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Dragons welcome Thomas (From South Wales Argus)
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Dragons welcome Thomas
11:10am Wednesday 8th July 2009
AS exclusively revealed in the Argus last week, former Wales flanker Gavin Thomas is joining the Newport Gwent Dragons.
The experienced back row man, capped 22 times, is coming to Rodney Parade in a one-year deal, it was confirmed yesterday.
The 31-year-old Thomas was frustrated last season by an Achilles tendon injury and his contract was terminated by the Scarlets.
Thomas, who also played for Bath, Bridgend and the Ospreys, last played for Wales on their tour to Australia in 2007 when Gareth Jenkins was in charge.
Dragons rugby manager Robert Beale said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to be able to sign Gavin. He brings tremendous experience to our back row and is a ready-made replacement for Richard Parks.
“Following his injury last season, Gavin is keen to get his career back on track and I am confident he will have a major impact in the team this season. “Once again this signing demonstrates our commitment to the blending of youth and experience.”
With the enforced retirement of Parks, the likely retirement of Colin Charvis and the release of old stalwart Jamie Ringer, the Dragons had looked to plug the gap in their back row.
Thomas said: “I am delighted to be joining the Dragons after being out for most of last season.
“It’s great that the Dragons have shown confidence in me and I am looking forward to repaying them by performing on the pitch this season.
“There are already some excellent players in the back row and I aim to battle my way into gaining a starting place in the side and contributing to the overall development and success of the team.”
Dragons head coach Paul Turner said he was pleased Thomas had signed. “I have known Gavin for sometime and am delighted to have secured his services for the team,” he said.
“He has a proven track record and with 22 Welsh caps has a wealth of experience which he can bring to the back row and adds more strength to our squad.”
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Your Say YourGwent
Monte_Fisto, Newport says...
12:10pm Wed 8 Jul 09
sammyboy, newport says...
1:25pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Begby, Newbridge says...
2:12pm Wed 8 Jul 09
Goat, Newport says...
3:52pm Wed 8 Jul 09
sammyboy, newport says...
12:04am Thu 9 Jul 09
Dragonfan, London says...
9:36am Thu 9 Jul 09
Magic Rat, Newport says...
11:21am Fri 10 Jul 09
Monte_Fisto, Newport says...
6:34pm Fri 10 Jul 09
sammyboy, newport says...
3:44pm Sat 11 Jul 09
Magic Rat wrote:You could have said the same comments about Daffydd James yet he is another player who would have strengthened the Dragons.You don't know what your talking about.
Why??? Over the hill, worn out. "Released by Scarlets" What kind of recommendation is that? It's almost as bad as "released by Dragons" It's a euphemism for not very good any more.
Dragonfan, London says...
2:16pm Sun 12 Jul 09
Magic Rat, Newport says...
5:00pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Magic Rat, Newport says...
5:03pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Monte_Fisto, Newport says...
5:32pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Given your collectively vast and intricate knowledge of world rugby - I'd be interested to hear which openside and centre you'd have gone for in the closed season?
Dragonfan, London says...
6:37pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Monte_Fisto, Newport says...
9:19pm Mon 13 Jul 09
sammyboy, newport says...
9:24pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Dragonfan wrote:So your saying both of them were available and the Dragons never signed them.
MONTE FISTO WARBURTON AT 7 JON SPRATT AT CENTRE NOT OVER PRICED TWO GOOD PLAYERS
sammyboy, newport says...
9:27pm Mon 13 Jul 09
Magic Rat wrote:I dont think so.You spelt your name wrong -tragic prat.
Sammyboy, there's an apostrophe in "you're"! I may not know what I'm talking about but at least I can spell.
Dragonfan, London says...
9:54pm Mon 13 Jul 09
manypack, gwent says...
8:29am Tue 14 Jul 09
I played for newport from u15 right the way to youth- u21 and united, I was not a great player, but there were boys in my team that had the skill to play 1st class, but they never had the chance.
Newport never give the young lads a chance, they would rather go and get some over the hill gel boy, rather than create a team with what they got.
How do you think martin williams got as good as he is?? he was given a chance.
The ospreys give the young lads a go, and i am sure they will be the main men in a few years.
also the dragons do not keep a good eye on the lower division's, there are good lads playing for the saracens, pill, and the old boys, if they were spotted and given a go i am sure they would become good regional players, I have played in every divison up to one, and it's tough, regional stuff is just faster!
dragons, give youth a go and look for the local talent!
Monte_Fisto, Newport says...
1:05pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Dragonfan wrote:Come off it Dragonfan if all it takes is who goes on holiday with who we may as well have Shanklin and Williams while we're at it...I totally agree with you Warburton would be a better signing, I'm not sure about Spratt though - the Arseprays were playing Hook instead of him at 13 when they had the chance topwards the end of last season. Look what happened to our backs when we had some experience in midfield this year with Stitch, it cannot be done with youngsters alone.
MONTE WHO DO YOU THINK HAZZELL AND DIA WATKINS GO ON BOAT HOLLIDAYS WITH MR PETER THOMAS OF THE BLUES IF THEY WANTED WARBURTON THEY COULD HAVE GOT HIM SRATT INEXPERIENCE PLAYED OUT IN NEWZEALAND LAST SEASON FOR EXPERIENCE ALSO FOR OSPREYS BETER THAN WATKINS BY A MILE
Which leads me on to Manypacks comment to give youth a go - uh, that is exactly what we have been doing for season after season and there is only so far it can take you, to hold the Jerry Collins signing Ospreys up as some paragon of youth development is a nonsense sorry.
Dragonfan, London says...
2:19pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Magic Rat, Newport says...
2:33pm Tue 14 Jul 09
manypack, gwent says...
2:49pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Your just what the dragon's don't want, I bet your one of the mouthy yobs who go to the games and spoil it for the real rugby fans!
you missed my point, i know the dragons have given youth a small chance, but we need to scan our local clubs and give the lads playing there a chance if they are deemed good enough.
as for the ospreys, yea they do have a good system for bringing youth on, how do you become a world class player? by being given a chance!
Magic Rat, Newport says...
3:24pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Monte_Fisto, Newport says...
5:44pm Tue 14 Jul 09
manypack wrote:Is there a more painful cliche in rugby than the 'real rugby fan'?
your a sarcastic knob. I bet you have never played in your life. Your just what the dragon's don't want, I bet your one of the mouthy yobs who go to the games and spoil it for the real rugby fans! you missed my point, i know the dragons have given youth a small chance, but we need to scan our local clubs and give the lads playing there a chance if they are deemed good enough. as for the ospreys, yea they do have a good system for bringing youth on, how do you become a world class player? by being given a chance!
You're right manypack, I've never even seen a game of rugby at Rodney Parade, that's why I don't know that the Dragons have given a 'chance' to Tovey, Gustafson, Lydiate, L. Evans, Fussell, Gomer-Davies, Harries, Lewis brothers, Walker, W. Evans, Goodfield, Aled Thomas, Sweet, Isaacs, Corsi, Robinson, Brown, Coundley, Burns, Charteris, Maule etc etc etc all either promoted from Academy, premiership, or discarded by their home regions. You missed my point, and descended into name calling to boot - it is no coincidence that our best performances of the season have been when our significant young, local players have been bolstered by old heads wiser in the ways of the game. The Ospreys youth system is no better than ours, though they certainly played a blinder letting the likes of Halfpenny and Knoyle slip through their fingers.
Magic Rat, Newport says...
6:12pm Tue 14 Jul 09
manypack wrote:Define "real rugby fan". It sounds to me like it means "someone who agrees with manypack and abuses people".
your a sarcastic knob. I bet you have never played in your life.
Your just what the dragon's don't want, I bet your one of the mouthy yobs who go to the games and spoil it for the real rugby fans!
you missed my point, i know the dragons have given youth a small chance, but we need to scan our local clubs and give the lads playing there a chance if they are deemed good enough.
as for the ospreys, yea they do have a good system for bringing youth on, how do you become a world class player? by being given a chance!
Dragonfan, London says...
6:19pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Monte_Fisto, Newport says...
6:44pm Tue 14 Jul 09
manypack, gwent says...
9:22pm Tue 14 Jul 09
Dragonfan, London says...
9:36pm Tue 14 Jul 09
FIRST: As revealed in the Argus last week, Gavin Thomas has signed for the Newport Gwent Dragons
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newportman, Newport says...
11:28am Wed 8 Jul 09