15 for 10: Dragons - an all-decade XV
15 for 10 Dragons: To say it has been a difficult decade for the Dragons would be quite the understatement. Despite some thrilling young talent emerging, they have consistently been the worst region in Wales and too often fans have seen their best players leave for more successful sides or tormented by injury problems.
There have been a few false starts in recent years in the effort to improve the region’s fortunes but it does seem like Dean Ryan’s side might be ushering in a more promising decade. In the meantime, RugbyPass has put together a team of the decade, which features quite a few big names.
Encouragingly, most of them started young enough to take Dragons into the next decade with more hope.
15. Hallam Amos
Intelligent on the field as well as off, the trainee neurosurgeon is a versatile player with a lovely, balanced running style and a useful left foot. Injuries were a problem but, having broken through to the first team at 17 years and 28 days (then the youngest debut in Welsh regional rugby), he had plenty of time to make his mark.
14. Ashton Hewitt
One of many examples of the young talent Dragons have produced in the last decade, Hewitt made his debut in 2013 and, despite injury issues, has shown pace to burn and a handy nose for the try line. Dragons fans will hope he truly fulfils his potential.
13. Tyler Morgan
Yet another talented youngster with injury issues, Morgan’s lovely running game has lit up Rodney Parade often enough since his debut in 2013. Plenty of Wales fans will be hoping he can do the same for the national side going forward.
12. Jack Dixon
Dixon broke the record for the youngest player to play Welsh regional rugby (held by Hallam Amos who set the record earlier in the same match). More than 100 appearances and counting for the exciting centre who is still only 25.
11. Aled Brew
Tom Prydie scored 447 points in his five years at Rodney Parade but Brew remains the region’s highest try-scorer, topping the chart with 43. His departure was something of a surprise to fans at the time and the former sevens and fifteens international has proved a very useful acquisition for Bath.
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10. Jason Tovey
It says something that Sam Davies, who has been with the Dragons for six months, has a decent claim to this jersey but Tovey is the region’s record points scorer. He arguably didn’t reach the heights his talent promised but he was regularly one of the best performers during his two stints for Dragons this decade.
9. Rhodri Williams
Richie Rees put in a memorable two-year stint and Jonathan Evans was always a reliable player but Williams’ dancing feet and instinctive play have livened up this Dragons side since his arrival from Bristol, especially since Davies joined him in the half-backs.
1. Brok Harris
His experience and grunt have been sorely needed in a team so heavily reliant on youngsters and he has delivered his end of the bargain. His ability to cover both sides of the scrum is especially handy.
2. Elliott Dee
You’ve got to be some player to supplant a modern Welsh legend in a team of the decade but Dee, who has become a talisman for Dragons in his 100+ appearances since 2013, earns his spot. At only 25, he has a bright future ahead of him.
3. Leon Brown
Brown may only have 40 regional appearances to his name but his potential has been apparent every time and he has come on in proverbial leaps and bounds this season. Former Welsh international prop and current team-mate Aaron Jarvis thinks he could be one of the best tight-heads in the world in the future. How Dragons fans would welcome that.
4. Luke Charteris
Left the region early on at a time when the glitz and money of France was luring many a Welsh player overseas but was so good in his time that the former captain can’t be ignored. Another lock of his calibre would be extremely welcome in the Dragons squad these days.
5. Cory Hill (c)
Hill is one of the few talented youngsters in this side who didn’t come through the Dragons academy, instead having been released by Cardiff Blues. A hugely talented player who works his socks off while having the softer skill-set that is becoming increasingly essential for modern locks. Surely a future Wales captain, he gets to captain this side too.
6. Dan Lydiate
One thing that has been consistently excellent for the Dragons this decade has been their back row options. Lydiate played some of his best rugby during his time at the Dragons but there are plenty of rivals who might feel disappointed at being overlooked, not least Andrew Coombs, Ollie Griffiths, Harrison Keddie, and Aaron Wainwright.
7. Nic Cudd
In a nation of outstanding openside flankers, Cudd rarely gets a mention. Likewise, he has had arguably more noticeable regional colleagues in his position. But the dynamic flanker has given his all for the region since his arrival in 2012 and, at his best, there are few better jackallers in the league. His work with the Academy going forward will surely only strengthen the talent pipeline.
8. Taulupe Faletau
Surely the best player the region has ever had? He showed his class week in, week out for the Dragons before leaving, as so many of his teammates did, for Bath. The type of player who could probably cover any position on the pitch – and in style. Ross Moriarty was an exciting signing but his performances haven’t compared with the shifts Faletau put in.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments