taken so long to do it.

Ospreys jerseys are more popular in parts of the region than Dragons ones and the aim must surely be to engage with more fans.

English rugby shows that the name is not necessarily the be all and end all in doing that.

Leicester have a huge following outside of the county in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, Northampton do well out of areas like Milton Keynes and Bedford and Exeter represents Devon.

But those clubs don’t just concentrate their activities in a small radius surrounding their grounds.

Plenty of the youngsters that played touch rugby with Jason Tovey, Hugh Gustafson & Co yesterday have known nothing other than the regional game. In fact, the Celtic Warriors would draw a blank from most.

The name is in many ways irrelevant, it’s actions that count.

The Dragons will always be very Newport but including the rest of Gwent is key to the survival of the Rodney Parade-based region.

I know that the region does plenty of work north of the M4, they just aren’t very good at publicising it.

Players make appearances at schools or junior clubs throughout the season. It’s often the injured ones, hence Danny Lee seemed to be on a one-man tour of the region between 2009 and 2010.

The planned training base at Ystrad Mynach will ensure the region spreads its wings further while young Academy talent must be shared around clubs in the Championship.

Plenty of Ebbw Vale fans have little affinity for the Dragons but I know for a fact that they keep a look out for Aaron Coundley following his time at Eugene Cross Park.

The appointment of Kingsley Jones should give another reason for a few more Steelmen to at least consider heading down to a game.

The more connections that people have to the team playing at Rodney Parade the better.

Jones said yesterday: “I have been quoted as saying Gwent rugby is a sleeping giant, I want to wake it up and make sure the young players clearly see a pathway to professional rugby.

“I don’t want second-class overseas players, I’ve always been a believer that you are better off going up the valley to get a Welshman who will give you 100 per cent than someone who is past their best.

“There’s lots of fun ahead and there’s nothing to stop us becoming the best region in Wales in years to come.

“I’ve had a really warm welcome and people are enthusiastic. I just hope I don’t disappoint them.”

First and foremost Jones is an excellent rugby man who will turn things around on the field in time.

But he is also an engaging, charismatic individual who could help tap into the region’s resources and stop youngsters looking elsewhere for their rugby fix.