Dragons vote 'yes'

[Unol Daleithiau]

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/38777.php#.WRPM39y1upo


A majority vote of 81% was established at a meeting held at Rodney Parade, the targeted completion date of 1st July remains in place for the transaction and a new phase of development for rugby in Gwent will now begin.

The vote means the WRU will now purchase the nine-acre Rodney Parade site in its entirety for a price which has been mutually agreed.

All current NGD employees will be taken on by the WRU Group and a new company will be formed which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the WRU and will be free of any historic debt.

The WRU also plans to make required and sensible investments at Rodney Parade to lay foundations to build a sustainable region, as well as provide WRU expertise and resources to ensure the infrastructure within the region is in keeping with the requirements of professional rugby and the competitions in which the region participates.

WRU Group chief executive Martyn Phillips says the investment is about safeguarding the future of rugby in Gwent, safeguarding the future of Newport RFC at Rodney Parade and enabling a sustainable professional entity which is attractive to further future investment.

"This is an important day not just for rugby in Gwent, but for Welsh Rugby and we will be doing everything possible to ensure the long term success of the Dragons, but the hard work starts now," said Phillips.

"All parties recognise that from a Dragons perspective significant improvement is required on and off the pitch and that now is the time for a new approach.

"Our investment is equally designed to safeguard Newport RFC and its rich history at Rodney Parade.

"We have put together the very best package we can for rugby in Gwent. Initially we will focus on consolidating a high performance environment for the players and on ensuring high quality coaching. We recognise however that this will take time and will focus in the initial two to three years on laying solid foundations.

"Gwent has always been a rich source of rugby talent and we are looking to strengthen that pathway even further. This will be a Welsh centric region with young Welsh talent given real opportunity on the professional stage.

"We also plan to utilise the region to repatriate emerging exiled talent and Women's and girl's rugby is also a significant part of our plans for rugby in Gwent.

"A working party will be engaged as soon as possible, to consider all of the opportunities raised and to provide a clear way forward for the long term.

"Our vision for the future of rugby in Gwent is to deepen relationships with clubs throughout the region and to provide a clear plan for on-field and off field success.

"We have an immediate opportunity to utilise WRU resources and expertise to firmly establish a successful professional regional side here."

Detailed plans for the future of the region are being prepared and supporters, together with anyone with an interest in the sustainable future of rugby in the region, will have the opportunity to be involved as these plans progress.

"This is a hugely positive move not just for the region, the clubs and supporters in the catchment area, but also for the regional game in general and for the whole of Welsh Rugby," added WRU chairman Gareth Davies.

"We have committed to safeguard the future of the game in the region and we will be doing everything in our control to not only provide continued stability for players, supporters, employees and everyone with an interest in the game in the region, but we will also be looking for rugby to thrive at Rodney Parade.

"We want Gwent to have a Dragons team to be proud of, a team which becomes synonymous with success both on and off the pitch for the good of the whole game in Wales and we will be utilising all of the resources and the expertise we have available to make sure that happens.

"Today we have reached agreement on a new beginning for rugby in Gwent and we do so with a huge amount of excitement, optimism and ambition."

 

[Amiga500]

So... the Dragons.

How do people feel the Jackman era is going? Of course the WRU and the powers that be will not be happy - but how unhappy will they be and how long can the current standards keep going?

 

[dullonien]

Jackman has gone apparently. Good, didn't show any signs of improving, despite a half decent squad, short of depth though it might be.

Hopefully they can recruit a tried and tested coach. Mallinder's name has been mentioned, which is probably about the best they can hope for given the current state of affairs.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Isn't Mallinder working in the RFU now?
Pathway development coach or something

 

[MikeTheNative]

Not particularly surprised, the squad needed culling last year so I excused him for those results. However they have been just as poor this season, with a half decent team as well. Who they get in I have no idea. I reckon it will be an established coach rather than a young upcoming one.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Bernard Jackman is an excellent speaker, comes across as a really nice guy and I wish him well. It's clear though that his team weren't performing.

I'm not sure a new coach has the talent at his disposal to improve upon their current spot as 6th best team in their conference but it's imperative that he improves upon their average losing margin in 7 Pro14 defeats this season of over 22 points. Their average losing margin in 2 Challenge Cup defeats is 24 points. That they've been so uncompetitive in defeat is what ultimately told for Jackman in the end. Nobody expects them to challenge for honours but performances had to be better.

 

[dullonien]

Bernard Jackman is an excellent speaker, comes across as a really nice guy and I wish him well. It's clear though that his team weren't performing.

I'm not sure a new coach has the talent at his disposal to improve upon their current spot as 6th best team in their conference but it's imperative that he improves upon their average losing margin in 7 Pro14 defeats this season of over 22 points. Their average losing margin in 2 Challenge Cup defeats is 24 points. That they've been so uncompetitive in defeat is what ultimately told for Jackman in the end. Nobody expects them to challenge for honours but performances had to be better.

Yeah, I think that's spot on.

It could be seen as a reasonably attractive gig for an adventurous coach. The only way is up after all! With the WRU on board there is some security there as well in terms of funding and investment (e.g. the new state of the art pitch which was installed)

I think there is talent there, including potentially the next big star of Welsh rugby in Olly Griffiths. They've got good players at 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 11, which is a decent spread, and some real potential at 3, 13, 14 & 15. Whilst Tovey is a decent enough 10, that is probably still their real achilles heel, coupled with a real lack of depth is some positions.

If an incoming coach can sort their defense out first and foremost, I think we'd see a real upturn in competitiveness and ultimately results.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I reckon Jackman is a bit of a love him or hate him type of guy. He always comes across as supremely arrogant to me and has done since I read his autobiography. Good luck to him, hope he gets a job that keeps him off Irish telly.

 

[Amiga500]

Timing eh?

He'll struggle to get a job with a professional team after this.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Timing eh?

Remind me not to get on the wrong side of you! Such power and influence.

Gutted to see Jackman go. Who is going to make Zebre look respectable now?

 

[Amiga500]

So Dean Ryan next to try his hand at the tiller of the Dragonboat

 

[bushytop]

I've always liked the things Ryan has said either as a pundit or as a coach but his actual record is not the best. I personally would've gone with Rowntree... but good luck to Dean Ryan and the Dragons, I hope they succeed.

 

[RedruthRFC]

If you're going on record, Rowntree would be a strange choice - he's 0 and 0 as a head coach / DoR! It's always tough to assess coaches based on their records. To be honest, I don't remember much about his time at Bristol or Gloucester, but have a vague memory of Shoguns (as I think they were at the time) going through a boom and bust period which I'm not sure if he takes any of the blame for. Obviously wins were thin on the ground when he ws with Worcester, but I seem to remember complaints about the board at the time and let's face it, he's not the only one who has struggled at the helm there.

For what it's worth, like you, from what I know of him, I'm a fan of him as a person. Given what he's been up to recently and his track record, I'd say he's a good candidate for a club with a bit of rebuilding to do that needs to work within a budget.

 

[bushytop]

If you're going on record, Rowntree would be a strange choice - he's 0 and 0 as a head coach / DoR! It's always tough to assess coaches based on their records. To be honest, I don't remember much about his time at Bristol or Gloucester, but have a vague memory of Shoguns (as I think they were at the time) going through a boom and bust period which I'm not sure if he takes any of the blame for. Obviously wins were thin on the ground when he ws with Worcester, but I seem to remember complaints about the board at the time and let's face it, he's not the only one who has struggled at the helm there.

For what it's worth, like you, from what I know of him, I'm a fan of him as a person. Given what he's been up to recently and his track record, I'd say he's a good candidate for a club with a bit of rebuilding to do that needs to work within a budget.

Fair on Rowntree as he hasn't actually been a head coach yet... guess I just like the cut of his gib. Still a disciplinarian (like I have heard Ryan is) tends to work well with Welsh teams and individuals so it could be a perfect match.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I like Ryan,

Was worried about the rumours of him for England but at club level he's a good coach. He had a good stint with Worcester; inherited a pretty crappy, overpaid, side - got relegated, trimmed the shite and rebuilt from the ground up. Two successful seasons before leaving to take a role with the RFU. If he's given full remit over Dragons he could do well - they've a lot of good players in their squad.