Signings and sponsorship boost for Dragons (From South Wales Argus)

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Signings and sponsorship boost for Dragons

3:35pm Monday 12th May 2008

comment Comments (24) Have your say »

NEW Zealanders Tom Willis, James Arlidge and Grant Webb have signed for the Newport Gwent Dragons on two-year contracts and car supermarket group Motorpoint will sponsor the region in a deal believed to be worth six figures.

The signings come after Dragons chief executive Gethin Jenkins and head coach Paul Turner went on a recruiting mission Down Under.

Motorpoint have pledged two years (with a third year option) to the region as title shirt sponsors.

Jenkins said: "The signings reflect the ambition of the Dragons ahead of the imminent stadium redevelopment. When Paul and I travelled to New Zealand we were determined to secure quality and experienced players to compliment the experience and emerging talent already nurtured by the Dragons within the region.

"It is important to ensure that we are signing the right type of players to join the Dragons and this formed a key reason for our trip to New Zealand."

He said the future was a bright one for the Dragons: "We explained our plans and the direction that the team is going and, as a result, the players have committed themselves to the Dragons for the coming two years.

"There are certainly exciting times ahead for the region and the signings reflect the growing confidence here at Rodney Parade."

The 29-year-old hooker Tom Willis, a qualified lawyer, has captained the All Blacks, has won five caps for New Zealand and is an experienced Super 14 player for Waikato.

New Zealand-born James Aldridge made a successful debut for Japan last year against South Korea, scoring with two tries and ten conversions and is currently on international duty in the Asian Five Nations tournament.

Number 8 Grant Webb, also aged 29, has played Super 14 and NPC rugby in New Zealand with Otago Highlanders and Hawks Bay and also spent some time in Japan playing for Toyota.

He has also featured for Ulster this season with experience of the Magners League and Heineken Cup.

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Your Say YourGwent

growingdragonheart, newport says...
4:14pm Mon 12 May 08

not really what I would call high quality signings apart from willis. Webb has been with ulster this year and managed 4 games!!

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monte_fisto, Newport says...
4:28pm Mon 12 May 08

He signed mid-season for a team that has had dire coaching problems give him a chance - if he's played 7's for NZ he must offer more going forward than Michael Owen.

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newportsfinest, newport says...
4:28pm Mon 12 May 08

are you just putting negative comments after every article pal

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gavin, newport says...
8:13pm Mon 12 May 08

i think what he means is compared with other teams those players are less heard of. i mean look at scarlets theyve bought lyons and are after somerville. however the scarlets are losing better players so i think the dragons signings will take them forward

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Exiled In Dorset, Poole Dorset says...
12:53am Tue 13 May 08

The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward.
I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.

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richard, newport says...
7:41am Tue 13 May 08

Exiled In Dorset wrote:
The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward. I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.

Here Here.

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Mike, Newport says...
7:58am Tue 13 May 08

Well said exiled in Dorset. Instead of griping and moaning lets get behind the boys and lets look forward to a new season. It's been a tough season but as you rightly say, true fans will keep supporting no matter what. Come on the dragons!

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Khalid, Newport says...
8:18am Tue 13 May 08

I agree with the positive posts from all, i have been behind the Dragons & Newport through the Good and Bad but 1 thing i cannot get behind is the "Board" they have clearly lied to us (supporters) over the past few seasons & have shown lack of ambition, i am behind the Players & Supporters as always but still have lack of trust for the board. As Newport or Dragons fans we are amongst the most faitful & paitent in the land & will continue to support the players no matter what.

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Newport Ospreys, Newport says...
8:31am Tue 13 May 08

richard wrote:

Exiled In Dorset wrote: The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward. I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.
Here Here.

Just a minor point Newport RFC are the Club. Newport Gwent Dragons are a Region. No wonder the rest of Gwent are not behind the Dragons if they are treated the same.

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Newport Ospreys, Newport says...
8:32am Tue 13 May 08

richard wrote:

Exiled In Dorset wrote: The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward. I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.
Here Here.

Just a minor point Newport RFC are the Club. Newport Gwent Dragons are a Region. No wonder the rest of Gwent are not behind the Dragons if they are treated the same.

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Oddjob, Monmouthshire says...
8:58am Tue 13 May 08

Exiled In Dorset wrote:
The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward. I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.

They've only been in existance for five years, and it's a Gwent region by the way, not a club.

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Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire says...
9:24am Tue 13 May 08

I thought it was supposed to be a "rugby region", not a "Gwent region"?

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man of newport, Newport says...
10:50am Tue 13 May 08

Owain Vaughan wrote:
I thought it was supposed to be a "rugby region", not a "Gwent region"?

It's both.

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Oddjob, Monmouthshire says...
11:42am Tue 13 May 08

Owain Vaughan wrote:
I thought it was supposed to be a "rugby region", not a "Gwent region"?

You and me.

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schlepney, newport says...
12:39pm Tue 13 May 08

Think I might renew my membership again next season. Did not think I would say that after last years promises!!

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Gwent Rugby Supporter, Not Newport says...
3:23pm Tue 13 May 08

Exiled In Dorset wrote:
The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward. I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.

As someone else alluded to above, you can't have followed the Dragons for the past 40 years as they have only existed for about 5 or 6 years. Just goes to show that people in Newport think of both the Dragons and the RFC as Newport teams. People use the terms Dragons and Newport interchangeably when it suits them. It is no wonder that absolutely no-one from the valleys wants anything to do with them.

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monte_fisto, Newport says...
3:53pm Tue 13 May 08

Gwent Rugby Supporter wrote:

Exiled In Dorset wrote: The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward. I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.
As someone else alluded to above, you can't have followed the Dragons for the past 40 years as they have only existed for about 5 or 6 years. Just goes to show that people in Newport think of both the Dragons and the RFC as Newport teams. People use the terms Dragons and Newport interchangeably when it suits them. It is no wonder that absolutely no-one from the valleys wants anything to do with them.

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. You lot are as bad as the Nooport mob, why don't the lot of you (from both camps) leave the rest of us who want to see Gwent rugby at the top of the tree to get on with it?

Negativity gets you nowhere. And just for the record, was at the last match with people from Newbridge and Abertillery, which kind of shoots your little rant well out of the water.

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snowy, Gwent says...
4:05pm Tue 13 May 08

Some of the petty chat on here amazes me finally abit of good news for the Dragons and all you lot can do is argue! Bad lads!

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monte_fisto, Newport says...
4:15pm Tue 13 May 08

Which is exactly what I was saying, Snowy...

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snowy, Gwent says...
4:19pm Tue 13 May 08

Yeah I know in fairness i agree with what you were saying! Surely it tis time to get behind the Dragons and push top level rugby in GWENT forward!

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growingdragonheart, newport says...
5:21pm Tue 13 May 08

don't get me wrong, I buy my season ticket year in year out and love supporting the dragons. I am glad that we are signing players, however I would rather see an average welsh player in our side than an average kiwi. And I would rather see our side called 'the Dragons' rather than all this newport / gwent nonsense that always blights any conversation on these pages.

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gwentman, newport says...
10:58pm Tue 13 May 08

monte_fisto wrote:

Gwent Rugby Supporter wrote:
Exiled In Dorset wrote: The signings and the sponsorship deal is a big boost for this club. I have no doubt that these are positive moves which will help the club move forward. I have followed this club as player and supporter for the past 40yrs, through good times and bad, as true supporters do. There are far too many ready to shout from the rooftops when things don't go right, but in essence those are the times that everyone SHOULD get behind the club. I eagerly await for the start of the new season, making the journey(s) week in week out to follow my club.
As someone else alluded to above, you can't have followed the Dragons for the past 40 years as they have only existed for about 5 or 6 years. Just goes to show that people in Newport think of both the Dragons and the RFC as Newport teams. People use the terms Dragons and Newport interchangeably when it suits them. It is no wonder that absolutely no-one from the valleys wants anything to do with them.
Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. You lot are as bad as the Nooport mob, why don't the lot of you (from both camps) leave the rest of us who want to see Gwent rugby at the top of the tree to get on with it? Negativity gets you nowhere. And just for the record, was at the last match with people from Newbridge and Abertillery, which kind of shoots your little rant well out of the water.

Unite or die.

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monte_fisto, Newport says...
11:30pm Tue 13 May 08

Blimey Gwentman haven't they taught you any new words at nursery school yet?

You really need to change the record. The only way we'll be dying is if you bore us all to death with your constant, churlish negativity.

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welshmof, Gods Country says...
9:02am Wed 14 May 08

Yeah after 5 years its time to move on...good news for the dragons..lets hope PT can tap into the latent talent in gwent again this year and do us proud!

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